IMPORTANT: NECC and Coronavirus Preparation and Prevention – March 15, 2020

Good Evening, Northern Essex Community College Students, Faculty and Staff—

As the Coronavirus pandemic conditions evolve, NECC is taking additional steps to ensure, as much as possible, the health and safety of everyone on our campuses, and to provide for the accessibility and the quality of teaching, learning, and services we provide our students and community partners.

Please note the following important updates and reminders:

Limited Public Hours March 16-17

This week is spring break, when there are usually fewer visitors to campus.

The college will be closed to the public all day tomorrow, Monday, March 16, and until noon on Tuesday, March 17, so that all staff can make preparations to continue with college operations in ways that are as safe as possible for employees, students, and visitors when we reopen.

All employees should report to work as scheduled tomorrow unless other arrangements have been made with your supervisor. At this time, we anticipate reopening to the public on Tuesday, March 17 at noon.

Non-Credit / Community Education Classes

For non-credit classes, we will be moving as many as possible to remote instruction. A full list of those classes will be posted soon and we will contact those students. All other non-credit classes will be postponed for two-weeks.

Reporting Illness

IMPORTANT: Please stay home if you are sick.

Additionally, so that we can protect the safety of the rest of our campus community:

If you are an employee suffering flu-like symptoms, or if you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or been exposed to COVID-19, please contact Human Resources at hr@necc.mass.edu or (978) 556-3943.

If you are a student suffering flu-like symptoms, or if you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or been exposed to COVID-19, please contact Student Affairs at jmezquita@necc.mass.edu or (978) 556-3735.

Personal information will be kept strictly confidential.

Absences from Work

The Massachusetts Board of Higher Education has recently completed negotiations with AFSCME and will be negotiating tomorrow with the MCCC regarding leave time and other features of working conditions as this situation evolves. For now, employees who need to remain at home due to illness, caring for family members, including child care, should take sick, personal, or vacation leave as usual. Additional information will be shared as it becomes available.

Please continue to check your NECC email, and the NECC Coronavirus Information web page at www.necc.mass.edu/public-safety/coronavirus-information.

Thanks,
Lane A. Glenn
President Northern Essex Community College

Check out “Running the Campus,” my blog featuring stories and perspectives on leadership, higher education, and going the extra mile: president.necc.mass.edu or connect with me on social media on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.