NCCC extends modified schedule through spring semester

March 27, 2020 

SARANAC LAKE – North Country Community College employees will continue to work remotely through the end of the semester, and classes will resume online March 30 as planned.

In an email message to faculty, staff and students today, college President Joe Keegan outlined the college’s plans for classes, academic supports and other college operations amid the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

The college suspended classes on all campuses the week of March 16, and students have been on spring break this week. Since March 17, the college has shuttered all its facilities to students, staff and the public, and non-essential employees have been working remotely.

“With a projected peak of new cases several weeks out, our public health officials continue to stress the need for social distancing measures and personal preventive practice,” Keegan said. “Those are the primary tools in our took-kits that we can and are employing. Our primary objective is and has been to ensure the safety and health of our students, our faculty and our staff. As good community members and citizens, we have a responsibility to the larger society as well.”

Out of a continuing commitment to those objectives and based on the guidance of the Governor’s Office, SUNY and regional public health leaders, the college will extend its modified schedule through May 20, which is the end of the Spring 2020 semester.

  • Classes will resume in an online format on March 30th, 2020 through the end of the semester.
  • All tutoring, library services, registration and advisement will take place online through the end of the semester.
  • All College operations (Bursar’s Office, Business Office, Financial Aid Office, Registrar’s Office) will operate remotely through the end of the semester.
  • The gym, pool, library and other public venues will remain closed through the end of the semester.

While college operations could be modified depending on changing guidance from the Governor’s Office, SUNY and our regional public health leaders, the college plans to be working remotely until that time.

Earlier this week, Keegan announced to students, faculty and staff that the college will transition its in-person end-of-the-year ceremonies (graduation/commencement, nursing pinning ceremonies, and awards ceremonies) to remote ceremonies this year and find alternative ways to celebrate student achievement. He stressed that this does not affect one’s ability to graduate, only the public ceremony celebrating it.

“We know that this will be disappointing for our students and their families, our faculty and staff, and our administration,” Keegan stated. “However, it is the best course of action to protect the safety and health of our campus community. On a more positive note, we are excited about finding alternative ways to celebrate our students’ achievement from a distance.”

Since early March, the college’s COVID-19 Task Force and Administration have met on a daily basis to discuss the North Country’s response and planning efforts. Those meetings will continue regularly as the semester resumes March 30.

“We are a resilient lot and together we will find our way through this and emerge as a stronger version of ourselves,” President Keegan told the students in his message today. “Getting there will take the continued good-will and commitment of us all. I trust that we will do so. We are bound together by much more than this crisis. We share a common mission, a common set of values, and a common concern and love for this institution, its people and most especially you, our students. Each of us is an important part of this greater whole that is North Country Community College.”

For more information, visit the college’s COVID-19 Response page at www.nccc.edu/coronavirus-response.