Here is a record of previous updates to the HCC community. For the most current update, please visit coronavirus updates. For how the coronavirus outbreak has impacted students, please see COVID-19 Student FAQs.
To avoid confusion, we have archived previous communications that are more than 6 weeks old. If for any reason you need to reference a previous communication, please email marketing@hccfl.edu.
July 2: Update to the Community
I want to provide the college with an update on our return-to-campus planning. We all have been watching the alarming increase in cases both in our region and across the state. It is particularly concerning that the most affected populations are those that would make up a large percentage of our students. I want to again emphasize that we will do everything we can to ensure your safety and that of our students and will not act in haste in the face of this compelling information.
Regardless of any announced dates, we have finalized as much of the planning that has been possible given the current set of conditions that we are operating under. Importantly, we have received direction from the Governor’s office that indicates his strong sentiment that we return to campus to start the fall semester. We have been working with local health officials in developing our protocols, and I believe that the current plan, which is clearly dynamic in nature, will provide us with a solid foundation to reopen safely.
Over the last few weeks, our campus teams have been working extraordinarily hard to develop operational protocols, make adjustments to the academic schedule, create physical distancing in our public spaces and classrooms, hang signage, and order PPE and hand sanitizers, in addition to countless other modifications necessary for a safe return to campus.
I encourage you to visit our SharePoint COVID site and Back to Campus for the latest information on our reopening plans. One of the most recent additions is Hawk Tracing that establishes the process to follow when a student or staff member tests positive. This has been one of the most important additions to our planning, and I have attached it for your review. It was developed by medical, legal and public health professionals working along with our internal task force, and I hope that you will agree that it adds a critical element in our ability to maintain a safe teaching and work environment.
I want to thank all of the work teams for their Herculean efforts. They have and continue to spend numerous hours researching and developing the resources necessary for our Return to the Nest. I am grateful for their dedication as well as the dedication each of you have provided in these unprecedented and anxious times.
I will provide another update later next week as we monitor the outbreak closely. In the interim, I hope that everyone has a very safe and happy Fourth of July holiday.
Ken Atwater, Ph.D.
College President
June 18: Update to Community
I want to provide the college community with another update on our return-to-campus planning. The Cabinet met this morning and, out of an abundance of caution, made the decision to modify the dates for employees returning to the campuses as well as the date for students to be able to access the campuses. This is being done primarily for two reasons. First, we want to ensure that we are able to implement the safety protocols as recommended by our reopening work teams before our employees and students access the campuses. Second, we are also seeing a surge in new cases within both Hillsborough County and the state of Florida.
The revised dates of return for staff are now July 13 and July 27. The return date of August 13 for HCC faculty remains unchanged. It is our hope that we can provide some campus services to students beginning on July 20. You will receive additional information tomorrow from Human Resources that provides general guidance on returning to our campuses and facilities. However, as mentioned in last week’s email, supervisors will be communicating with their staff regarding specific details about their departments and individual concerns around our return.
We will continue to communicate with the college community as our plans evolve. I know that this is a time of great uncertainty, and I want to provide every assurance that we are being as thoughtful in our planning as we can. I truly appreciate everyone’s patience and the incredible resilience that you have shown during these unprecedented times. I know that we all look forward to seeing each other and our students back on campus in the near future.
Ken Atwater, Ph.D.
College President
May 27: Update to the Community
I want to provide everyone with an update regarding a return to campus. As you are aware, I had previously communicated a June 1 return. At this time, we continue to monitor the recommendations of Governor DeSantis as set forth under the Safe-Smart-Step-by-Step reopening plan and will continue our virtual operations. To that end, I believe that it would be prudent to delay a physical return to campus until Monday, July 6, at the earliest. I want to stress that this is based on current conditions and the best information that we have at this time. The reopening groups are continuing their work and should have final recommendations in the coming weeks on what a phased return to campus would encompass. Please know that I remain fully committed to reopening only when we feel like we have the controls in place to protect our faculty, staff and students.
Thank you for your continued patience and hard work as we deal with this unprecedented circumstance, and I look forward to hopefully seeing everyone in the not too distant future.
