Dear Lakehawk Community,
With all the discussion surrounding the coronavirus and its associated disease COVID-19, you may have questions about how LSSC is responding to this situation. The College continues to monitor information from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and state officials.
I want you to know that the College’s top priority is to ensure your safety and well-being. This situation requires us to make difficult – and sometimes unprecedented – decisions. The intent of all these decisions is to ensure the safety of our College community based on the recommendations of official sources and available information.
Are courses moving online?
While we are preparing for the possibility of moving some courses online if needed, no changes have been made at this time. Seated courses will continue to meet as scheduled. It will be important to watch for information from your faculty regarding any possible changes to each course schedule.
Any decision regarding changing the course schedule or moving courses online, will be announced on email, social media, on the web, and from your faculty.
What’s being done?
Preventive Measures
It’s important that members of our community take proactive steps to reduce the spread of germs, much like you would during any flu season. These include thorough and frequent handwashing and covering your coughs or sneezes.
Social distancing has also been shown to be an effective safeguard against contracting or spreading the disease.
In addition, the College is increasing our awareness efforts and preventive actions to help stop the spread of germs by cleaning and disinfecting surfaces in bathrooms and classrooms twice daily, encouraging the use of hand sanitizer stations, and by hanging informational materials across all campuses and in bathrooms.
Reviewing all College-Related Travel Plans
Effective immediately, the College is limiting non-essential travel and reviewing all travel plans to limit the spread and risk of exposure to COVID-19. College-sponsored student travel and all out-of-district employee travel will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Encouraging Self-Reporting & Self-Isolation
Effective immediately, we are asking all members of our College community (students, employees and on-campus partners) to self-report their travel and possible exposure to COVID-19. Anyone who travels by airplane to any destination, travels out-of-state, travels to a high-risk location identified by the CDC, travels on a cruise ship, or believes they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should report this to LSSC through this online form. The College will review your information and plan appropriately for any necessary self-isolation periods.
Where can I get more information?
LSSC has created a page at www.lssc.edu/coronavirus where are all information about the College’s response and resources available to our campus community will be posted.
We will continue to be in communication as we receive more information. Please continue to check your Lakehawk email and the Coronavirus page regularly for updates.
Dr. Stan Sidor
President, Lake-Sumter State College