Lake Land College Announces Plans to Deal w/COVID-19 Concerns

Lake Land College has announced its plans to address the COVID-19 crisis. Here is the statement issued Thursday afternoon by Lake Land:

In response to the growing concern surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, Lake Land College has activated the Emergency Operations Committee (EOC) and formed a Pandemic Planning and Response Task Force to implement the College’s Pandemic Illness Response Plan. The Task Force has been further broken down into nine Action Teams focused on key areas of continuity, including: Information Technology, Physical Plant, Community Health Coordination, Human Resources, Communications, Academic Continuity, Service Continuity, Business Continuation and Extension Centers and DOC Sites Service Continuity.

Although there are currently no reported cases of COVID-19 on our campus or within the district, confirmed cases are increasing within Illinois and it is only a matter of time before cases are reported within our district. Lake Land’s Pandemic Planning and Response Task Force has been working around the clock to develop actions that balance the safety, health, and well-being of our college community while minimizing disruption of our students’ academic experience. With that said, we are taking the following steps to help protect all members of our campus community. 

• Lake Land College will extend its spring break for students through March 22. No classes will be held during this time.
• The College and all of its offices will remain open during this time period and will remain open moving forward.
• All faculty and staff will continue with their regular work schedule.
• When instructional activities resume March 23, the College will transition from face-to-face teaching to online instruction and/or other instructional modalities to the greatest extent possible and until further notice. This measure is intended to decrease the overall concentration of students on campus. We will provide students with additional virtual instructional support.
• Additional information will soon be provided about the online instruction and alternative learning options. Students should regularly check their Lake Land email and Canvas accounts for updates from their instructors regarding the status of their classes.
• Events that are presently scheduled to be held on any College location, whether College-sponsored or with outside organizations, will be suspended until further notice.
• Effective March 12 and until further notice, all College-related student and employee travel (e.g. conferences, regional or statewide meetings) is suspended. An employee may request an exception from the appropriate unit vice president or president.
• The College is requiring employees and students who have recently traveled to level 2 and 3 countries, per CDC guidelines, to self-quarantine for a period of 14 days, starting from the day of your departure to return to the United States. 

These actions will undoubtedly raise numerous questions for those impacted by today’s decisions and for which we do not yet have the answers. I realize it is impossible to address every “what if” question at this time. Additionally, this information may change or be updated at any time.  For the latest updates, please visit our webpage at https://www.lakelandcollege.edu/covid-19/. 

For more information on the Coronavirus and steps to prevent illness, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Illinois Department of Public Health. We are in unprecedented times and the entire College community appreciates your patience as we navigate these unchartered waters.