STATE AND NATIONAL GUIDANCE/EXECUTIVE ORDERS/NEWS
Gov. Gavin Newsom today gave an update on the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. (All daily news conferences are streamed live at noon on his Twitter page and theCalifornia Governor Facebook page.) You can find more information on California’s COVID-19 website.
The governor today said it is still too soon to reopen the state’s economy but he did announce plans to resume delayed health care, including surgeries and preventative care, that were deferred during the initial COVID-19 response. Gov. Newsom said this is a first step towards loosening restrictions but said the state must continue to expand testing before a specific timeline can be established. The governor also said President Trump has personally committed to sending the state 100,000 testing swabs next week and 250,000 swabs the following week.
You can watch the full update here. (Please note: the broadcast begins around the 6:00 mark.)
Health officials today confirmed that two people with the coronavirus in California died as many as three weeks before the U.S. reported its first official death from the disease. The newly reported deaths shows the virus was spreading across the state before officials realized it.
“Having two simultaneous respiratory outbreaks would put unimaginable strain on the health care system.” Thedirector of the CDC warned on Tuesday that a second wave of COVID-19 could be more devastating because it will likely coincide with the start of the flu season.
The IRS is offering an Economic Impact Payment discussion that will answer eligibility questions about relief payments, provide scam protection information and offer a demonstration of the Get My Payment tool. The discussion is tomorrow, Thursday, April 23 at 11:00 a.m. Pacific. Find more information and a registration link here.
A new poll shows few Americans support easing virus restrictions right now.
SYSTEM GUIDANCE
The Chancellor’s Office is working to keep the system informed during this uncertain time. We encourage all staff, faculty and administrators to regularly check the Chancellor’s Office COVID-19 resource page for ongoing guidance, announcements and updates.
ONLINE INSTRUCTION
The California Virtual Campus-Online Education Initiative (CVC-OEI) offers a number of online events to continue to help faculty and staff with the transition to virtual learning. Upcoming seminars include:
Connecting with Students: Why Regular Effective Contact Matters
Maintaining regular effective contact with students in your online course is critical to their retention and success. This one-hour webinar will look at why regular effective contact is important, explore tools and best practices for keeping connected with students and discuss strategies for fostering student-to-student connections online. This webinar is on Friday, April 24 from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Register at this link.
CVC-OEI also continues to host weekly drop-in hours with its instructional design team. You can find all upcoming events on the CVC-OEI Events page.
For online instruction support requests, please contact CVC-OEI.
RESOURCES
A Future Date accessibility conference continues on YouTube. If you were not able to attend one of the recent accessibility conferences like CSUN, SXSW or another accessibility event, check out the A Future Date conference presentations happening on YouTube. The final session is tomorrow, Thursday, April 23 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Pacific time. Relevant Links:
• YouTube channel with sessions
The California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office and the Center for Urban Education will provide a six-part webinar series that will provide strategies for faculty and administrators to exercise agency on behalf of the most vulnerable students. The first webinar is: The Importance of Equity-Minded Virtual Practices during COVID-19 and is scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday, April 23 from 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. Register for the webinar here.
The California Department of Education and Wellness Together are offering a three-part webinar series that will facilitate an ongoing discussion to highlight practices, programs and policies to strengthen student supports in the midst of school closures. The third webinar in this series will be next Thursday, April 23, from 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. It’s a free event, but RSVP is required for attendance and space is limited. Find more information here.
College practitioners can find COVID-19 resources, information, and community within the Vision Resource Center. Create an account or log in. Under the “Connect” menu, visit “All Communities” and look for the “CCC | COVID-19 Resources, Tools and Discussion” section. Click “Join Community” to access the content within.
STUDENT SUPPORTS
Please encourage your students to visit StayEnrolled.com to get the latest information and updates related to financial aid, transfer and career education. Current and prospective students can also get connected with their local college to find out specific resources and support services available as well as enroll in their local community college.
The California Student Aid Commission has put together a list of resources available for foster youth students, including information on Cal Grant B Award, Students with Dependent Children Program, and Chafee ETV. CSAC also has a detailed Q&A section to help students and institutions navigate the financial aid process during this pandemic.
The California Department of Health Care Services has created a tool to locate Hospital Presumptive Eligibility locations. If for any reason students don’t have any medical insurance and have COVID-19 symptoms, they can go to the nearest Hospital Presumptive Eligibility provider to get tested and treated. Find more information here or through the COVID-19 call center at 877-409-9052.
The non-profit group Tilly’s Life Center has launched a free virtual classroom program called “I Am Me.” The 12-session program is focused on goal setting, self-confidence and stress management. Participants are grouped in classes based on age: one for 13- to 17-year-olds and another for ages 18 to 28. Anyone interested in learning more can email this contact.
We’ve heard so many stories about the extreme pressure and stress our students are facing right now. Please encourage them, and anyone in need, to reach out. There is no shame in asking for help. The California Youth Crisis line runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week: 800-843-5200. The National Suicide Prevention Lifelineprovides confidential assistance to anyone in crisis and their loved ones through a live chat and free 24-hour hotline at 800-273-8255. You can also text the Crisis Text Line at 741741. Our LGBTQ students can also contact the Trevor Project by calling 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678678 for 24/7 information. The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender National Hotline is available from 1:00 – 9:00 p.m. at 1-800-273-8255. Or call or text the Victims of Crime Resource Center at 1-800-842-8467 for help.
HOW TO HELP
The Foundation for California Community Colleges is collecting donations to support students impacted by lost wages, campus closures and the transition to distance education caused by COVID-19. Check here for more details on how to give now.
Many of us want to help right now but aren’t sure the best way to go about it. The newCalifornians For All website will match interested volunteers with high-need opportunities to safely serve their communities.
OTHER INFORMATION
Two UC Davis researchers are both actively involved in different initiatives to find answers surrounding the COVID-19 epidemic. They offer an interesting and informative look at the science of COVID-19 and the process of studying infectious diseases.
On this Earth Day, we offer some food for thought on the ways the planet and environment have changed due to COVID-19.
Many of us want to know when we’ll get back to normal. But this article offers a candid account of a “mild” case of coronavirus and why young people shouldn’t ignore this pandemic.
Northern California native and soccer star Megan Rapinoe will host a COVID-19 Q&A with Gov. Gavin Newsom on her Instagram page tomorrow, Thursday, April 23. It’s scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Pacific time and viewers can submit questions with #PinoeAskNewsom.
TIP OF THE DAY
As it turns out, wearing masks and glasses at the same time is easier said than done. Here are some tipson doing both, if you’re tired of your glasses fogging up when you venture out while wearing a face mask.
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