COVID-19 Previous Updates

  • March 27, 2020, CSC will be closing residential housing. We expect all students that are currently residing in residential housing to vacate campus by April 3, 2020 with the intent to have all students out of residential housing by noon on April 10, 2020.  This is a difficult decision, but necessary to protect the health of our campus community. An appointment will be required to move out more specific information concerning move-out will be emailed directly to the student’s Connors email.  We understand this decision will create an extreme hardship on some students and we are committed to assisting them. To schedule an appointment please follow the link below to complete the housing form.
  • March 25, 2020, Oklahoma State Department of Education approved an order that implements a Distance Learning Plan to complete the 2019-20 school year for Oklahoma students without reopening school buildings. The approval comes as numbers grow for positive COVID-19 cases in the state. 
  • March 24, 2020, Governor Kevin Stitt addressed all Oklahomans during a press conference. The amended Executive Order provides for the following statewide measures: 1) Issues a statewide “Safer at Home” order for adults over the age of 65 and vulnerable individuals with serious underlying medical conditions. 2) Limits gatherings to no more than 10 people. 3) Prohibits visitations to nursing homes and long-term care facilities. 4) Postpones all elective surgeries, minor medical procedures and non-emergency dental procedures until April 7, 2020. The amended Executive Order provides for the following measures in counties with community spread: 1) Requires restaurants in Oklahoma counties with confirmed COVID-19 cases to provide take-out and delivery options only and closes all bars in those counties. 2) Closes all businesses not identified as being within a critical infrastructure sector, such as gyms, salons, massage parlors and movie theaters, where counties have community spread effective March 25 at 11:59PM through April 15.
  • March 22, 2020, Governor Kevin Stitt addressed all Oklahomans during a press conference. He signed an executive order allowing OSU and OU to begin testing for COVID-19, helped get nurses back on the job quickly by reducing red-tape around licensing, restricted two drugs as possible treatments. Four mobile testing sites will also be running around the state along with donation sites. https://ktul.com/news/local/gov-stitt-provides-update-on-covid-19-outbreak-in-oklahoma
  • March 11, 2020, the World Health organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic.  The virus has been found in 146 countries and territories with nearly 165,000 confirmed cases and 6,500 deaths.  https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/685d0ace521648f8a5beeeee1b9125cd
  • March 13, 2020, President Trump declared a national emergency concerning the COVID-19 out break in the United States. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-declaring-national-emergency-concerning-novel-coronavirus-disease-covid-19-outbreak/
  • March 15, 2020, Governor Stitt declared a state of emergency across Oklahoma in response to COVID-19. http://www.sos.ok.gov/documents/executive/1913.pdf
  • The CDC has provided updated guidance to control the spread of COVID-19. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/summary.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fsummary.html
  • The State Board of Education voted unanimously to enact a mandatory, statewide closure through April 6 and emphasized school leaders should prepare for long term closures.

Friday, March 27, 2020

Due to the rapidly changing challenges caused by COVID-19 and the recommendations by state and federal health officials, Connors State College is making the following changes to limit the amount of people on campus to help slow the spread of COVID-19. 

Effective immediately, CSC is temporarily restricting access of the general public to all College buildings on both the Warner and Muskogee campuses until further notice.  Buildings on campus will be locked with signage directing campus visitors needing assistance to use phone and electronic communications to conduct business or to make an appointment to enter the buildings.    

Classes at Connors will remain in an alternative format for the remainder of the semester. This was a difficult decision, but it was made to further the Colleges efforts to reduce the number of individuals on campus. Faculty are working diligently to maintain the quality and rigor of each course. We encourage students to contact their instructors if they are having any issues.

Connors has made the decision to postpone Commencement. We understand and appreciate that many students will be disappointed by this decision but we feel it is the correct decision at this time. We will be looking at ways we can honor our graduates and their achievements. More information will be sent in a future update.

We will be closing residential housing. We expect all students that are currently residing in residential housing to vacate campus by April 3, 2020 with the intent to have all students out of residential housing by noon on April 10, 2020.  This is a difficult decision, but necessary to protect the health of our campus community. An appointment will be required to move out and specific information concerning move-out procedures will be emailed directly to the student’s Connors email.  We understand this decision will create an extreme hardship on some students and we are committed to assisting them.

Once again, the health and safety of the entire Cowboy family is of the upmost importance. We will be notifying you if anything else changes. Thank you for your help during this situation. Please visit the Connors State College COVID-19 Resource webpage for additional information and updates at https://connorsstate.edu/covid-19.

Monday, March 23, 2020

Dear Connors Family,

By all accounts, the migration from face to face classes is progressing.  I know there are going to be some significant challenges in this process, and I want to thank the faculty and all of our employees for their flexibility and effort to take care of our students.  The Executive Council has been working very diligently to stay abreast of the COVID-19 pandemic.  I also want to thank the staff for their cooperation as we try to install and refine protocols for their wellbeing.  I understand that many of you have concerns.  I would ask that you take your concerns to your supervisor or appropriate member of the Executive Team.  I too wish there was an elegant solution to this entire matter.  The fact is, this is a very complex situation where every decision will have unintended consequences.  Our goal is to try and identify and avoid as many of consequences as possible while we strive to balance the safety of the Connors Family with providing our students the best education possible and access to services in these trying circumstances.

To help keep you informed, we have created a website https://connorsstate.edu/covid-19 that will be updated regularly.  You will find several excellent resources down at the bottom of the page.

Starting tomorrow and until further notice, everyday will be jeans day.  I would like to reserve Spirit Day for Fridays so no T-shirts or sweatshirts on Mondays through Thursday. 

Thanks for all you do.  Stay safe and be good to one another.

Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Dear Faculty,

After careful consideration and in an abundance of caution, we will be moving face-to-face course to an online or distance learning format between Monday, March 23 and Friday, April 3 with the exception of courses at the Correctional Facilities. At this time, the correctional facilities will remain open for educational purposes so it is expected that faculty that teach at those facilities will continue with face-to-face classes there. Faculty and staff will continue to report to work as normal during this period in order to maintain operations and be available to assist students as needed.  If you are in a high-risk category and have concerns about returning to work, please contact your division chair.

We are attaching some resources to this email to help you make the transition to a distance education format. We will also have staff available to help with recording lectures, uploading content, etc. We are aware that some classes transition better to an online environment than others, but it is important that we work together to ensure students are receiving the best
education we can provide. If you have questions or need assistance, please make sure to contact Dr. Wansick.

We appreciate your cooperation, flexibility and understanding as we adapt to the ever-changing situation. Since the gathering of groups presents the greatest opportunity to spread germs, we believe this is the best course of action that will further protect the Connors community.

As we have already stated, in light of the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, the following protective measures will be enacted.

  • The College will transition all face-to-face course to distance learning format for the two-week period following Spring Break, beginning March 23 through Friday, April 3.
    • Campuses will remain open.
    • Residence Halls and the cafeteria will remain open.
    • All employees are expected to report to work on Monday, March 23, 2020.
  • All College -related events scheduled to occur between March 14 and April 5 are suspended.  This includes, but is not limited to: recruitment events, tours, student programs, reunions, performances, conferences, and social events.  We will continue to evaluate event hosting and will issue an announcement regarding events slated for April 5 and beyond.
  • Effective immediately, all non-essential college-sponsored domestic air travel is suspended until further notice.
  • Effective immediately, all out-of-state travel for college business or academic purposes is suspended until further notice, unless such travel is essential to the College. (Prior administrative approval required.)
  • There are no current restrictions on in-state college travel.

Please note, the Oklahoma State Department of Health encourages anyone who returns from an area with travel restrictions, or anyone who is experiencing flu-like symptoms, to self-quarantine for 14 days and report any concerning symptoms to a health care provider or call the OSDH Call Center at 877-215-8336. Symptoms of COVID-19 may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 after exposure.
Instructors, please contact your department head if you have any questions. For all other campus operation questions, please contact Dr. Janet Wansick  janet.wansick@connorsstate.edu . For significant developments, we will notify you through the text alert system. All other updates will be provided
via your college email. We have information on our website and will continue to update it as needed.

Your safety and health are of utmost importance, so please monitor yourself and your family closely during this time as there are rapid developments.

Monday, March 16, 2020

Connors State College Students, Faculty and Staff,

There have been several significant developments regarding COVID-19 since the last communication including the following:

  • The College will transition all face-to-face course to a distance learning format for the two-week period following Spring Break, beginning March 23 through Friday, April 3.
    • Campuses will remain open.
    • Residence Halls and the cafeteria will remain open.
    • All employees are expected to report to work on Monday, March 23, 2020.
    • Students who work on campus should contact their supervisor to discuss work schedules. 
  • All College -related events scheduled to occur between March 14 and April 5 are suspended.  This includes, but is not limited to: recruitment events, tours, student programs, reunions, performances, conferences, and social events.  We will continue to evaluate event hosting and will issue an announcement regarding events slated for April 5 and beyond.
  • Effective immediately, all non-essential college-sponsored domestic air travel is suspended until further notice.
  • Effective immediately, all out-of-state travel for college business or academic purposes is suspended until further notice, unless such travel is essential to the College. (Prior administrative approval required.)
  • There are no current restrictions on in-state college travel.

While many of our employees and students will be traveling over spring break, we hope those who do will familiarize themselves with the protocols from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html.

As a reminder, we ask that you take extra precautions to protect your health including frequent handwashing and the use of hand sanitizer, covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue, avoiding sharing utensils or drinks, avoiding contact with sick people, avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth and maintain good sleep and dietary habits. We encourage you to check the Oklahoma State Department of Health and the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention websites to find updated guidance. If you are experiencing any flu-like symptoms, you should remain home, notify your supervisor or instructors, and not report to work or class.

Please note, the Oklahoma State Department of Health encourages anyone who returns from an area with travel restrictions, or anyone who is experiencing flu-like symptoms, to self-quarantine for 14 days and report any concerning symptoms to a health care provider or call the OSDH Call Center at 877-215-8336. Symptoms of COVID-19 may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 after exposure.

We will continue to provide updates as the COVID-19 situation continues to unfold. Thank you in advance for your cooperation and patience as decisions regarding this matter are made.  The situation is being monitored.  If any changes are to take place, employees and students will be notified via email as soon as any decisions occur.  Thank you for helping prepare for changes in operations. 

Monday, March 13, 2020

Coronavirus Update March 13, 2020

The health and well-being of our entire Connors community is always of paramount importance. Your campus leadership is closely monitoring the evolution and spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). We feel it is important to mention that at this time, the State Department of Health has indicated the coronavirus is NOT currently spreading in Oklahoma and the general public’s immediate health risk related to this virus is low.

Out of an abundance of caution, our campus leaders have implemented the following:

  • Placing additional hand sanitizing station in campus buildings
  • Utilizing sanitizing foggers in offices, buildings, vehicles, and residence halls
  • Placing handouts around campus with information on protecting yourself and others from the spread of not only this virus, but other infectious organisms as well

At this time, we continue to encourage you to practice the following:

  • Safe and frequent hand-washing, washing your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water, or utilizing hand sanitizer that is at least 60% alcohol
  • Stay home if you feel sick
  • Cover your mouth with your elbow when coughing or sneezing
  • Routinely clean frequently touched surfaces with a disinfectant

Upon returning from Spring Break, it is the plan for Connors to conduct business as usual and reopen to all students, staff, and faculty. Should the situation change and distance education classes implemented, you will be notified via your campus email. Campus leadership will be monitoring the situation throughout the break in an effort to best protect our student body and employees. Should you travel over Spring Break, we ask that you familiarize yourself with, and practice, the protocols from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Additionally, if you plan to travel over the break, we ask that you notify us by email at csc_sec@connorsstate.edu to inform us of your travel plans.

Please note that we are working diligently to balance action steps with updates as they become available; the situation evolves rapidly, and we are working closely with the experts and our peers to ensure we make sound, logical, and well- timed decisions. We appreciate your patience as we determine, as a team, the best decisions for Connors as a whole.

Wednesday, March 11, 2020

Coronavirus Update

Contingency Plan for Course Continuation

The health and well-being of our campus community are paramount to all of us as we continue to closely monitor the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). We are coordinating closely with other colleges and universities and following the guidance of local, state, national and global health officials as we contemplate the timing of contingency plans and next steps.

While no decision has been made, we will monitor the situation closely and will explore all options as the situation develops.

Residential students are advised to take any course materials and devices with them as they leave for spring break in the event that face-to-face instruction moves to a distance education format. Resources will be made available to students and faculty should we suspend in-person instruction.

We would ask that you notify us by email at csc_sec@connorsstate.edu in the event you do travel out of the country over break so we can take appropriate precautions.

Travel Restrictions/Guideline

  • Today we are issuing new travel restrictions and guidelines:
  • International travel for personal reasons is strongly discouraged.
  • Effective immediately, all non-essential College-sponsored domestic air travel is suspended until further notice.
  • Effective immediately, all out-of-state travel for College-related business or academic purposes is suspended unless the travel is deemed essential to the college. Please check with your supervisor for clarification.
  • There are no current restrictions on in-state college travel.

While thousands of students and employees will be traveling over spring break, we hope those who do will familiarize themselves with the protocols from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and heed their advice and recommendations.

Please continue to check your college email, the website and CSC’s social media for updates. We will continue to provide updates as the COVID-19 situation continues to unfold. Thank you in advance for your cooperation and patience as we make decisions regarding this matter.