Pierce COVID-19 Student Updates

Pierce > Offices > Covid-19 : Pierce COVID-19 Student Updates

Important Pierce Student Updates During COVID-19

May 29, 2020 - Fall Schedule of Classes has Posted; Choose Classes
Registration begins June 15

The Fall 2020 Schedule of Classes at Pierce College has posted and we invite you to review it and choose your classes at this time at http://www.piercecollege.edu/schedules/index.asp. Fall classes will be online, and services and business will all continue to be delivered in a remote environment. Registration begins Monday, June 15 and will continue during the summer.

Please keep in mind that Pierce College’s physical campus remains closed during this time in accordance with health and safety guidelines for education.

We have converted our services to online delivery, so visit our website for information. A great place to start is our new Student Services Online webpage at http://www.piercecollege.edu/pierce_students_divx.asp.

May 28, 2020 - Unemployment Benefits for Students
Information from the LACCD

Dear LACCD Students,

Recently, we asked Mayor Garcetti’s office and the non-profit organization Unite LA to provide help to all of our students who have not yet applied for Unemployment Insurance, and they produced the attached flyer for you or you may download the flyer via this link: Download the Unemployment Insurance Benefits PDF

Many of our students are eligible for Unemployment Insurance and have not yet applied. People who received a W2 or 1099 may be eligible for Unemployment Insurance and the additional $600 per week in federal supplements.

This flyer provides additional resources to help you successfully apply or determine if you are eligible. Please reach out to these resources as it may make a huge difference to you.

Sincerely,

Larry Frank, Interim Vice Chancellor
Workforce & Resource Development
Los Angeles Community College District

File attachments:
LACity COVID-19 - Unemployment Insurance.pdf

May 27, 2020 - Zoom 5.0 Security Upgrade Required by May 30
You won't get in to Zoom after May 30 until you upgrade

It is IMPORTANT that you upgrade to Zoom 5.0 software before May 30 or you won’t be able to log into any Zoom meetings.

Below is Zoom's announcement, which has a link to download the software. Don’t forget to update on your computer AND any other devices you use for Zoom (phone, tablet, etc.)

Announcement and Info Page for Zoom Users – Upgrade to Zoom 5.0
https://zoom.us/docs/en-us/zoom-v5-0.html

Zoom 5.0 Download link:
To upgrade your Zoom, please visit zoom.com/download

Want to Zoom better? TIPS! This 4-minute video gives you a great overview of Zoom. Want some cool tips? Here’s a 12-minute video featuring “Seven Zoom Meeting Tips Every User Should Know!”

May 27, 2020 - ASO To Host "We Are Here For You" Student Town Hall
Register via Zoom for May 29 Event and Send Your Questions in Advance

ASO is hosting a Student Town Hall that is student-led and for students! The WE ARE HERE FOR YOU STUDENT TOWN HALL is going to be held on Friday, May 29 from 12 to 1 p.m. and pre-registration is required (link below). The virtual Student Town Hall with President Montevirgen will be moderated by student leaders, ASO President Vivian Yee and ASO Treasurer Brandon Le.

We would like to provide you with the opportunity to submit questions ahead of Friday's Town Hall. If you would like to submit a question to potentially be asked during the event, please use this link and submit by Thursday, May 28 at noon. We look forward to answering as many student-submitted questions as possible during the Town Hall.

If you need accommodations to participate, please update Dr. Lara Conrady (conradll@piercecollege.edu) by Wednesday, May 27 at noon.

Please register in advance for the Student Town Hall via Zoom:

https://laccd.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYsc-6hqDooE9C6zdvpyIjHvTBvuOXLGnOC

Thanks,

Lara Conrady Wong, Ph.D.
Student Engagement Coordinator & Counselor
Office of Student Engagement
Direct: 818.710.2538

May 11, 2020 - Invitation to Pierce Class of 2020 for "Virtual Recognition Ceremony" June 9 at 6 p.m.

Make your Video, Make your Grad Slide, Submit by Wed., May 20 at 5 p.m.

Update 5/21: Submissions are now closed. We'll virtually see you at the Ceremony!

Dear Class of 2020:

"Resilient Times for Brilliant Minds" is the theme for the 2020 LACCD Virtual Recognition Ceremony, hosted on June 9 by each of the nine colleges in the Los Angeles Community College District in celebration of your achievements as a member of the 2020 graduating class. Pierce College's ceremony will begin at 6 p.m.

Yes, we understand that the Virtual Recognition Ceremony is not a substitute for the excitement and joy of an in-person ceremony. Please know that each campus will be inviting you to its 2021 in-person ceremony so that you will also have the opportunity to fully participate in a traditional Commencement exercise.

This email contains all the information that you'll need if you choose to be part of the festivities (and we hope that you do). As a reminder, all the "Frequently Asked Questions"--which are updated as needed--can be found here on the LACCD website.

Below you'll find the step-by-step instructions for participation. However, don't delay in submitting all your information, because we have a "hard and fast" deadline of 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 20.

ONE. Make your video. You have the opportunity to make a ten-second video that will be included in your College's ceremony. The details are in the attachment labeled "LACCD Video Recording Instructions." Follow the steps outlined, and when you get to section #5 that says "Delivery," you'll use one of the links below for your College.

Also at this link is an opportunity to RSVP and to provide information about your name as you want it to appear in the Ceremony, as well as help for your College announcers with pronunciation if necessary. Be sure that you've also included a correct mailing address.

Student RSVP & Video Upload Link for LA Pierce College: https://form.jotform.com/201274481870152

Remember that you graduate from only one college: the one you've identified as your "home institution." If you're not sure, you need to confirm by contacting Admissions and Records at the college that you think is your home institution.

TWO. Make your Grad Slide. The Grad Slide will include your picture, your name, pertinent information (e.g., primary major), and a short quote, if you wish. The Slide is shown, along with your video, when your name is announced. Information about Grad Slides will come in a separate email from Grad Images, so be sure that the email doesn't accidentally go into your junk file.

THREE. Plan your celebration. We encourage you to hold viewing parties so that friends and family can share in your accomplishments. Two attachments will be sent in your college email along with this letter to provide you more information.

"Virtual Recognition Ceremony Viewing Instructions"--Provided here are the links for how to view through Facebook or YouTube. One slide shows a blank for time of the ceremony. This is the time that the video will be officially available on June 9. Since the time is different for the nine different colleges, just go to your home institution's website and you'll find an announcement.
"How to Celebrate in Social Distance Style"--Take a look at the many great ideas for making a party of the day and creating a celebration at home.

If you've any questions about your local ceremony, please reach out to the Commencement Chair for your campus: LA Pierce College Dean William Marmolejo, marmolwa@piercecollege.edu

Don't forget to visit our FAQ on our Virtual Recognition Ceremony here: http://laccd.edu/About/News/Pages/Virtual-Recognition-Ceremony.aspx

On behalf of all of us in the Los Angeles Community College District, we take great pride in your achievements and recognize your tenacity in completing your program during this unprecedented time. We hope that you'll join us in making the Virtual Recognition Ceremony a true celebration of what you've accomplished.

Sincerely,

The President Tri-Chairs of the LACCD Virtual Recognition Ceremony:
Dr. Seher Awan, Los Angeles Southwest College
Dr. James Limbaugh, West Los Angeles College
Dr. Katrina VanderWoude, Los Angeles Trade Tech College

P.S. Remember to see your college email for the attachments

May 6, 2020 - Join Student “We are Here for You” Forum with Pierce and ASO Presidents
Register for Friday, May 8 at noon via Zoom

Students,

We are hosting a Student Forum for students to come together virtually!

The WE ARE HERE FOR YOU: A Student Forum is going to be held on Friday, May 8 from 12 p.m. -1 p.m. and pre-registration is required (link below). The Student Forum will be co-hosted by our ASO President Vivian Yee and Pierce College President Dr. Alexis Montevirgen. The forum will be moderated by Dean Juan Carlos Astorga.

As a student, we would like to provide you with the opportunity to submit questions ahead of Friday's forum. If you would like to submit a question to potentially be asked during the Student Forum, please use this link and submit by Thursday, May 7 at noon. We look forward to answering as many student-submitted questions as possible during the Forum.

During this unprecedented time in the world, and in higher education, LA Pierce College wants to remind you that WE ARE HERE FOR YOU!

If you need accommodations to participate in this event, please update Dr. Lara Conrady (conradll@piercecollege.edu) as soon as possible.

Below is the information needed to register in advance for the Student Forum via Zoom:

https://laccd.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0tdOirrTMiGdxvQJuG-VqgsSGlg1FpDAPc

Lara Conrady Wong, Ph.D.
Student Engagement Coordinator & Counselor
Office of Student Engagement
Direct: 818.710.2538

May 4, 2020 - Access Your Student Health Center
Both Medical and Mental Health Services available

Dear LACCD Students,

Your success in higher education is our highest purpose at the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD). I wanted to personally remind you how important it is that you take care of yourself physically and mentally during the current Coronavirus public health emergency.

As an LACCD student at one of our nine colleges, you have access to your Student Health Center for both medical and mental health services. While the Health Centers are not physically open on our campuses, they all continue to maintain regular hours by telephone for your health needs. Part of their resources include virtual telemedicine and/or the ability to refer you to either their parent clinics or other local healthcare providers for in-person needs.

When you call the Student Health Center number below, please identify yourself as an LACCD student and your home college so they know how to best connect you to their services.

Pierce Student Health Center
Phone Number: (818) 710-4270
Hours of Operation: Mon. thru Thurs. – 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Note: Be ready with your Student ID number, cell phone number, name and need. Voice messages left up to 30 min. before closing will be returned that day. Messages are checked every 2 hours.

Nothing is more important than taking care of your physical and mental health and we urge you to use your college’s Student Health Center resources when needed.

Also remember to check online with us at www.laccd.edu/coronavirus for updated information about the District, the colleges and student resources not only from LACCD but the surrounding communities as well.

If you are in crisis and you need immediate mental health assistance, you can also call Los Angeles County’s Mental Health access line 24/7 at (800) 854-7771, or text them with “LA” to 741741 for confidential support from trained crisis counselors.

Please remember that you are not alone! We’re here to support you. We are all in this together and it’s OK if you feel concerned, anxious or worried about the current situation—we all feel the same way, but there are no-cost resources available right now for you to talk to someone if you need medical or mental health resources. My best wishes for your continued success. We got this!

With admiration and respect,

Francisco C. Rodriguez, Ph.D.
Chancellor
Los Angeles Community College District

April 30, 2020 - Fall Semester Will Be Held Online at L.A. Pierce College
Fall Semester runs August 31 - Dec. 20

The Fall Schedule will post online Friday, May 29.
Fall Registration for Continuing Students starts Monday, June 15.

LACCD Chancellor Francisco Rodriguez announced this week that Fall 2020 Semester, like Summer, will be offered in a remote/online learning environment for all LACCD Colleges, which includes Pierce.

"Given the present health and safety restrictions, all summer session classes, scheduled to begin June 15, 2020, and all fall semester classes will be offered in remote learning/online environments, at this point, with the possibility of returning for a limited number of “hard to convert” courses/programs, if health and safety allow at any point in the semester.

Student support services and most of the District’s business operations will continue to be conducted in similar remote service environments.

We are mindful of those classes that have been “hard to convert” to remote teaching and learning. We have been working with state agencies and faculty leaders to identify flexibility, simulations and solutions for laboratory, clinical, and other hands-on course and program requirements.

We ask for your patience and support as we work through these issues."

April 29, 2020 - Summer 2020 Online Schedule & Calendar Links

All Pierce College Summer classes are being held remotely online. Schedules for the three sessions -- A, B, and 8-week -- are now posted on our Schedules web page, and in your student portal, at the Online Searchable Summer 2020 Schedule of Classes link below.

Some classes will be held entirely online and others have some (or all) required live sessions. In the online searchable schedule, select each section to see specific notes for that section. These notes are also included in the Word versions for each session. If you have problems enrolling in a section, please contact Admissions and Records.

Online Searchable Summer 2020 Schedule of Classes
A Session Schedule (June 15th - July 19th), available for viewing and/or download as a Microsoft Word document | View Previous Schedules.
B Session Schedule (July 20th - August 23rd), available for viewing and/or download as a Microsoft Word document.
8-Week Session Schedule (June 15th - August 9th), available for viewing and/or download as a Microsoft Word document.
Los Angeles Pierce College General Catalog 2019-2020
For course descriptions, prerequisite/corequisites, and transferability, please refer to the current catalog , available for viewing or download as Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format (PDF) file.
Major Code List (opens in new window)

Check your student portal for your Summer Registration appointment day and time. Most Continuing Students' appointments begin May 11, 2020.

April 28, 2020 - Your Six Top Money Questions Answered by LAPC Business Office

Reach the Business Office by email at lapc-busofc@piercecollege.edu. Remember, Pierce College Students must use their LACCD email account for all transactions to protect student privacy.

Q: If the physical location is closed, how can I pay using cash?
Students who choose to pay in cash will need to obtain cashier's check or money order and mail it to the Pierce College Business Office. You must include you Student ID number on the cashier's check or money order so the office can post the payment correctly to your student account. The Business Office will be accessing US mail weekly and will process payment as timely as possible: Send to:

PIERCE COLLEGE BUSINESS OFFICE
6201 Winnetka Avenue
Woodland Hills, California 91371

Q: I have scholarship funds awarded for this semester that I would like to use. How do I go about getting those funds?
Any scholarship funds that the college has received for your benefit will be sent to you. You must email the Business Office at the general email address noted above in red and you will be advised as to any additional requirements needed.

Q: I have dropped some classes after the posted last day to drop because I do not want to take a course online. Will I receive a refund?
Students who have dropped some or all classes will receive a refund for fees paid for enrollment or tuition of the classes they have dropped. You will not be refunded ASO membership fees, ASO student representation fees, or Health Fees paid.

If your student account has an unpaid fee of any kind, this refund will be used first to clear this unpaid fee. If your refund exceeds the amount of any unpaid fee, or if there is no unpaid fee on your student account, the refund will go through an automated process of refunds. For information on how refunds are processed, please click on the refund tab below.

The deadline for dropping a class to receive this kind of refund is posted on the Admission and Records page of the college website.

Q: Will I be getting a parking permit refund from Spring Semester?
Students who are completing their course work at the college and have an application on file for graduation, and those students who plan to transfer at the end of the Spring 2020 semester, will automatically be provided a refund of 50% of the cost of their Parking Permits.

All other students will be allowed to use their current Parking Permits for parking when the on-campus classes are resumed in the Summer and/or Fall semesters of 2020.

Q: If I paid for material fees, will I receive a refund?
Material Fees are collected for materials planned to be used in class at the start of the semester for projects or assignments throughout the semester which can be taken home by students. Each class has different types of material fees charges. Some classes may have already distributed those materials to student while other may not have. The college will make every effort to refund material fees to students who did not use the materials that were paid for in advance at the start of the Spring semester. Refunds will be mailed to the student's address of record.

Q: How can I contact the Business Office with questions on my student account?
Please send us an email to lapc-busofc@piercecollege.edu. Pierce College Students must use their LACCD email account to protect student privacy.

http://www.piercecollege.edu/offices/business_office/

The Business Office is transitioning to remote delivery of our services. Our physical location is currently closed.

April 24, 2020 - Time to Apply for Pierce Foundation Scholarships
Deadline is May 30

The Foundation for Los Angeles Pierce College continually raises money to fund scholarships, making a real-life difference for the recipients. Scholarships are offered to all students to assist them in achieving their educational goals.

View and download a complete listing and descriptions of scholarships available at http://www.piercecollege.edu/foundation/docs/2020Scholarships_LAPCFoundation.pdf

The deadline to submit is May 30. Also, for scholarships that require letters of recommendation, the recommenders have a deadline of June 12th to submit their responses.

Instructions to Apply:

Apply for LA Pierce College Foundation Scholarships online
Go to your portal at mycollege.laccd.edu and enter your student ID and password.
From your Student Homepage, select "Key Links & Help."
Within "Key Links & Help," select "Scholarships."
You will be redirected to the NextGen scholarship platform.
Select "Login Here" under Student Login.
You will be taken to the main page listing the scholarships for which you may be qualified based on the scholarship's criteria.
Select the scholarship(s) you wish to apply to and submit an application. There are some scholarships which require additional items such as letters of recommendation, verification of financial need or an essay which you can also complete online. Note: Many of the questions will have responses auto-populated with your data from the Student Information System.
For those students awarded a scholarship a thank you letter to the scholarship donor must be received by the Foundation before scholarship funds will be released.

Scholarship funds will be delivered to you through the BankMobile payment process. Please look out for an email from BankMobile instructing you of next steps to select your refund preference.

A student may be awarded more than one scholarship; however, a total of $2,000 is the maximum amount any one student may be awarded.

April 23, 2020 - Need help with your new Chromebook?
Set Up Guide and Tech Support through human-I-T

If you are a student who just received one of the free Chromebooks, the our supplier, human-I-T, provides one year of tech support. Use the Chromebook Setup Guide to get started. Contact them directly for tech support using contact info in the guide.

These Chromebooks are yours to keep. If you have not received the Chromebook you applied for, please check your college email account for updates and make sure they have your mailing address in your account. All Chromebooks are being shipped -- there is no more in-person pickup.

Almost 11,000 Chromebooks have been awarded and came to students through donations to our District. These funds are now spent and the District is raising more money with hopes of buying more.

If you want to apply for a Chromebook so that you are in the system when and if new ones are available, go to your student portal. After logging in, look for the “Financial Aid and Scholarships” icon tile or the "Key Links" tile. Click on “Scholarships” and look for the laptop application option.

Have you seen the District Student FAQs?
http://laccd.edu/About/News/Pages/FAQs.aspx

Student COVID-19 LACCD Useful Information:
http://laccd.edu/About/News/Pages/Coronavirus---For-Students.aspx

April 22, 2020 - Thousands of LACCD Students Receive Laptops, Students’ Current Mailing Addresses Needed for Thousands More To Be Shipped

Thousands of free Chromebooks have been shipped to Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) students during the past few weeks and thousands more are now on the way thanks to the efforts by the Foundation for the Los Angeles Community Colleges and generous donors who have provided funding for the devices.

The Foundation has reviewed and awarded more than 10,700 applications filed by students, but there are about an additional 3,000 students who need to provide a current mailing addresses before their Chromebook can be shipped.

Students are advised to check their LACCD student email account ending with “@student.laccd.edu” for an email from “notify@NGWebSolutions.com” with specific instructions and a clickable link to a form for students to complete. A second, follow-up email is being sent this week to these students as a reminder for their mailing address information.

“We need students to respond to their LACCD student email, click the link in the email and provide the current mailing addresses so we can ship their Chromebooks,” Foundation Executive Director Michael Fuller said.

“The supplier is sending the computers via United Parcel Service (UPS) and it is imperative that students provide an accurate mailing address that is not a P.O. Box. If a student lives in an apartment, the specific unit number also must be included with the mailing address.”

An email notification of the award with was sent to each student to their LACCD email account. The follow-up email is now being sent. If students need helping logging into the system, or a password reset, they can call the LACCD Student Help Line toll free at (844) 695-2223, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

All Chromebooks awarded by the Foundation are being mailed to students. No drive-thru distributions are being held due to safety concerns. The Chromebooks are being sent as quickly as possible directly from the vendor, Fuller said. All student applications submitted after April 21 will be processed as quickly as possible once the existing applications and mailings are completed.

April 21, 2020 - Here's How to Access Cranium Cafe to Connect With Us

Students, are you looking for online services at Pierce College? Want to get updated information or reach someone at the college regarding classes, refunds, graduation, or financial aid? Here's how to access CRANIUM CAFE, where it all takes place.

Take a look at this online services platform that Pierce College has to help.
Watch this Powtoon video (1 min. 45 sec.), which covers

access
possible obstacles you might encounter
selecting the right group for the service you need
other services you can find.

https://www.powtoon.com/m/eBd1qKomIbd/1/m?utm_source=email

We are here for you!

April 13, 2020 - All Spring 2020 Classes Will Remain Remote Through End of Semester; Summer Classes Announced
Summer Schedule Posts April 24; Enrollment Begins May 4, 2020

District (LACCD) Chancellor Francisco C. Rodriguez, Ph.D., today announced that in response to the ongoing COVID-19 health emergency, the District’s Spring 2020 classes at all nine colleges—including Pierce College--will continue in remote platforms for the remainder of the semester currently scheduled to end June 8, 2020.

Summer Classes, beginning June 15, 2020, will be offered remote.

Summer session classes scheduled to begin June 15, 2020, as well as student support services and most of the District’s business operations, will be delivered online only. The Summer Schedule will post in the Student Information System on April 24.

For current LACCD students, a tiered priority registration schedule for summer classes begins Monday, May 4, 2020, through Sunday, May 17. Open enrollment for all begins Monday, May 18 and remains open until the summer session begins, June 15.

Existing students will be notified of their registration timelines via messages from the student portal, MyCollege.laccd.edu. If students need password, login or navigation help on the student portal they can call the LACCD Student Help Line toll free number at (844) 695-2223, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

New and returning students are reminded that summer session classes will be offered only through remote learning platforms. If the current emergency situation changes and the District can safely resume in-person instruction, additional classes may be added.

Guidance for Students in Classes that Will Not be Resuming Remotely

An updated review of classes shifted to remote platforms determined that less than five percent could not be transferred into remote instruction and another four percent cannot be completed without in-person instruction for grading and other hands-on course requirements, such as theater stage production and lighting classes, laboratory course work and nursing classes. These classes will continue to be postponed through the end of the Spring Semester, but they are not cancelled. No decision has been made on the status of these classes for the summer session.

Students enrolled in postponed classes will continue to be enrolled in these classes until they can be safely completed. No further action by students is required to complete these classes at this time. Students enrolled in these classes are advised to maintain contact with their instructors.

April 8, 2020 - Considering Pass/No Pass? The Pros, Cons and Deadline
Information from the LACCD

Dear LACCD Student,

The Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) realizes that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted not only your instructional learning but also your daily lives. To lessen your anxiety and support your completion of your spring courses, the state Chancellor’s Office has provided relief in an executive order that waives timelines and other restrictions related to students’ abilities to request Pass/No Pass (P/NP) as a grading option.

For the Spring 2020 term, the LACCD will lift the restriction on the number of courses/units students can take for Pass/No Pass. Additionally, these courses will not count towards the maximum number of P/NP limits one may apply to a certificate or degree, including major courses.

All classes can be taken either Graded or as Pass/No Pass. Courses that are already designated locally as Pass/No Pass only will remain Pass/No Pass only. Per title 5 section 55023, a Pass means "at least satisfactory," and a grade of Pass shall be equivalent to earning a letter grade of C or higher.

The deadline to petition for a grade basis change (i.e., Graded to Pass/No Pass) is the last day to drop with a W/EW for the course.

You must send the request in from your college email account.

For courses taken this term as a replacement/repeat of a previously-graded course may be taken Pass/No Pass. (Note that a grade of “Pass” will replace a previous grade, while a grade of “No Pass” will not replace a previous grade.) The previous grade GPA will not be counted towards the student’s cumulative GPA if replaced with the Pass grade.

Students are strongly encouraged to speak with a Counselor to discuss their options for taking a course Pass/No Pass and the impact it may have on their academic standing, admissions, financial aid, and transfer to a CSU, UC or private universities.

Most transfer institutions do not compute a GPA for a Pass/No Pass course; however, in some instances a passing grade is computed at a 2.0 level, potentially adversely affecting a student’s overall GPA score.

Private and out-of-state universities have different policies on use of Pass/No Pass.
Most transfer institutions—including CSU, UC, and graduate or professional schools—require courses for the major to be completed with a letter grade. A Pass grade may result in a student needing to retake a course either before or after transfer.
The UC has waived the limitation on total number of units allowable by Pass/No Pass, but has not waived requirements for local transfer requirements or major courses to be taken by letter grade.
A transfer, professional or graduate institution may restrict the allowable transfer units taken as Pass/No Pass. Nursing program course prerequisites may require a letter grade.

To chat with an Academic Counselor or an Admission’s representative, click on the “Online Counseling & Live Chat” tile on your MyCollege.laccd.edu student homepage.

To execute a Pass/No Pass grading option, complete the Pass/No Pass Petition, https://laccd.edu/Students/Documents/Pass%20No%20Pass%20Petition.doc and return the form from your District email address (Student.laccd.edu) to the college email address below. If you are unable to scan and return the document with your handwritten signature; type your name in the signature line instead.

LA Pierce College: PierceAdmissions@PierceCollege.edu

The faculty, staff and administration of the Los Angeles Community College District wishes you much success in your classes, in addition to comfort, ease, and health during this uncertain times.

Los Angeles Community College Administration

April 8, 2020 - New At-Home Access Created for Pierce Students in Adobe Creative Cloud
Instructions from the LACCD

Dear Students,

As a result of campus closure, student access to Adobe Creative Cloud in labs and classrooms is not available. Adobe has provided temporary at-home access for impacted students and faculty, so that they can continue their work remotely. This access is currently available through May 31, 2020. The District IT team has worked to allow for single sign-on for accessing Adobe Creative Cloud.

Please follow the instructions below to enable access to Creative Cloud Desktop Apps on your personal device.

Visit https://creativecloud.adobe.com and use your school credentials to sign in. You will need to use your @student.laccd.edu email account.

You will be redirect to the Microsoft logon to enter your school credentials again.

Enter your @student.laccd.edu again and click Next. You will be redirected to the LACCD logon page.
Enter your LACCD Password to continue.

From the Creative Cloud website, browse for and download your desired app. Click Apps on the top of the page to view all apps.

For more information on how to download or install apps, see Download and Install Creative Cloud apps.

For Higher Education students to continue developing skills, Adobe offers free “Daily Creative Challenges”. These are guided projects where participants receive creative prompts and connect with pros, mentors, and other students for feedback and support. Click on the app name to learn more: Photoshop, XD and Illustrator. Also, for inspiration and over-the-shoulder learning, watch pros share their creative process on Adobe Live daily at www.behance.net/adobelive.

For faculty seeking to engage students during campus closures, Adobe has curated resources to help them discover inspiring projects, best practices, and new ideas so they can continue to drive valuable learning in virtual environments. For more information on Adobe’s distance learning resources please click here.

Regards,

Ryan Cornner, Ed.D
Vice Chancellor for Educational Programs and Institutional Effectiveness

Please visit this HelpX page if you have questions.

April 7, 2020 - Late-Start Classes begin April 14 -- Are you signed up?
There's Still Time to Enroll in second session eight-week classes at Pierce

Get ready for your Late Start Classes, which will begin Tuesday, April 14.

If you are already signed up for a late-start class, your professor will send you a notification about how the course will be conducted in an online format. Be on the lookout.

If you aren't signed up, why not register now? There is still time to enroll in late-start, eight-week classes. To find them, go into the Student Portal Class Search and at last link for "Session" select "2nd 8 weeks."

Keep in mind that for all of our health and safety, the Pierce College physical campus is still closed and all classes are being delivered online. We are all learning online together.

Keep up the good work! We hope to see you in our late start classes.

Pierce Administration

April 3, 2020 - L.A. County Opens New Drive-Up Testing Sites, Increasing COVID-19 Testing Capacity for Residents

LA County is ramping up COVID-19 testing sites, opening three additional locations on April 3, 2020 and developing many others countywide. The sites opening April 3 are at the Pomona Fairplex (Gate 17 - W. McKinley/Fairplex Drive), the South Bay Galleria (1815 Hawthorne Blvd., Redondo Beach, CA 90278), and the Antelope Valley Mall (1233 Rancho Vista Blvd., Palmdale, CA 91768). The testing is by appointment only. Walk-up appointments are not available.

Visit coronavirus.lacity.org/Testing. At this time, testing is limited in Los Angeles. We are working to expand testing as quickly as possible to provide this service to all Angelenos who need it.

For the moment, these tests are strictly limited to residents of Los Angeles County who are in the most high-risk categories and most vulnerable.

Individuals eligible for testing at this time include:

Those with symptoms who are 65 and older
Those with symptoms who have underlying chronic health conditions
Those who are subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine period due to a confirmed COVID-19 exposure (with more than 7 days of quarantine remaining)

For people who prefer not to visit a drive-through test center, there are a limited number of tests available at a walk-in clinic. Select the Carbon Health-Echo Park location on the appointment registration website.

For more questions about testing, please visit our FAQ for answers to frequently asked questions.

Anyone interested in getting tested must first register on the screening website, coronavirus.lacity.org/Testing. This first step determines if people are eligible to be tested. At the website, individuals are asked to answer basic questions including name, date of birth, address, and whether they are exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, coughing, and difficulty breathing. The website (in real time) determines and confirms an individual’s testing eligibility. Those who receive confirmation of testing eligibility will then be given a selection of testing sites, available appointment times to complete the test registration process. The registration number will be required information at the testing site.

All of the testing locations are “drive-up” — clients stay in their cars for tests (though pedestrian clients with appointments can be tested as well). There are two types of tests: a nasal swab and an oral swab. The nasal swab is administered by trained hospital or fire department staff. The oral swabs are self-administered, meaning clients must swab their own mouths/throats using instructions provided to them at the site. The testing process takes between 5 and 10 minutes, however waiting times may vary. More information and frequently asked questions are available at covid19.lacounty.gov/testing/.

April 2, 2020 – Letter from the LACCD Chancellor on Commencement
One Way or Another, Your Commencement is On

Dear LACCD Students,
I hope this message finds you and your families well. I wanted to provide you with an important update about Commencement 2020.

Graduating Students – your achievements are very important to us and we want you to have the best commencement possible. Under the current health and safety conditions, we all know that a traditional commencement with large crowds is not possible, but a celebration is in the works because you deserve the recognition!

While no specific plans for a virtual, or rescheduled, commencement have been finalized, your special celebration has our full attention and we will be seeking student input. We will provide more information as quickly as possible, but know that one way or another, Your Commencement is On!

Congrats to our Class of 2020!

Salud, fuerza y corazón. Health, strength and heart.

Francisco C. Rodriguez, Ph.D.
Chancellor, Los Angeles Community College District

We are the Colleges of Los Angeles!

www.laccd.edu

April 2, 2020 - Information about COVID-19 Testing
From the City of Los Angeles

At this time, testing is limited in Los Angeles. We are working to expand testing as quickly as possible to provide this service to all Angelenos who need it.

For the moment, these tests are strictly limited to residents of Los Angeles County who are in the most high-risk categories and most vulnerable.

You can find out if you are eligible for testing on this webpage: https://lacovidprod.service-now.com/rrs

Individuals eligible for testing at this time include:

Those with symptoms who are 65 and older
Those with symptoms who have underlying chronic health conditions
Those who are subject to a mandatory 14 day quarantine period due to a confirmed COVID-19 exposure (with more than 7 days of quarantine remaining)

For people who prefer not to visit a drive-through test center, there are a limited number of tests available at a walk-in clinic. Select the Carbon Health-Echo Park .

For more questions about testing, please visit our FAQ for answers to frequently asked questions.

April 1, 2020 - Students that Qualify Can Get $500 One-Time Grant
Courtesy of the California Community College State Chancellor's Office

California College Student Emergency Support Fund Grants Launches in Response to COVID-19.

During these challenging times, it is more important than ever to help the most vulnerable students stay in school, earn their degrees, and build a better future for themselves and our communities.

The California College Student Emergency Support Fund has launched to give one-time $500 hardship grants to students. Administered by Mission Asset Fund (MAF), the Fund is a statewide philanthropic response to address emergency needs for the state’s low-income college students, including undocumented immigrants, foster youth, and those who are housing insecure.

As colleges and universities respond to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, students find themselves facing a wide variety of challenges and costs. The Fund was created to cover unplanned financial expenses such as housing, technology, and more to support educational continuity, persistence, and degree completion for California’s college students through this crisis.

Am I Eligible?

To be eligible for the California College Student Emergency Support Fund, students must:

Be currently enrolled full-time (12+ units) as an undergraduate at a California Community College, California State University, or University of California campus
Have earned at least 24 semester units or 36 quarter units (i.e., one academic year of coursework)
Be low-income, with a maximum Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) of $5,576 (equivalent to eligibility for Pell Grant) or eligible for a California College Promise Grant Fee Waiver (formerly known as the BOG fee waiver)

After approval, students can expect to receive the money via electronic transfer within 72 hours.

How Can I Apply?

Students can apply for a grant online at bit.ly/covid-student-grant

Applications and grant payments to students will be processed by MAF. MAF is a well-established non-profit organization that carried out a similar emergency fund effort in 2017 to pay for DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) recipients’ renewal fees.

We encourage interested students to apply as quickly as possible as these funds will go fast.

It will help to have the following items at the ready: your transcript, financial aid eligibility (any financial aid statement or award letter that shows EFC or California College Promise Grant Fee Waiver), and electronic banking login information (not required).

Major Donors to The California College Student Emergency Support Fund Include: College Futures Foundation - Ballmer Group - Stuart Foundation - Tipping Point Community - Weingart Foundation

March 31, 2020 - LACCD Shares an Important Message to the Community from DPSS Director Antonia Jimenez

Dear Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) New and Current Customers:

It has been two weeks since the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health asked us to close our doors to the public to help slow the spread of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). These extraordinary times require extreme measures; the good news is that you do not need to personally visit any of our offices to apply for or renew your benefits.

We know that in times of crisis, individuals and families need our services more than ever. While our doors are temporarily closed, I want to assure everyone in our community that DPSS is still open for business and ready to serve you.

1. If you are currently receiving CalFresh, CalWORKs, General Relief, Refugee Cash Assistance, or Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI), your benefits will continue at the same level for March, April and May 2020. You do not have to submit a SAR-7, QR-7, or a recertification packet. You do not need to call our office as your benefits will continue without interruption. Your recertification will be due six months from your original due date. You will receive a notification letter informing you of when your next recertification is due.

If your recertification packet was due in:

March 2020 - Your recertification is now due in September 2020.
April 2020 – Your recertification is now due in October 2020.
May 2020 – Your recertification is now due in November 2020.

Individuals should resume submitting the SAR-7 and QR-7 beginning in June 2020.

2. If you are currently receiving Medi-Cal, your benefits will continue for March, April and May 2020. However, you will still need to comply with the renewal reporting requirement for Medi-Cal or your benefits will be terminated after the 90 days.

If you have received your renewal packet, you can mail or upload it via the DPSS website and click on the Your Benefits Now (YBN) logo.

3. If you are currently receiving General Relief, your benefits will continue for March, April and May 2020. You do not need to submit a QR-7. You do not need to call our office as your benefits will continue.

4. CalWORKs and General Relief Welfare-to-Work requirements have been waived for March, April, and May 2020.

5. In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) reassessments have been suspended for 90 days. However, our social workers will contact IHSS recipients to conduct assessments via telephone and perform welfare checks. Unfortunately, the State still requires a face-to-face interview for new applications. DPSS will streamline this process by completing the application via telephone and scheduling the required face-to-face interview. To apply for IHSS, please call (888) 944-4477, or if you have questions, please contact our IHSS Helpline at (888) 822-9622.

Additional Relief for Existing CalFresh Customers

1. A CalFresh Emergency Allotment will be automatically added to your EBT card. This allotment will increase your CalFresh benefit to the maximum benefit amount for eligible household members up to a maximum of six members. For example, if you are a single adult receiving $140 per month, you will get an additional $54 for a maximum benefit amount of $194.

March allotment will be distributed sometime in mid-April 2020.
April allotment will be distributed at the end of April 2020.

Please visit the DPSS website at http://dpss.lacounty.gov/wps/portal/dpss or our social media pages for up-to-date information including the actual dates for issuance of the emergency allotments.

Good News for Individuals Who Need to Apply for Benefits

If you have lost your job, or just need assistance, please apply for benefits online by visiting the Your Benefits Now website DPSS website and clicking on the YBN logo to get started.

If you are applying for CalWORKs, General Relief, Refugee Cash Assistance, Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants, or CalFresh, please submit all the required documentation with the application and we will waive the application interview. We are accepting self-certification/attestation for photo-identification, residency, income and expense requirements when applying for all programs. For information about program requirements, please visit our website at DPSS website and click on the Programs & Services tab.

We are also posting the latest customer service updates on our website and on the County’s COVID-19 website at https://covid19.lacounty.gov/covid19/closures/. For immediate assistance by phone, please call our Customer Service Center at (866) 613-3777.

As we continue to provide our services online and over the phone, I want to take a moment to say THANK YOU to our nurses, doctors, grocery store workers, first responders, delivery drivers, pharmacy workers, food service employees, our eligibility workers and social workers who are working hard to save lives and keep us all going until this crisis is behind us.

I am asking for your help in sharing this important message with our community. If you would like to contact me directly and share your thoughts or ideas, please email me at dpssdirector@dpss.lacounty.gov.

March 30, 2020 - President Montevirgen Welcomes Back Brahma Community

Pierce College Brahma Community,

As classes and student services resume online today I have never been prouder to call Pierce College my home.

Faculty and staff, I thank you for sacrificing your personal time over these last several weeks to bring your classes and departments online and I commend your tireless commitment to being the best at what you do. Your work changes lives and the Pierce College community is forever grateful to you.

Students, thank you for your patience during this transition and for refusing to let the present crisis deter you from your dreams of a brighter future. Now, more than ever, we are counting on you to make that dream come true. To help you during this transition, please know:

If you need a laptop visit the student portal. After logging in, look for the “Financial Aid and Scholarships” icon tile or the "Key Links" tile. Click on “Scholarships” and look for the laptop application option.
If you need free WIFI access, visit the Charter Communications website to learn how to apply.
If you have Canvas or technology issues, visit our Pierce Online student resources page.
All counseling, financial aid, admissions and registration for summer and fall, and other student support departments are open, online, to serve you. Click here if you need assistance: http://www.piercecollege.edu/pierce_students.asp.

To keep you updated about the latest COVID-19 developments, we are regularly posting information to the District’s website www.laccd.edu/coronavirus and FAQ page. You are also invited to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news. College specific updates and information can also be found on the Pierce college website at: www.piercecollege.edu.

The unprecedented challenges posed by the global COVID-19 pandemic have impacted our daily lives in ways none of us could ever have imagined. But in this time of uncertainty, one thing has become clear: the critical role community colleges continue to play for our students, our communities, our state and our nation.

The coming months will bring many challenges, but with the support of our amazing faculty and the commitment of our fearless students, we will meet them head on.

We are all in this together. And we will get out of this together, too.

In unity and in health,

Alexis S. Montevirgen, Ed.D.
College President
Los Angeles Pierce College

March 29, 2020 - It's Back to Class for LACCD Students -- The Online Classroom

Full Expansion of FREE NetTutor online help for Students Announced

Tens of thousands of Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) students return to the classroom on Monday, March 30, 2020 -- the online classroom that is!

In the past two weeks since the COVID-19 pandemic forced schools and colleges across the nation to temporarily suspend instruction, including LACCD, the District’s faculty, administration and staff have worked non-stop to shift about 95 percent of all in-classroom courses to an online learning environment, as well as remote work platforms for business operations, to help fight against the community spread of the COVID-19 Coronavirus.

A special “Welcome Back” message from LACCD Chancellor Francisco C. Rodriguez, Ph.D., was released today as part of the outpouring of supportive messages to come from LACCD Board of Trustees President Andra Hoffman, from the College Presidents and others throughout the District to reassure students that the Colleges of Los Angeles are online and ready for them.

“I cannot be more proud of the work by the District’s faculty and staff to serve our students during this public health crisis. It is incredible to think that in just two short weeks, thousands of classes have been moved online, nearly 2,000 faculty have been trained and we are ready to teach and learn in the online world. We know it will not be perfect, but we also know that we are in this together,” Board President Hoffman said.

Chancellor Rodriguez said this has been “a truly historic and amazing all-hands-on-deck moment” for everyone throughout the District’s nine colleges and central office, as every facet of the organization has been impacted. “We are especially grateful to the faculty and staff, all of our employee bargaining units, all of the executive and administrative staff, and all who have pitched in to quickly pivot to virtual learning and work environments. I am truly inspired and awed. It is a real testament to the talent, fierce dedication and will of this organization to serve and educate students.”

Chancellor Rodriguez announced also today that the District is significantly expanding the line-up of classroom subjects available now for students completely FREE via NetTutor online.

Subjects now offered include Accounting, Administrative of Justice, Anatomy and Physiology, Anthropology, Astronomy, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Child Development, Communications and Speech, Computer Science and IT, Economics, English and Literature, ESL, Finance, French, FYE & College Student Success, Geology, German, History, Human Geography, Italian, Logic, Math (Algebra, Basic Math and Pre-Calculus), Math (Calculus and above), Math (Statistics and Probability), Music, Nursing and Health, Philosophy, Physical Geography, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Spanish and Writing.

Tutoring subjects depend on what classes each college offers its students. The colleges include Los Angeles City College, East Los Angeles College, Los Angeles Harbor College, Los Angeles Mission College, Los Angeles Pierce College, Los Angeles Southwest College, Los Angeles Trade-Technical College, Los Angeles Valley College and West Los Angeles College.

Other Important Reminders for All Students:

The colleges remain physically closed, but open online! There are no in-person student services available at the colleges, except for DSPS by scheduled appointment only.
All Student Services are online, including Financial Aid, DSPS/OSS, EOP&S, Admissions & Records, International Student Center and Counseling that respond to questions using instant messaging with virtual chat on your student portal.
Student Help Desk Available. If students need password, login or navigation help on the student portal, MyCollege.laccd.edu, call the toll free number at (844) 695-2223, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Summer Session is just around the corner and it will be all online! Stay enrolled for this important term. More details soon about registration schedules for students

If students have not done so already, all LACCD students are advised to click on the ”Getting Started” link at https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-18585-getting-started-with-canvas-as-a-student and to also review the online student guide for Canvas at https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-10701-canvas-student-guide-table-of-contents.

The California Community College’s California Virtual Campus-Online Education Initiative (OEI) is covering the NetTutor costs while instruction is taught online due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The District is now working on plans for classes that did not convert online, with a projected resumption date of Monday, May 4, 2020. Only about 175 classes could not be shifted under the current health restrictions and social distancing orders. The Chancellor has directed an update on this action no later than April 17 2020 and updated information shared as soon as possible.

Early Withdrawal & Refunds for Students
State authority has been granted to allow students to withdraw from classes because of the current crisis. If a student wants to withdraw, the student will receive an excused withdrawal (EW) on their transcript. The EW will not count against a student’s academic progress requirements and appropriate refunds will be made. All Students are encouraged to stay enrolled, but if they decided to do so, they need to contact their education counselors and financial aid office now.

All updated information will continue to be posted on the District’s website: www.laccd.edu/coronavirus including an updated Frequently Asked Questions and information in Spanish. Additional information is on the District’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LACCD/ and Twitter: https://twitter.com/laccd. California Community College is at: https://www.cccco.edu/About-Us/Chancellors-Office/Divisions/Communications-and-Marketing/Novel-Coronavirus

Prevention and Hygiene recommendations from LACDPH continues to be:

If you are sick for any reason, stay home!
Call your doctor or healthcare provider for direction
Follow all Health Orders, including the “Safer at Home” order from state and local officials
Symptoms to watch for include a fever over 100.4 degrees; cough or shortness of breath
Frequent and complete hand washing for at least 20 seconds
Stay six feet or more away from strangers and those who are ill
Stop shaking hands with others to reduce the spread of germs
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
Sneeze and cough into a tissue or your sleeve, safely throw away used tissues

March 26, 2020 - These Classes are the Exceptions to those Moving Online March 30

All classes are moving to remote, online instruction beginning March 30, 2020 with the exception of the courses listed below. If you are enrolled in one of these classes, your instructor may have already notified you what will be taking place online starting Monday (3/30) and what may resume face-to-face on May 4, 2020. If you have not received communication, please contact your instructor directly for this information.

Courses not moving fully online, but may still have some online instruction:

Animal Science: 181A-D, 413, 421, 431, 441, 470, 506, 596A-D, 603A-D, 604, 616, 621, 622, 623, 631, 650
Architecture: 161, 162, 172, 173, 271, 272
Automotive Service Technology: All Classes
CAOT: 63, 64, 65
Child Development: 22
Industrial Technology (Welding and Machining): All Classes
Music: 265-1, 265-2, 265-3
Nursing: All Classes
Plant Science: 714, 812
Vocational Education: 376CE, 385CE

Sincerely,

Sheri Berger
Vice President Academic Affairs

March 26, 2020 - We are Here to Help -- Online Student Support Services Available

Dear Students,

The District and the Colleges are working full speed to shift as many classes and support services as possible to online environments that will help provide you with a continuity of education and success.

Online classes begin March 30 at all nine colleges using Canvas for online learning. It is important that you take steps now, before March 30, to click on the ”Getting Started” link https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-18585-getting-started-with-canvas-as-a-student and to also review the online student guide for Canvas at https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-10701-canvas-student-guide-table-of-contents. We strongly recommend you do this now, before March 30.

You should also visit the Distance Learning webpages at your home college for additional resources. There are also many YouTube videos available on this topic, including https://www.youtube.com/user/CanvasLMS.

Meanwhile, key student services such as Financial Aid, DSPS/OSS, EOP&S, Admissions & Records, International Student Center and Counseling will be responding to your questions using instant messaging with virtual chat on your student portal.

To access a staff member or Academic Counselor, please sign in to your SIS student homepage at MyCollege.laccd.edu https://sso.laccd.edu/adfs/ls/idpinitiatedsignon.aspx?loginToRp=epprod.laccd.edu and click on the “Online Counseling and Live Chat” tile. If you forgot your password to log on to your SIS portal, call the toll free number at (844) 695-2223, Monday thru Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Once on the portal, select the department you would like to contact from the left-hand menu. When the page opens, you will see the options available with the employees information on it. We are adding additional services as quickly as possible, so check back frequently if you don’t find the person or department you need.

Once you locate the person you want to chat with, click on the “Knock on Door” button. The representative will be alerted that you are waiting, or there will be a message letting you know if the person is online or offline. Hours of operation will vary by college and department. Continue to look online at www.laccd.edu/coronavirus for the latest updates from the District.

We are all in this together and we are here to help you. If you are having any difficulty accessing the class materials or maintaining enrollment as a result of the COVID-19 coronavirus, we want to know! Click on the “Online Counseling & Live Chat” link and keep your Counselor and home college informed about your academic progress and any personal needs you need help with.

We will continue to communicate with you on a regular basis during this time, so please check for messages. Nothing is more important to us than your health and safety and your educational success with us.

Sincerely,
Los Angeles Community College Administration

March 24, 2020 - All Classes that Cannot be Moved Online will be Postponed to May 4, 2020; Early Withdrawl, Refund Info for Students Announced

Below is information from our District office about classes, how to drop classes and refunds. For specific information about Pierce College, click http://www.piercecollege.edu/pierce_students.asp and select the department you need to reach. You will find each department’s contact information and how to submit any questions you may have.

Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) Chancellor Francisco Rodriguez announced today any class at all nine colleges, plus the South Gate Campus and the Van de Kamp Learning Center, that cannot be converted into an online learning platform for the onset of remote instruction March 30 will be temporarily postponed until at least May 4, 2020.

The overwhelming majority of classes are being converted to online platforms and online instruction is scheduled to begin March 30, however, the District has determined less than five percent of the thousands of classes offered still require in-person interaction in order to meet course and program learning objectives and requirements. It is only this small percentage of classes that will be temporarily postponed. For example, classes that include hands-on performance as learning outcomes, such as stage production and lighting classes, will be postponed.

The District and the Colleges are working with faculty to finalize a list of those classes that have cannot be done online and all affected faculty and students will be notified as soon as possible. The colleges include Los Angeles City College, East Los Angeles College, Los Angeles Harbor College, Los Angeles Mission College, Los Angeles Pierce College, Los Angeles Southwest College, Los Angeles Trade-Technical College, Los Angeles Valley College and West Los Angeles College.

The classes that cannot be converted online run on various schedules, so the resumption date of Monday, May 4, 2020 was identified to sustain and complete the academic calendar to the extent possible and to help keep LACCD in sync with recommendations from Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) Superintendent of Schools Debra Duardo, who recommended an extended closure of all Los Angeles County public schools until Tuesday, May 5, 2020, and also with the announcement by Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Austin Buetner, who extended LAUSD’s school closure date to May 1, 2020.

Summary to remember:

 Those courses unable to transition to remote learning will be suspended through May 3, 2020 and will resume May 4, 2020.

 The District is currently working on a plan regarding effective social distancing protocols so that these in-person classes can be done safely.

 The Chancellor has directed an internal analysis and update on this action to occur no later than April 17, 2020 and updated information will be shared with all as soon as possible thereafter.

Early Withdrawal & Refunds for Students

State authority has now been granted to allow students to withdraw from classes because of the current crisis. If a student wants to withdraw, the student will receive an excused withdrawal (EW) on their transcript. The EW will not count against a student’s academic progress requirements. If a student decides to withdraw at this time, a refund of enrollment fees and other related fees will be made.

“We encourage all students to stay enrolled and finish their classes, starting March 30. We will recover from this global health emergency. It is essential that our students take advantage of our online learning environment and achieve their higher education goals. Don’t let this current situation take you off your path–hang with us, as we are doing everything we can to position you for success,” LACCD Chancellor Rodriguez, Ph.D., said.

To withdraw from a class, students use the LACCD Student Portal, log in and click on the Manage Classes icon tile and select “drop classes” from the menu. Select the class, confirm and submit. Students should work with their college’s Financial Aid Office to determine the impact of dropping classes and if repayments might be required. Students who are U.S. Veterans receiving benefits must check with their Campus Certifying Officer first. Contact information is on the student portal.

If a student drops classes as a result of the COVID-19 health emergency, LACCD and the colleges will make sure a student’s academic record is not impacted. This will include the use of excused withdrawals, which do not impact your GPA for transfer or degree purposes. There is no need to make a request for this action. The college will convert your withdrawal (W) to an excused withdrawal (EW) automatically. This will also trigger a refund or credit to your student account, if applicable.

If you paid for your classes using cash, personal check or credit card and do withdraw from the class due to the coronavirus outbreak, a refund will be automatically processed for all excused withdrawal on or after March 20, 2020.

Additional information is being posted to the District’s website at www.laccd.edu/coronavirus -- including updated Frequently Asked Questions, and the main social media accounts, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LACCD/ and Twitter: https://twitter.com/laccd. Statewide information for the California Community College is at: https://www.cccco.edu/About-Us/Chancellors- Office/Divisions/Communications-and-Marketing/Novel-Coronavirus

Prevention and Hygiene recommendations from LACDPH continues to be:

 If you are sick for any reason, stay home!

 Call your doctor or healthcare provider for direction

 Follow all Health Orders, including the “Safer at Home” order from state and local officials

 Symptoms to watch for include a fever over 100.4 degrees; cough or shortness of breath

 Frequent and complete hand washing for at least 20 seconds

 Stay six feet or more away from strangers and those who are ill

 Stop shaking hands with others to reduce the spread of germs

 Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth

 Sneeze and cough into a tissue or your sleeve, safely throw away used tissues

March 24, 2020 – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) from the LACCD

These questions and answers will be updated as frequently as possible. Find full FAQ online at: http://laccd.edu/About/News/Pages/FAQs.aspx

What is COVID-19?

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus that was first discovered in China in late December 2019. More information is available at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health online at: http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/

Why are classes moving to remote learning?

The United States has declared a national emergency. It has been ordered by the California Governor Newsom and County Health Officer that “social distancing” and other methods such as self-quarantine must be used to prevent the community spread of COVID-19.

This includes limiting activities in which more than 10 people come together, including for schools and in-classroom instruction. Los Angeles County has enacted a “Safer at Home” order that limits many activities locally. The move to remote learning is an effort to ensure that your education can continue when it is not possible to have in-person classes.

When will classes resume?

Classes will resume in a remote learning model using Canvas on Monday March 30.

All classes that cannot be shifted to online remote learning will be postponed until May 4, 2020. You will be contacted as soon as possible if you will be affected by this postponement. Only a very small percentage of classes will be postponed, such as classes like the utility pole climbing class at L.A. Trade-Tech College that is difficult to shift to online learning.

Will all classes resume on Monday, March 30?

No. Again, we appear to be unable to transition a very small percentage of classes to remote delivery. These classes will be suspended until at least May 4. We will notify all students who are affected by this situation as soon as possible.

Will there be other changes this semester?

... For a full list of FAQs please go to: http://laccd.edu/About/News/Pages/FAQs.aspx

March 23, 2020 - All Students Advised to go to Canvas Link Prior to March 30

All Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) students are advised to become familiar as soon as possible with the Canvas learning platform before their online classes start March 30, 2020. LACCD and its nine colleges are working full speed to shift as many classes and support services as possible to online environments that will help provide students with a continuity of education and success effective March 30, 2020.

All LACCD students are advised to take steps now, before March 30, to click on the ”Getting Started” link at https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-18585-getting-started-with-canvas-as-a-student and to also review the online student guide for Canvas at https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-10701-canvas-student-guide-table-of-contents.

Students should also visit the “Distance Learning” webpages at their home college for additional resources. There are also many useful YouTube videos available on this topic, including https://www.youtube.com/user/CanvasLMS.

To access a staff member or Academic Counselor, logon to the SIS student portal, MyCollege.laccd.edu. Click on the “Online Counseling and Live Chat” tile. If you forgot your password to log on to your SIS portal, call the toll free number at (844) 695-2223, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Once on the portal, select the department you would like to contact from the left-hand menu. When the page opens, students will see the options available with the employee’s information on it. Additional services as quickly as possible, so check back frequently if you don’t find the person or department you need.

Once the student locates the person to chat with, click on the “Knock on Door” tab. The representative will be alerted that a student is waiting, or there will be a message letting you know if the person is online or offline. Hours of operation will vary by college and department. Continue to look online at www.laccd.edu/coronavirus for the latest updates from the District.

We are all in this together and we are here to help you. If any student is having any difficulty accessing the class materials or maintaining enrollment as a result of the COVID-19 coronavirus, we want to know! Call the Help Desk info above for help. Please also click on the “Online Counseling & Live Chat” link and keep your Counselor and home college informed about your academic progress and any personal needs you may need help with resolving.

About the Los Angeles Community College District
We are the Colleges of Los Angeles! LACCD (www.laccd.edu) is the nation’s largest community college district, educating about 250,000 students annually at its nine colleges that serve the residents of more than 36 cities and communities from 900 square miles of Los Angeles County. Since 1969, the District has been providing an important learning pathway for students seeking transfer to four-year colleges or universities while also offering two-year degrees and certificated training programs to Southern California’s diverse workforce in many specialized trades and professions. Follow us on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/LACCD, @LACCD, and on Twitter, https://twitter.com/laccd @laccd and Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/laccd_edu/ @laccd_edu.

March 21, 2020 - Free and Discount Internet Options for Students

Internet providers such as Spectrum/Charter are offering discount options for remote access for students who don’t have it. Remote classes begin at Pierce College on Monday, March 30, and we are making every effort to get you up and running.

The L.A. Times has gathered the options below. For example, “Charter Communications, which operates under the Spectrum brand, offers 60 days of free broadband, Wi-Fi and installation to households with K-12 and college students who don’t have Spectrum service. Professional or self-installation is available and can take one to seven days.” We are hearing there may be delays, so please contact them soon.

https://www.latimes.com/socal/glendale-news-press/news/story/2020-03-20/spectrum-and-other-internet-providers-offer-free-internet-for-students-at-home

Another college district has put together a chart listing free internet resources you can find here:

https://www.rsccd.edu/Coronavirus/Pages/internet-access.aspx

March 20, 2020 - Apply for LACCD Laptop Scholarship in your Portal
Instructions Updated March 30

If you are an LACCD student in need of a laptop to access online instruction, please visit and apply to the laptop application on your student portal under the Financial Aid and Scholarship tab, or the Key Links tile, if you are not on Financial Aid. Visit the Pierce College Media Arts webpage for a pdf with screenshots and more information on how to apply.

https://piercemediaarts.com/apply-for-the-laccd-laptop-scholarship/

March 14, 2020 - Message to Students from the President
Re: Important Changes due to Coronavirus

This has been an unprecedented week for Pierce College and for the entire world with everything going on right now related to the Coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic. I hope this email finds you and your family in good health.

In light of the most recent developments, the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) Board of Trustees held an emergency meeting this afternoon and took action to:

Suspend all classes Monday, March 16 through Sunday, March 29.
Move the District’s Spring Break to run Monday, March 23 through Sunday, March 29 instead of the currently scheduled break, April 6-11.
Suspend in-person services at the colleges, March 16-28. During this time, there will be many offices at the colleges that will also be closed to the public and some staff will begin to work remotely throughout this period with supervisorial approval.
Begin remote learning (online education) and remote business operations on Monday, March 30 through the end of the spring semester.

Please note that our student health centers and Child Development Centers will remain open the week of March 16-20 in order to allow parents time to make alternative childcare arrangements, but will be closed during the March 23-29 spring break.

Over these next two weeks, the college will use this time to convert as many courses and student services possible to remote delivery. Also, during this time, we will thoroughly sanitize our facilities.

We are aware that these are major changes and we apologize for the disruption that these changes will cause, but the continued health and safety of you, our students, and the rest of our campus community are our primary concern during this time of national emergency.

Los Angeles Pierce College remains committed to your education and your success. We are continually monitoring the COVID-19 situation and are working closely with district, county, state, and Federal authorities. We encourage you to view status updates at www.laccd.edu, as well as a direct link to the district-wide Coronavirus/COVID-19 webpage from the Pierce College website. Should you have questions or concerns, please contact the Office of the President at (818) 719-6408.

We will keep in touch as the days go by and the situation continues to develop. Thank you for your continued patience and understanding.

Alexis S. Montevirgen, Ed.D.
College President
Los Angeles Pierce College

www.piercecollege.edu

March 6, 2020 - Message to Students from the Pierce College Health Center
Re: What to Know About Coronavirus

Pierce College is monitoring Coronavirus -- Risk of infection to public is believed to be low as of March 6, 2020

Students,

Our Student Health Center would like to share information about the outbreak of a respiratory illness caused by a novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) that was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. At this time, the immediate health risk from the coronavirus to the general public in the United States is considered low.

We advise persons who recently traveled from Wuhan City or other affected areas in the past 14 days or have had close contact with someone suspected or known to have 2019-nCoV to watch for flu-like symptoms:

Fever (>100.4 °F or 38°C)
Cough
Difficulty breathing

If you are experiencing symptoms, use a face mask and seek immediate medical evaluation. Please call your health care provider in advance so that they can minimize your exposure to other people. If you are not experiencing symptoms, you do not have to be seen by a provider or wear a mask.

Students should contact the Student Health Center at 818-710-4270 or go to their primary care providers for medical evaluation, if they feel unwell.

Prevention:

There is no vaccine. The best way not to get sick from this or any respiratory virus is to regularly get an annual flu shot, stay informed about the situation via official health agency websites, and proactively use the following preventative steps:

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, free at the Student Health Center.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Stay home when you are sick.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
Obtain an annual flu vaccine, available at the Health Center for $17.

These are everyday habits that can help prevent the spread of several viruses. In addition, the CDC does have specific guidance for travelers.

For more detailed information including updates and FAQ’s, please go to the CDC’s website at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/index.html

For local updates go to the Los Angeles County Public Health Department’s website at: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/

LAPC STUDENT HEALTH CENTER:
Student Services Building 2^nd Floor
Hours: Mon-Thurs. 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m.; Friday 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
818-710-4270

Beth Benne, RN, BSN, PHN, MA
Student Health Center
Health Center Director

Mitchell Nishimoto, MD
Student Health Center Physician