Messages to Faculty and Staff

February 4, 2022

To all Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) faculty and staff:

I appreciate your flexibility as the college moved to remote operations due to impending inclement weather. I understand that this may have required some swift adjustments, and your understanding and cooperation are much appreciated. Your safety, and the safety and wellbeing of our students, are our highest priorities.

COVID-19 Protocols
We’ve seen recent positive developments regarding a downward trend in COVID-19 infections in Ohio. With this welcome news, the college will return to allowing food at events and operating without reduced capacities. However, the college’s masking requirement will continue to remain in effect. All faculty, staff, students and visitors to all COTC campuses are required to wear masks indoors, regardless of their vaccination status. Thank you for your continued adherence to the COTC COVID-19 protocols.

Information on COTC’s COVID-19 protocols can be found at the COTC COVID-19 website.

Budget
We are now in our budget-development process for FY22-23, and all completed budgets and action plans are due at the end of the business day. As we plan forward thoughtfully and strategically for the next fiscal year, I want to remind everyone that we are still living with a level of uncertainty. As such, support for new initiatives requiring permanent funding (positions) will be limited this year due to the budget constraints brought about by low enrollment.

Extended Campuses
As I previously mentioned in my faculty/staff communication of Jan. 5, one critical component identified in our enrollment summits is a refocusing on our extended campuses. Providing access to educational opportunities is at the core of COTC’s mission. And now, COTC is expanding access by creating even stronger healthcare-career pathways at our extended campuses. By offering short-term certificates like the State Tested Nurse Aid at each campus and extending our practical nursing certificate (PN) offerings so that both the PN and LPN to associate degree nursing programs are provided at each extended campus, students will have the opportunity for in-demand healthcare-career progression right in their own community. We believe that these decisions are well founded. Employment in healthcare occupations is projected to grow 16% from 2020 to 2030, adding more jobs than any other occupational group, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Programming at each extended campus will continue to be assessed. We hope that enhancing academic offerings in each respective campus service region coupled with multiple options for course delivery, including enhanced on-campus course offerings, will have a significantly positive impact.

Multicultural Holidays
Thank you to Dean of Students Holly Mason for sharing a helpful multicultural calendar of holidays earlier this week. In addition, our colleagues at The Ohio State University have provided the following calendar of religious holidays. COTC’s diverse community includes students, faculty and staff from numerous backgrounds. I encourage you to utilize these resources as we all strive for awareness and understanding of the breadth of cultural observances.

Thank you again for your continued perseverance and all that you do to support our students and mission. Stay warm and safe!

Stay Healthy. Stay Helpful. Stay Hopeful.

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

January 21, 2022

To all Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) faculty and staff:

I’ve enjoyed seeing many of you and our students back on campus, and I hope that your semester has started well. I also thank you for your ongoing commitment to sustaining a safe and healthy campus environment. As we continue to navigate the continuing effects of COVID-19, especially the highly contagious Omicron variant, it is critical that we each do our part to keep ourselves and others safe.

As throughout the pandemic, the wellbeing and safety of members of our community remain our highest priorities. Please continue to mask, stay home if you are ill, and get your booster shot, if eligible. Also, I want to remind everyone that all COTC-sponsored events or activities that include food or drink must be reviewed by the Office of the President until further notice. This includes currently scheduled events, future events, and any events sponsored by non-college entities held on campus. Thank you again for adhering to the college’s COVID-19 protocols. You can find all of COTC’s COVID-19 protocols and guidance on the college’s COVID-19 website.

Enrollment

As I mentioned in my communication of Jan. 5, rebuilding COTC’s enrollment is a critical priority. It is of utmost importance that we hear from you as we develop new enrollment strategies and create new systems to better serve our students. If you have ideas or input to share, please provide them to your respective cabinet member so that they may bring them forward during the next enrollment summit, scheduled for Jan. 26. Every suggestion will be considered thoroughly.

As of yesterday, there were 3,056 students enrolled in 21,427.5 credit hours, which is 1428.5 FTE. This is a drop of 578 students, 3,079 credit hours and 205.27 FTE compared to spring 2021’s 15^th-day census date enrollment. Spring 2022 administrative withdrawals won’t be processed until Feb. 1, so we may see an additional drop in enrollment. While enrollment is down, some decline from last spring to this spring was predicted, largely due to the discontinuation of a large CCP partnership. However, our current number is still well below our goal of 3,371.

COTC Receives Approval to Offer First Bachelor’s Degree

In good news to share, I am incredibly pleased to announce that we have now received approval from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) to begin offering the college’s first baccalaureate degree. The Bachelor of Applied Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography Technology (DMS) combines the rigorous curriculum of our former associate program, cross-training specialty courses, and advanced higher-level training in invasive procedures and pediatrics, giving graduates a competitive edge in the job market. The competitive, selective program has similar enrollment requirements and the same two majors: General (Abdomen/OB-GYN) and Cardiovascular.

The bachelor’s program is an accelerated, three-year program that begins in the spring semester (January) each year. Students attend full-time for eight consecutive semesters. General education courses are available day or evening and at all extended campuses or online. High school students who use college credit to their full advantage could potentially complete the DMS program in two years. COTC’s DMS program is the first and only accelerated sonography bachelor’s degree in Ohio.

Framework Forum

We hope you can join us on Feb. 22, 2022, from 2-3 p.m., for the COTC Spring 2022 Framework Forum. This semester’s forum will include presentations from Vice President David Brillhart, and Dean of Enrollment Sarah Morrison and Director of Admissions and Recruitment Melanie Garrabrant. Dr. Brillhart will provide a CARES funding overview regarding the strategy Ensure financial stability through the effective fiscal stewardship. Sarah Morrison and Melanie Garrabrant will present on the Rework CCP strategy initiative to develop new career pathways and on our plans for enrollment on the extended campuses. Please mark your calendar.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://osu.zoom.us/j/97272566969?pwd=czg1YXU4SUQrVlhFbXFMbHkwR04zZz09

HLC Assurance Review
Work to update our Assurance Argument in support of our HLC Year 4 Assurance Review will begin this spring. To kick off this work and to provide the college community with general information on accreditation and the HLC Year 4 Assurance Review process, you are invited to attend one of the following virtual information sessions scheduled below:

Friday, Feb. 4, 2-3 p.m. – Join Zoom Meeting
https://osu.zoom.us/j/92174592011?pwd=RlVDNk1lWXhEbzkyUzVQbXNDYnNVdz09

Monday, Feb. 7, 1-2 p.m. – Join Zoom Meeting
https://osu.zoom.us/j/99263307906?pwd=ZkV5WHN5TGVZejN6NGxQNFFGTHdHZz09

Thursday, Feb. 10, 11 a.m.-noon – Join Zoom Meeting
https://osu.zoom.us/j/97058421928?pwd=NU1qU1NOTFdyV2tuaHpiSTZGdGk3UT09

Maintaining our institutional accreditation through HLC is of critical importance to us. Our accreditation demonstrates our commitment to quality and continuous improvement, and it ensures that our academic programs meet acceptable levels of quality. Please plan to join one of the sessions.

Living the Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

I’ve had the pleasure of attending several Martin Luther King Jr. commemorative events during the past week. As our nation honors his memory, I wanted to share a quote from Dr. King that I have always found particularly resonating. “A man dies when he refuses to stand up for that which is right. A man dies when he refuses to stand up for justice. A man dies when he refuses to take a stand for that which is true.”

As we remember and honor Dr. King, I hope you reflect on your own journey and how each of us is called to preserve human dignity and pursue justice. I encourage you to learn how you can work toward social justice on campus and in our community. Find upcoming events and opportunities at the Office of Multicultural Affairs’ website or contact Multicultural Affairs Program Manager Vorley Taylor at taylor.1051@mail.cotc.edu or Chief Diversity Officer Brianna Johnson at johnson.9155@mail.cotc.edu.

We can each make a difference every day. It is up to each of us to continue Dr. King’s dream of equality and to bring the eloquence of his words to life.

Please continue to take good care of yourself and others.

Stay Healthy. Stay Helpful. Stay Hopeful.

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

January 7, 2022

To all Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) faculty, staff and students:

Throughout the pandemic, the health and safety of our college community have remained our highest priority. As you know, the nation and state are currently experiencing a dramatic increase in COVID-19 infections. COTC will continue to monitor and adapt our protocols as updated information and recommendations from federal, state and local health officials are available.

Throughout the pandemic, your adherence to COTC’s COVID-19 protocols allowed us to minimize the spread of COVID-19. During the spring semester, COTC will continue to offer classes in multiple modalities to help ensure the safety of our campus community, and your support of on-campus COVID-19 protocols is essential.

On-Campus COVID-19 Protocols

All current COTC on-campus COVID-19 protocols remain in effect, with the following addition:

Events with Food and Drink Must Be Reviewed

All COTC-sponsored events or activities that include food or drink must be reviewed by the Office of the President until further notice. This includes currently scheduled events, future events, and any events sponsored by non-college entities held on campus.

Ongoing COVID-19 Protocols

Masking
Face masks are required indoors for all individuals on any COTC campus, regardless of their
vaccination status. Guidance on the best type and fit of masks continues to evolve. The university strongly recommends surgical grade masks. Double-masking is recommended for those using cloth masks

COTC Vaccination Expectation
While COTC does not require vaccination at this time, it is our expectation that all faculty, staff and students will receive the COVID-19 vaccination and booster shot, if eligible. The college is required to collect the vaccination records of some faculty and students to meet the vaccination requirements of clinical, internship or practicum sites.

If You are Ill
All employees and students should stay home instead of coming to campus if they are experiencing symptoms.

If you feel ill or experience symptoms of COVID-19:

• Do not enter campus.

• Employees should follow usual call-off procedures.
• Students should notify faculty members/instructors/on-campus work supervisors as soon as they can if they are unable to attend in-person classes/work to arrange for accommodations and plans for making up work.

Supervisor Responsibilities
If you receive a report, confirmed or unconfirmed, that a member of your team has been exposed to or has contracted coronavirus/COVID-19, notify Human Resources (for COTC-paid employees, contact Sue Wadley; for Ohio State-paid employees, contact Maryjo Mundey), and follow the other guidelines published on the COTC COVID-19 website. Do not notify other team members or others at the college. Maintain the employee’s medical privacy. Assessing possible exposures and notifying those who are at potential risk is the responsibility of the public health contact tracing team.

 Thank you for continuing to take an active part in safeguarding our college community as we look forward to a great spring semester.

Stay Healthy. Stay Helpful. Stay Hopeful.

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

December 10, 2021

 

November 12, 2021

To all Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) faculty and staff:

As throughout the pandemic, the well-being and safety of members of our community remain our highest priorities. Thank you again for adhering to the college’s COVID-19 protocols. Please remember that masks are still required indoors at all COTC campuses for students, faculty, staff and visitors regardless of vaccination status.

Many of you are already aware that a federal appeals court has temporarily blocked the Biden administration’s vaccine rule that all businesses with 100 or more employees ensure their workers are either vaccinated or tested once a week. Further, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has filed a lawsuit to block this vaccine mandate. My office is in regular and frequent communication with the Office of the Ohio Attorney General, and we will keep you updated as the situation evolves. COTC’s vaccination protocol has not changed – while COTC does not require vaccination at this time, it is our expectation that all faculty, staff and students will receive the COVID-19 vaccination for the safety of our community. The college is required to collect the vaccination records of some faculty and students to meet the vaccination requirements of clinical, internship or practicum sites. You can find the college’s complete guidance on COVID-19 protocols on the COTC COVID-19 website here.

Achieving the Dream Network
As I mentioned in my last communication, I’ll routinely share student demographics, early momentum, persistence and early engagement metrics as COTC continues along our three-year journey with the Achieving the Dream (ATD) Network. As we work to improve student outcomes and expand holistic supports, it’s essential for all of us to understand the college’s historical weaknesses and to identify opportunities for improvement. During our recent campus-based kickoff with ATD, our internal team shared the revealing statistics illustrated in the chart below.

While the percentage of students earning no credit in their first term is sobering, these statistics also point to opportunities for COTC to improve student outcomes. Even though this work is beginning while COTC is still experiencing the adverse effects of the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, this critical work will strengthen COTC’s identity as a college wholly devoted to student success. There is much to be done, and your support in this work will position the college for future success for years to come.

Autumn 2021 Commencement
COTC will hold a full, in-person Autumn 2021 Commencement ceremony to honor our summer and autumn 2021 graduates on Friday, December 17, in the Adena Hall Gymnasium on our Newark campus. We will follow our standard procedure of requiring tickets for friends and family of the graduates attending the event. To broaden accessibility, we will also livestream the ceremony. Please note that per COTC COVID-19 protocols, masks will be required inside for all attendees.

With Gratitude
As the autumn semester continues toward its conclusion and the traditional holiday season arrives, my thoughts turn to gratitude. I am grateful for our supportive and generous community members and partners, for COTC alumni who are making a positive impact every day in their communities, for the students who have entrusted us to help them achieve their academic goals, and for all that you do on behalf of our students and mission. As I reflect upon our shared journey during this pandemic, words cannot express my full gratitude for all that you have accomplished. Your dedication, strength, creativity and optimism in the face of ongoing adversity are inspiring. Thank you all.

Please continue to take good care of yourself and others.

Stay Healthy. Stay Helpful. Stay Hopeful.

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

October 29, 2021

To all Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) faculty and staff:

We are thankful that the daily number of new COVID-19 cases has been dropping across the state and that vaccine booster shots are now available for some of our most vulnerable populations. Please know that the well-being and safety of members of our community remain our highest priorities, and I thank you for continuing to adhere to the college’s COVID-19 protocols. Please remember that masks are still required indoors at all COTC campuses for students, faculty, staff and visitors regardless of vaccination status. It is also our expectation that all faculty, staff and students will receive the COVID-19 vaccination for the safety of our community. You can find the college’s complete guidance on COVID-19 protocols on the COTC COVID-19 website here.

COTC Receives Preliminary Approval to Offer First Bachelor’s Degree
I am incredibly pleased to share that pending final approval from the Higher Learning Commission, COTC will begin offering the college’s first baccalaureate degree. The Bachelor of Applied Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography Technology (DMS) will begin in 2022. The proposed bachelor’s degree is an accelerated, three-year program in which students are expected to attend full time for eight consecutive semesters. The proposed applied bachelor’s degree was developed after a thorough analysis of community and workforce demand using feedback from our clinical partners, advisory committee members, employers and graduates. This is a very exciting and historic step for COTC. Thanks to DMS Program Director and Associate Professor Melinda Brillhart, EdD, RDMS, RVT, RDCS, for her outstanding work in shepherding this proposal. Read more about the proposed DMS degree program here.

Autumn 2021 Commencement
I am also delighted to announce that COTC will hold a full, in-person Autumn 2021 Commencement ceremony to honor our summer and autumn 2021 graduates on Friday, Dec. 17, in the Adena Hall Gymnasium on our Newark campus. While we’ve held several modified commencements during the pandemic, it’s hard to believe that it will be two years since our last full commencement ceremony. We will follow our standard procedure of requiring tickets for friends and family of the graduates attending the event. To broaden accessibility, we are also exploring live streaming the ceremony. Please note that per COTC COVID-19 protocols, masks will be required inside for all attendees.

Achieving the Dream Network
As COTC begins our three-year journey with the Achieving the Dream (ATD) Network to improve student outcomes and expand holistic supports, we’ll routinely share student demographics, early momentum, persistence and early engagement metrics. As we begin this work together, I wanted first to share some aggregate student demographics to help us better understand the baseline student cohort ATD will be examining. Thanks to COTC’s Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness, who compiled multiple reports with baseline data as part of the campus-based ATD kickoff.

COTC Student Cohort Demographics:
1. 98% degree or certificate seeking
2. 74% white
3. 69% female
4. 65% under 25 years old
5. 58% part time
6. 54% PELL receiving
7. 53% first time in college

Cohort definition includes:
New to COTC, non-high school options students
Enrolled in any course as of its Census Day
Autumn semesters 2016 to 2020
Students include transfer and prior COTC high school options

AmeriCorps-COTC Student Resource Center
COTC’s new Student Resource Center helps students who face personal barriers to their academic success by connecting them to resources on campus and in the community. Student Resource coordinators help students address non-academic challenges, including:

• Housing and rent
• Utility bills
• Food insecurity
• Transportation
• Childcare
• Legal services
• Mental health, addiction and personal counseling
• Sexual assault or domestic violence support
• Disability services
• Technical assistance and access to computers, WiFi and other technology
• And more

The initiative is hosted at COTC and is part of the Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps program. The Student Resource Center is coordinated by several AmeriCorps members who serve the COTC community. Learn more and contact the Student Resource coordinators here.

COTC 50^th Anniversary
As we continue our year-long 50^th-anniversary celebration, I’ll be making appearances at many local service organizations to share COTC’s history and new initiatives. We’ve had fun and have become very popular for sharing our Berry Rumble ice cream with the membership during these appearances. If you haven’t had a chance to view COTC’s 50^th-anniversary video yet, click here to watch this special look at COTC’s founding, history and future.

We’ll also be inviting friends of the college and members of the public to attend special anniversary celebrations at each of our extended campuses. In August, we combined a 50^th-anniversary celebration with the ribbon cutting at the Pataskala campus. On November 17, we’ll combine our second annual Knox Campus Town Hall with an early evening anniversary celebration at the Woodward Opera House in Mount Vernon. Additionally, that evening we’ll honor former COTC Board of Trustees member and devoted public servant to the Mount Vernon community Mark Ramser with the presentation of COTC’s Legends of Loyalty award.

As I close, remember that the college will be closed to observe Veteran’s Day on Thursday, Nov. 11.

Please continue to take good care of yourself and others. Thank you for your hard work and commitment to our students and mission.

Stay Healthy. Stay Helpful. Stay Hopeful.

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

October 15, 2021

To all Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) faculty and staff:

I hope that you are well, and I thank you for continuing to do your part to keep our community safe by getting vaccinated, wearing masks and adhering to the college’s health and safety protocols. COVID-19 is still very prevalent in our communities, with the average number of daily cases across the state continuing to hover near 5,000 per day. It is our expectation that all faculty, staff and students will receive the COVID-19 vaccination for the safety of our community. You can find the college’s complete guidance on COVID-19 protocols on the COTC COVID-19 website here.

Strategic Planning Council
COTC’s Strategic Planning Council met on October 8 to examine internal and external forces and trends affecting the college and discuss major goals to support student success and institutional growth. In the coming months, we’ll share information about major initiatives such as the renovation of Founders Hall and the college’s fourth-year Assurance Review with the Higher Learning Commission. While we will still face challenges in the coming year, I am also confident that there are many opportunities to be embraced that will move COTC forward into a sustainable and strong future.

Achieving the Dream Network
We welcomed the college’s two Achieving the Dream (ATD) Network coaches to campus this week for a campus-based kickoff. ATD leads a growing network of more than 300 community colleges committed to helping their students, particularly low-income students and students of color, achieve their goals for academic success, personal growth, and economic opportunity. As a Network institution, COTC will work to improve equitable outcomes for students, bolster student retention and completion, and expand holistic supports to meet students’ evolving needs. We’ll be sharing more detailed information about COTC’s student success initiatives, metrics and goals in the coming months.

October is National Depression and Mental Health Screening Month
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the mental health of people of all ages. More than ever, it is critical to reduce the stigma around mental health struggles because that stigma often prevents individuals from seeking help. If you or others are struggling, please know that there are many sources of support. It is important to take that next step and seek out professional help and be screened if you or someone you care about feels they may be depressed. A free, online mental health screening is available here.

Resources for employees:

• Employee Assistance Program. You can schedule an appointment for in-person, video or phone counseling by contacting a live counselor, available 24/7 at 800.678.626.

Community resources:

• 2-1-1 Crisis & Information Hotline | unitedwaylc
• Mental Health America of Ohio
• Ohio Crisis Text Line – Text “4hope” to 741 741 to be connected to a trained crisis counselor within 5 minutes.

50^th Anniversary Drive-In Movie
Our drive-in-movie nod to 1971, the year COTC was chartered, was a huge success last Saturday evening. We estimated more than 200 came out to watch the original “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” which was shown on a large screen in the south end of the parking lots adjacent to Country Club Drive at the Newark campus. The weather was spectacular, our Berry Rumble ice cream was exceptionally well received, and the hunt for Golden Tickets hidden in several “Wonka Bars” generated much excitement! My thanks to all who helped to make this fun evening a great success.

As we continue our year-long 50^th-anniversary celebration, I’ll be making appearances at many of our local service organizations over the next several months, during which I’ll be sharing a video highlighting COTC’s history and impact. You can be among the first to watch our special 50^th-anniversary video here.

Please continue to take good care of yourself and others. As we move into the second half of the semester, I know that stress levels can rise, so I hope that you find time this weekend to get outdoors, enjoy the autumn sunshine and refresh. Thank you for your hard work and commitment to our students and mission.

Stay Healthy. Stay Helpful. Stay Hopeful.

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

October 1, 2021

 

September 17, 2021

To all Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) faculty and staff:

I’ve enjoyed seeing many more students, faculty and staff back on campus during these first few weeks of the semester. I thank you for doing your part to keep our community safe by getting vaccinated, wearing masks and adhering to the college’s health and safety protocols. COVID-19 cases across the state continue at alarmingly high levels, and the recent seven-day average is above 7,000 new cases per day. Several communities have reinstated mask mandates, with Columbus notably among them. Your health, safety and well-being remain our highest priorities, as they have throughout the pandemic. It is our expectation that all faculty, staff and students will receive the COVID-19 vaccination for the safety of our community. You can find the college’s complete guidance on COVID-19 protocols on the COTC COVID-19 website here.

Enrollment
As you are aware, higher education enrollment has experienced a downward trend nationally during the pandemic, and we are closely monitoring the effects at COTC. Fortunately, we will be able to utilize federal funding to offset enrollment losses. I will share more details regarding autumn enrollment as they are finalized in the coming weeks. One initiative that will boost enrollment is the expansion of our second-term accelerated classes. This semester, we’ve expanded these to include a robust blend of more than a dozen classes available in a mix of online, hybrid, remote synchronous, and flex modalities.

COTC Seeking Authorization to Offer First Bachelor’s Degree
We are very excited to announce that COTC is seeking authorization from the Higher Learning Commission to offer the Bachelor of Applied Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography Technology –the college’s first baccalaureate degree. Part of the authorization process includes a site visit by peer reviewers, which is scheduled for Sept. 27.

This proposed three-year program aligns with COTC’s mission to address workforce needs by providing additional sonography education that is needed through higher-level specialty training. Feedback from our clinical partners, advisory committee members, employers and graduates laid the foundation for this proposed revision to our existing associate degree program.

Chatbot Voting
On a light note to end the week, today is the final day to cast your vote to name COTC’s new chatbot. This new feature will help web visitors quickly find frequently sought information 24/7 or direct them to the appropriate COTC office for follow up. We’ve received more than 500 votes so far, so don’t miss your chance to participate. Voting will close at midnight tonight. Chatbot name choices are: Atlas (to endure), Cato (all knowing), Moxie (determination). Vote at go.cotc.edu/namethebot.

Please continue to take good care of yourself and others. As the semester continues, I know that stress levels can rise, so I hope that you find time this weekend to get outdoors, enjoy the end-of-summer sunshine and refresh. Thank you for your hard work and commitment to our students and mission.

Stay Healthy. Stay Helpful. Stay Hopeful.

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

September 3, 2021

To all Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) faculty and staff:

Congratulations on completing the first full week of autumn semester! I know that it is an extremely busy time for students, faculty and staff, and I hope that all is progressing smoothly.

On-Campus COVID-19 Protocols

With many more members of our college community on campus and the alarming increase in COVID-19 infections in our communities a significant concern, I am sharing below highlights of COTC’s current COVID-19 protocols. You can find the college’s complete guidance on COVID-19 protocols on the COTC COVID-19 website here.

Please remember that this situation is highly fluid. As throughout the pandemic, the health and safety of our college community is our highest priority. COTC will continue to monitor and adapt our protocols as updated information and recommendations from federal, state and local health officials are available

Masking
Face masks are required indoors for all individuals on any COTC campus, regardless of their vaccination status.

COTC Vaccination Expectation
While COTC does not require vaccination at this time, it is our expectation that all faculty, staff and students will receive the COVID-19 vaccination for the safety of our community. The college is required to collect the vaccination records of some faculty and students to meet the vaccination requirements of clinical, internship or practicum sites.

If You’ve Been in Close Contact with Someone Who Has COVID-19

• Quarantine if you have been in close contact (within 6 feet of someone for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period) with someone who has COVID-19 unless you have been fully vaccinated.
• People who are fully vaccinated do NOT need to quarantine after contact with someone who has COVID-19 unless they have symptoms. However, fully vaccinated people should get tested 3-5 days after their exposure, even if they don’t have symptoms and wear a mask indoors in public for 14 days following exposure or until their test result is negative.

If You are Ill
All employees and students should stay home instead of coming to campus if they are experiencing symptoms.

All employees: If you feel ill or experience symptoms of COVID-19:

• Do not enter campus.
• Do follow usual call-off procedures.
• Contact your primary care provider, or if you do not have a primary care provider:
  • COTC-paid employees: call the Licking County Health Department at 740.349.6535 for guidance.
  • Ohio State-paid employees: call the Wexner Medical Center’s COVID-19 call center at 614.293.4000 for guidance.

Supervisor Responsibilities
If you receive a report, confirmed or unconfirmed, that a member of your team has been exposed to or has contracted coronavirus/COVID-19, Notify Human Resources (for COTC-paid employees, contact Jackie Parrill; for Ohio State-paid employees, contact Maryjo Mundy), and follow the other guidelines published on the COTC COVID-19 website. Do not notify other team members or others at the college. Maintain the employee’s medical privacy. Assessing possible exposures and notifying those who are at potential risk is the responsibility of the public health contact tracing team.

On-Campus Vaccination Clinic
In collaboration with the Licking County Health Department (LCHD), COTC and Ohio State Newark will offer a first-dose COVID-19 vaccination clinic for faculty, staff and students on Friday, September 17, from 9 a.m. to noon, in the John Gilbert Reese Center. Pre-scheduled appointments are required and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis; no walk-in appointments will be available. LCHD will contact individuals to schedule their second-dose appointment. To schedule an appointment, click here.

COTC COVID-19 Survey
Thank you to all who participated in the recent COTC COVID-19 survey. Overall, the vast majority of faculty and staff and a slight majority of students who participated reported being fully vaccinated. While I am not announcing any changes to COTC’s vaccination policy at this time, your input is much appreciated. It will help us understand campus perspectives as we continue to support public health efforts.

Pataskala Campus Ribbon Cutting
We had a strong turnout last Friday for the ribbon-cutting ceremony at our renovated Pataskala campus. We were especially pleased to be joined by Congressman Troy Balderson, Pataskala Mayor Mike Compton, State Senator Jay Hottinger, and Matt Taylor for State Rep. Mark Frazier. As the region grows, our Pataskala campus is poised to meet the educational needs of more local students and the increased workforce. Read more about the ribbon cutting here.

Welcome Week
It was fun engaging with students in Welcome Week activities on our Newark campus. And it was wonderful to see many of you and our Ohio State colleagues at our COTC Ice Cream Social for all students, faculty and staff. The return of on-campus engagement is a refreshing and hopeful sign for us all. Thanks to our Office of Student Life for coordinating some great activities to welcome our students to campus.

Culture of Caring
The beginning of autumn semester is always simultaneously an exhilarating and demanding time for our entire college community. Our students face the stresses of starting or resuming life-changing pursuits – with many working through great personal sacrifice to do so. For faculty and staff, it’s a very fulfilling yet challenging time as the college welcomes thousands of students back to classes and campus. And this autumn, we’re all continuing to navigate the added stresses brought about by the effects of COVID-19.

That’s why I’m calling on everyone in the COTC community to do what we do best – keep our culture of compassion and respect at the forefront of every interaction. This community is unmatched in kindness, support and caring, and we all need to display and benefit from those qualities now, perhaps more than ever. Each of you plays a crucial part in our students’ journeys. It is important, transformative work and certainly not always easy. Thank you for your continued efforts on behalf of our students and mission. Together, we will continue to redefine what’s possible for our students, the college, and the communities we serve.

Stay Healthy. Stay Helpful. Stay Hopeful.

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

September 3, 2021

To all faculty, staff and students at The Ohio State University at Newark and Central Ohio Technical College (COTC):

In collaboration with the Licking County Health Department (LCHD), Ohio State Newark and COTC will offer a first-dose COVID-19 vaccination clinic for COTC and Ohio State Newark faculty, staff and students on Friday, September 17, from 9 a.m. to noon, in the John Gilbert Reese Center. Pre-scheduled appointments are required and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis; no walk-in appointments will be available. LCHD will contact individuals to schedule their second-dose appointment.

To schedule an appointment, click here.

The deadline for all Ohio State students, faculty and staff to have at least the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine or obtain an approved exemption is Friday, October 15.

While COTC does not require vaccination at this time, it is the college’s expectation that all faculty, staff and students will receive the COVID-19 vaccination for the safety of our community. The college is required to collect the vaccination records of some faculty and students to meet the vaccination requirements of clinical, internship or practicum sites.

If you are not vaccinated yet, please know that the COVID-19 vaccines are safe, free and highly effective. We urge everyone who has not yet been vaccinated to take advantage of this opportunity or those offered at other vaccination providers throughout central Ohio.

Thank you for doing your part to protect yourself, your loved ones, and our community.

Sincerely,

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

William L. MacDonald, PhD
Dean and Director
The Ohio State University at Newark

 

August 26, 2021

To all Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) faculty, staff and students:

We’ve had a tremendous start to our autumn semester! I’ve enjoyed seeing so many of you back on campus, and I hope that your first week is progressing well. I also thank each of you for your commitment to sustaining a safe and healthy campus environment. As we continue to navigate the effects of COVID-19, it is critical that we each do our part to keep ourselves and others safe.

As I mentioned in my communication earlier this week, our Newark campus partner, The Ohio State University, announced that it now requires all faculty, staff and students to receive COVID-19 vaccinations. With the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) transition of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine from emergency use authorization to full approval, we will undoubtedly see many more universities and colleges adopt similar mandates soon.

COTC Vaccination Expectation
While COTC does not require vaccination at this time, it is our expectation that all faculty, staff and students will receive the COVID-19 vaccination for the safety of our community. The college is required to collect the vaccination records of some faculty and students to meet the vaccination requirements of clinical, internship or practicum sites.

The highly transmissible Delta variant has driven an alarming increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations – including in young and otherwise healthy unvaccinated individuals. With the widespread, free availability of safe and effective vaccines, vaccination continues to be our best defense against COVID-19. Though they can contract COVID-19, vaccinated individuals are less contagious and significantly less likely to be hospitalized or die from the virus. Masks also continue to be an effective tool at combating the spread of COVID-19. COTC’s current protocol requires everyone to wear masks indoors regardless of vaccination status. Read a recent CDC update about the Delta variant here.

In the coming weeks, COTC will continue to closely monitor vaccination protocols at our sister Ohio Association of Community College institutions; updates from federal, state and public health officials; local and regional rates of transmission; and outcomes from the multilayered legislative discussion regarding COVID-19 vaccination mandates.

We will also seek your input. In the coming days, you will receive a link to a very brief, anonymous survey to help us assess the percentage of vaccinated COTC employees and students. Additionally, the survey will gain perspectives of our campus constituents as we continue to support public health efforts. Please take the few minutes needed to fill out this survey. Completion will be strictly voluntary.

The health, safety and well-being of our community continue at the forefront of our priorities. Thank you to those who have already been vaccinated. We all share in the responsibility of keeping our community safe. Vaccination will help us safely engage in on-campus activities and support our students as they work to achieve their academic goals.

Stay Healthy. Stay Helpful. Stay Hopeful.

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

August 24, 2021

To all Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) faculty, staff and students:

With the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) recent transition of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine from emergency use authorization to full approval in individuals 16 years of age and older, a number of universities and colleges across the country have announced that they will require COVID-19 vaccinations for members of their campus community.

At this time, COTC has not made any changes to our COVID-19 protocols. The college currently does not require faculty, staff or students to be vaccinated, nor does COTC require faculty, staff or students to report their vaccination status.

In light of this recent news from the FDA, we are conferring with the Office of the Ohio Attorney General, faculty union representatives and members of the COTC Board of Trustees to determine if any COTC COVID-19 protocols will be changed to respond to this new information.

As you may be aware, our Newark campus partner, The Ohio State University, announced today that it will require vaccinations for all faculty, staff and students.

As throughout the pandemic, the health, safety and well-being of our students, faculty and staff have remained our highest priorities. We ask for your patience and understanding as we continue to navigate the ongoing challenges of this fluid situation.

All official information regarding COVID-19 will be shared from the Office of the President and posted on the COTC COVID-19 website.

Stay Healthy. Stay Helpful. Stay Hopeful.

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

August 20, 2021

To all Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) faculty and staff:

It was wonderful to see many of you back on campus this week as we reached the home stretch of preparations for autumn semester. Thank you again for your continued hard work on behalf of our students and mission. I know that the road we have traveled together over the past 17 months has not been without bumps and setbacks, and I am extraordinarily proud of all that you have accomplished.

As classes begin next week, the health and well-being of all members of our campus community remain at the forefront of the college’s priorities. I’ve outlined below the college’s expectations and procedures while on campus.

Masking and campus protocols

All faculty, staff, students and visitors to all COTC campuses are required to wear masks indoors, regardless of their vaccination status. Masks will be required outdoors for unvaccinated individuals when they cannot maintain physical distancing. Vaccinated people are not required to mask outdoors. Note that individuals are fully vaccinated 14 days after receiving their final dose of vaccine.

If you feel ill, do not come to campus; do contact your supervisor.

As throughout the pandemic, COTC will continue to monitor this evolving situation and adapt our protocols as updated information and recommendations from federal, state and local health officials are available. Read more about campus protocols for autumn semester here.

Vaccination
While COTC will not require vaccinations nor ask for your vaccination status, this remains our most critical tool toward resuming full engagement. Vaccination is free, effective and readily available. If you haven’t received your vaccination yet, I strongly encourage you to find a vaccination clinic near you.

COTC Employee Reunion Huddles
It was great to engage with all who attended one of the COTC Employee Reunion Huddles this past week. And it was especially fun being the first to try our COTC 50^th-anniversary ice cream, Berry Rumble. We are very grateful to our friends at Velvet Ice Cream for their sweet collaboration. We have quite a few gallons on hand, so look for more opportunities to indulge throughout the rest of the year!

Ribbon-Cutting Ceremonies – Supporting Student Success

While the weather was not very cooperative, COTC officially dedicated the John and Mary Alford Center for Science and Technology on our Newark campus last Friday. A testament to the importance of this facility is the range of government officials who chose to attend, including Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, Congressman Troy Balderson, State Senator Jay Hottinger, and many other regional and local officials. This new $32 million, 60,000-square-foot facility will offer students a state-of-the-art healthcare simulation center, interactive technology, dedicated spaces designed to encourage collaboration – and most importantly – opportunity. Thank you to our Advancement Office team and facilities staff for their hard work and to all who pitched in at the last moment to relocate the ceremony inside. Read more about the ceremony here and watch a video tour of the Alford Center here.

The college has more exciting news to share as we dedicate our renovated Pataskala campus facility next Friday, Aug. 27, 9-11 a.m. The Pataskala campus will reopen for classes in autumn 2021 after a $4.2 million renovation. The project included a complete renovation of 16,000 square feet of the building’s interior. Key upgrades include nursing and allied health skills labs, science and computer/digital media technology labs, classroom and academic support spaces, student collaboration spaces, testing center, and new heating, ventilation, air conditioning and fire suppression systems. I hope many of you join us as we open an exciting new chapter for the Pataskala campus.

Please continue to take good care of yourself and others. I look forward to an outstanding autumn semester!

Stay Healthy. Stay Helpful. Stay Hopeful.

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

August 6, 2021

 

August 5, 2021

To all Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) faculty, staff and students:

Throughout the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the health, safety and well-being of our students, faculty and staff have remained our highest priorities. With the alarming recent rise in COVID-19 infections across Ohio and the nation due to the highly contagious Delta variant, COTC is updating our mask protocols to reflect the most recent guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Effective Friday, August 6, all faculty, staff, students and visitors to all COTC campuses will be required to wear masks indoors, regardless of their vaccination status. Masks will be required outdoors for unvaccinated individuals when they cannot maintain physical distancing. Vaccinated people are not required to mask outdoors. Note that individuals are fully vaccinated 14 days after receiving their final dose of vaccine.

COTC will continue to monitor this evolving situation and adapt our protocols as updated information and recommendations from federal, state and local health officials are available.

Vaccination
In addition to masking, vaccination is the most effective tool in fighting the virus. Vaccination is free, effective and readily available. If you haven’t received your vaccination yet, I strongly encourage you to find a vaccination clinic near you.

We look forward to an exceptional autumn semester with increased on-campus engagement. Raising vaccination rates is critical in helping us reach this goal.

I appreciate your understanding as we adjust protocols to help ensure the safety of our campus and community.

Stay Healthy. Stay Helpful. Stay Hopeful.

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

July 23, 2021

To all Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) faculty and staff:

With less than one month until our planned return to campus on August 16, I can’t help but reflect upon our extraordinary journey together during this pandemic. We have faced challenges on multiple levels but also enjoyed many triumphs as we stretched ourselves and COTC to change quickly and adapt. I know that the college will be stronger for your hard work and the successes you accomplished. Thank you again for your commitment to our students and our mission.

Safety and well-being remain a priority

As we prepare for a more traditional autumn semester, the college will continue to follow all appropriate measures to promote the health and well-being of the community. Individuals who are not vaccinated are required to continue wearing masks indoors and to physically distance at all times. Classrooms are cleaned and disinfected nightly. In addition, custodians clean bathrooms and disinfect high touch point areas at least once a day, including door handles, faucets, handrails and other commonly touched surfaces in high traffic areas. Drinking fountains are disinfected at least twice per day. Classroom ventilation systems have been checked for appropriate filtration; MERV-13 and/or HEPA filters are used wherever possible, per industry standards. Read more about campus preparations for autumn semester here.

Yet, with COVID-19 infections rising again in areas due to the Delta variant, vaccination remains the most important and effective tool against the virus. If you haven’t received your vaccination, I urge you to find a vaccination clinic near you as soon as possible.

In addition, I recognize that many are still experiencing stresses that have arisen during the pandemic. Please continue to take good care of yourself and others. We never know what stresses other individuals are experiencing; please bring patience and kindness to all of your interactions. Our colleagues in Health and Wellness at The Ohio State University have posted helpful information for relieving stress here.

COTC Employee Reunion Huddles
Official invitations will be emailed next week, but mark your calendars now to attend one of COTC’s Employee Reunion Huddles. We will celebrate reconnecting with colleagues prior to the start of autumn semester – and be the first to try COTC’s 50^th anniversary ice cream. Please plan to join me!

Full-Time Faculty

Wed., Aug. 18, 2:30-3 p.m., John Gilbert Reese Center

All Faculty and Staff

Thur., Aug. 19, 2-2:30 p.m., Coshocton, Montgomery Hall; 3:30-4 p.m., Mount Vernon, Ariel Hall

Fri., Aug. 20, 1:30-2 p.m., Pataskala, Gateway reception area; 3-4 p.m., Newark, Martha Grace Reese Amphitheatre

Alford Center and Pataskala campus
Of course, as we return to campus for autumn semester, we will also begin holding classes in the John and Mary Alford Center for Science and Technology in Newark and at our completely renovated Pataskala campus. I’m happy to say that we successfully dodged the torrential rains last Friday as Dr. MacDonald and I hosted the Alford family, The Ohio State University President Kristina M. Johnson, and several scores of donors for lunch, followed by tours of the Alford Center. We are incredibly grateful for the continued strong support of our community. My thanks to our talented advancement office team for another job well done. Please plan to join us at the ribbon-cutting ceremonies for each building.

Ribbon-cutting ceremonies:
John and Mary Alford Center for Science and Technology
Newark campus
Friday, Aug. 13, 9-11 a.m.

Pataskala campus
Friday, Aug. 27, 9-11 a.m.

I’m very much looking forward to seeing you on campus this autumn.

Until then, Stay Healthy. Stay Helpful. Stay Hopeful.

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

July 9, 2021

To all Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) faculty and staff:

I hope that your long Independence Day weekend was both fun-filled and refreshing.

As we anticipate our full return to campus for autumn semester, it’s almost unbelievable to think that many of us will not have seen each other in person for more than 17 months when we finally reunite on campus in August.

So, to acknowledge and celebrate this extraordinary occasion, COTC will host Employee Reunion Huddles as a fun and informal opportunity to reconnect with colleagues prior to the start of classes. And, since it will be so sweet to be together again, we thought it highly appropriate for you to be the first to sample COTC’s 50^th-anniversary ice cream, Berry Rumble, created especially for the college by Velvet Ice Cream. Look for a forthcoming COTC Employee Reunion Huddle email invitation detailing dates and times. I hope to see you at a Huddle!

Re-engagement planning
I know that many departments are transitioning to on-campus work as a lead-up to the full return of employees to on-site work and instruction. As a reminder, all staff who have been working remotely, full- or part-time, due to the COVID-19 pandemic are required to return to their normal, on-campus work assignments on or before Monday, August 16, 2021, unless they have telecommuting or flexible work arrangements that are unrelated to the pandemic. Flexible work requests for autumn semester are due now. Supervisors should submit the request for flexible work arrangements in writing to the department manager, who will approve or deny the request. The department manager will send approved requests to me and/or Dr. MacDonald for final approval or denial. Read the complete guidelines here.

Meeting student needs
As we prepare to welcome more students back to our campuses for in-person classes and labs this autumn, I want to highlight once again COTC’s extraordinary commitment to serving student needs. Our goal is to meet students where they are and to do our best to offer each student an educational experience that works best for them. With five delivery options – on campus, hybrid, hy-flex, remote and online – students enrolling at COTC this autumn and beyond will find more flexibility in course-delivery options than ever before.

Flexibility and multiple options that allow students to choose their preferred course-delivery method underpin the college’s new academic planning. Over the last year, COTC invested substantially in virtual technologies and online course development to support an extensive increase in course-delivery modes. And while some courses that require hands-on participation cannot be delivered remotely, if students don’t initially see a course offered in their preferred delivery mode, COTC is committed to adding the option whenever possible. My thanks to Provost Heiser and his staff for their hard work in bringing the student-first philosophy to life.

CARES-Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF)
Hundreds of COTC students have already benefited from HEERF funding, which the college received to support students impacted by COVID-19. And COTC remains committed to supporting students in all aspects of their lives – academically, emotionally and financially – as we all continue to navigate this difficult time. We are very optimistic that the college will receive another round of HEERF funding and anticipate being able to announce additional funding soon. Read about previous HEERF funding here.

Ribbon-cutting ceremonies
Don’t forget – mark your calendars for our two upcoming ribbon-cutting ceremonies:

John and Mary Alford Center for Science and Technology
Newark campus
Friday, Aug. 13, 9-11 a.m.

Pataskala campus
Friday, Aug. 27, 9-11 a.m.

Campus re-engagement and the importance of vaccination

We have much to look forward to in the coming months. Yet, with COVID-19 infections rising again in areas due to the Delta variant, vaccination remains the most important and effective tool against the virus. If you haven’t received your vaccination, I urge you to find a vaccination clinic near you now in order to be fully vaccinated before autumn semester. Current campus protocol requires masks and distancing for all unvaccinated individuals present indoors on any COTC campus.

Stay Healthy. Stay Helpful. Stay Hopeful.

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

June 22, 2021

To all Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) and The Ohio State University at Newark faculty and staff:

Effective immediately, university/college in-person meetings and events are permitted at Ohio State Newark and all Central Ohio Technical College campuses (Newark, Coshocton, Mount Vernon and Pataskala).

In addition, all campus venues, including at the shared Newark campus and all COTC campus locations, may consider third-party events that want to use campus spaces.

An event is defined as a planned activity, other than academic classes scheduled as part of the university/college curriculum, that is held in a university/college building or outdoor space on a university/college campus or with a community partner. A gathering is defined as a formal or informal assembly of people that is either planned or spontaneous.

All events must follow these guidelines:

• All events and gatherings must follow state, local and university protocols to protect all involved. Note that all guidance is subject to change based on health guidance.
• Daily activities are permitted. Overnight activities are not permitted at this time.
• Fully vaccinated people are no longer required to wear masks on any Ohio State or COTC campus. Fully vaccinated individuals are also no longer required to physically distance.
• Individuals who are not vaccinated are required to continue wearing masks indoors and to physically distance at all times.
• Indoor venues may operate at full capacity.
• Hands should be washed frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after touching common surfaces. If soap and water are not available, 70% alcohol-based hand sanitizer should be used. Events should allow for regular hand washing.
• Event leaders must be educated on proper masking requirements, sanitation, cleaning and social distancing and have a plan in place to ensure appropriate distancing for participant registration, drop-off, pick-up and other aspects of the event.
• Event organizers who want to hold an event at a university/college-approved venue should work directly with the venue contact.
• Event organizers should appoint one staff member/event organizer who is responsible for the ongoing monitoring of safety protocols. Pre-packaged meals are preferred when possible. Self-serve options should be limited and serving utensils must be regularly cleaned.

For university/college events:

• University/college event organizers who want to hold an event at an off-campus (third-party) venue should work with their director to obtain approvals.

Sincerely,

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

William L. MacDonald, PhD
Dean and Director
The Ohio State University at Newark

 

June 11, 2021

To all Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) faculty and staff:

This week I shared the positive news that COTC has lifted mask and physical distance protocols for fully vaccinated individuals on all COTC campuses. Individuals who are not vaccinated are required to continue wearing masks indoors and to physically distance at all times. Individuals are fully vaccinated 14 days after their final dose of vaccine.

Daily Health Check No Longer Required
COTC is also rescinding effective immediately the daily health check requirement for faculty, staff or students who plan to be physically present on any COTC campus. Employees who are feeling ill should stay home and contact their supervisor. These changes were based on updates to federal and state health guidance.

Business-Related Travel to Resume
Effective July 1, 2021, the college will allow business-related travel in line with updated health and safety requirements. Supervisors are asked to maintain a fiscally responsible approach as we gradually begin to resume more in-person activities.

Summer Semester Classes Continue as Scheduled
Please note that all summer semester classes will continue in their originally scheduled delivery mode (remote, online, on campus and hybrid).

Keeping our students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends safe remains our top priority. As I stated previously, we will continue to support the health and safety of everyone at COTC by being “mask friendly.” While fully vaccinated individuals are not required to wear masks, anyone who chooses to wear a mask will be welcome to do so and should be made to feel comfortable about their decision.

We will share additional information and guidelines in the coming weeks as we refine plans for our gradual return to campus for autumn semester. We will continue to share all updates via email and on the COTC COVID-19 web page.

Pataskala Campus Reopening June 14
I am also extremely pleased to share news that our Pataskala campus is reopening! After a year of renovation, the Pataskala campus has received all of its required final inspections, and we obtained our certificate of occupancy on May 5. Since then, the contractor has been working on landscaping, balancing the HVAC system, addressing punch-list items and wrapping up change-order work. The process of moving equipment and other items out of the Annex facility began on June 9. Staff are planning to move on Monday, June 14, when the new Pataskala campus will officially open its doors to the public. Setting up of labs and classrooms will be ongoing throughout the summer as we prepare the facility for classes this autumn semester. Our thanks go out to our dedicated and always helpful facilities staff, who have gone the extra mile during the pandemic to keep this project on schedule. We are very excited at the many possibilities this campus holds for the college.

Founders Hall Update
This week Dr. MacDonald and I shared an announcement that the Founders Hall renovation has now been approved by both the COTC and Ohio State Boards of Trustees. This $23 million project will renew the structure’s lifespan and allow us to meet the needs of students well into the 21st century. It will also transform the dated structure into a more modern and welcoming facility emphasizing openness and natural light. With an increased focus on high-quality study space, the renovated facility will become an inviting location for study and engagement, offering a multitude of exciting future possibilities.

We are incredibly grateful to have secured $12,000,000 in private gifts for this project and will be pursuing an additional $2 million in private gifts over the next year.

We are currently exploring a move-out timeline for summer 2022, with construction planned to begin in early 2023 and project completion in early summer 2024. Read the complete announcement here.

 Welcome and Congratulations
COTC is welcoming several recent and upcoming new employees. I encourage you to take a few moments to welcome these new colleagues personally. We are delighted that they are joining our community.

Chris Dawson, videographer
Maddie Fleckenstein,  Gateway specialist-customer service
John Rider, security officer/dispatcher
Amber Lovett, admissions representative
Jovan Williams, program assistant-recreational sports

Congratulations to Kirk Tarr, who is continuing at COTC in a new capacity. Thank you for your dedication to the college.

Kirk Tarr, promoted to building supervisor, Knox campus

Pride Month
Finally, as I close this week’s message during Pride Month, I want to reiterate COTC’s ongoing commitment to equality and inclusiveness in all forms. We reaffirm that everyone who is here – as a student, staff or faculty member – is seen and valued for who they are. Our family, friends and colleagues in the LGBTQ+ community have a safe space at COTC, and we remain committed to leading with compassion and openness toward a world based on these values.

Stay Healthy. Stay Helpful. Stay Hopeful.

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

June 10, 2021

To all Ohio State Newark and Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) faculty, staff and students,

Based on the changes to federal and state health guidance, Ohio State and COTC will be making the following adjustments to our on-campus COVID-19 protocols:

• Fully vaccinated people are no longer required to wear masks on any Ohio State or COTC campus, except in Wexner Medical Center facilities and public transportation. Fully vaccinated individuals are also no longer required to physically distance.
• Individuals who are not vaccinated are required to continue wearing masks indoors and to physically distance at all times.

Ohio State faculty, staff and students should use the Safe and Healthy Buckeyes website and the Ohio State autumn campus reactivation page — including the FAQs — as your central source for our current guidance.

COTC faculty, staff and students can find information regarding on-campus protocols on the COTC COVID-19 website: Procedures for Faculty and Staff; Procedures for Students.

Vaccination is strongly encouraged for everyone who is eligible to be vaccinated. It is not required. Vaccines protect you and those around you, and a high vaccination rate will allow our campuses to return more fully to “normal” activities.

Note that individuals are fully vaccinated 14 days after their final dose of vaccine.

We sincerely appreciate your continued perseverance and flexibility over the past year. Please note that as the situation continues to be fluid, our guidance will continue to evolve based on science, data and expertise of public health leaders.

With vaccines widely available and continued safety protocols, it is very exciting to plan a gradual return to campus for autumn semester. Keeping our students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends safe is our top priority, and we will all continue to play important roles in taking care of each other.

Thank you for your ongoing commitment to the missions of COTC and Ohio State.

Stay safe,

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

William L. MacDonald, PhD
Dean and Director
The Ohio State University at Newark

 

May 28, 2021

To all Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) faculty and staff:

It’s hard to believe that we’re now two weeks into our summer semester! I hope that you are well and that your semester is unfolding in a positive way. Even as the pandemic wanes, I understand that there are still challenges to be faced. I ask again that all faculty and staff be especially aware of any struggles students may face as the semester progresses. Student success can be adversely affected for many reasons, as you know, but early intervention can have a meaningful impact.

Last week I announced that COTC and Ohio State lifted our outdoor mask mandate due to changes in federal and state health guidance. As a reminder, all other COVID-19 protocols remain in effect until otherwise stated. We will continue to closely evaluate this fluid situation and share all updates via email and on the COTC COVID-19 web page.

• Outdoor masking: Fully vaccinated people do not need to wear a mask outdoors on any COTC or Ohio State campus. The college and university strongly recommend that unvaccinated people wear masks when they cannot maintain safe distancing. Note that individuals are fully vaccinated 14 days after their final dose of vaccine.
• Indoor masking: Masks are still required indoors, except for individuals working alone in their own office (not a shared workspace). Both institutions will continue to evaluate this protocol with the hope of lifting the requirement this autumn.

Keeping our students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends safe is our top priority. As we gradually return to campus, everyone plays an integral part in taking care of each other. We will continue to support the health and safety of everyone at COTC by being “mask friendly,” even after we are able to lift our indoor mask mandate. Anyone who chooses to wear a mask will be welcome to do so and should be made to feel comfortable about their decision. As always, if you feel ill or have a fever, the best option is to stay home.

Many of us will gather with friends and family for the first time in more than a year this Memorial Day weekend. We are thankful for the vaccines that are making this possible. Yet, the virus is still among us. Vaccination continues to be our best offense against the virus, and if you have not already done so, I recommend that you schedule your vaccination as soon as possible.

On Monday, May 31, the college will be closed in observance of Memorial Day, as we honor all the courageous men and women who gave their lives in military service to our country. Let us honor their memory with pride and never forget their sacrifice.

Stay Healthy. Stay Helpful. Stay Hopeful.

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

May 14, 2021

To all Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) faculty and staff:

With the governor’s announcement on Wednesday that the state will lift all COVID-19 health orders effective June 2, except those for nursing homes and assisted living facilities, Ohioans can look ahead with much optimism. For COTC, these crucial changes signal optimism for a potentially more robust return to campus for autumn semester. Until otherwise communicated, the college’s COVID-19 protocols do remain in place. We will continue to monitor this fluid situation closely and share all updates via email and on the COTC COVID-19 web page. Vaccination remains the most important tool in our journey toward resuming the activities we love. If you haven’t received your vaccination yet, I encourage you to find a vaccination clinic near you.

Commencement
Thanks to all who assisted with COTC’s modified in-person commencement on Friday, May 7. Even though the ceremony looked a bit different with distancing and mask protocols in place, our graduates very much appreciated the opportunity to be recognized in person in front of their families. Well done to all for helping us celebrate this important milestone for our graduates.

Summer Semester
COTC’s summer semester begins on Monday, May 17. We’ll continue offering most classes remotely during summer semester, and all student services will continue to be offered remotely, as well. A limited number of COTC staff will be available on campus to provide in-person services by appointment only. Summer semester registration continues only through the first day of classes. Late registration will not be available.

Independence Day Concert and Fireworks Cancelled
COTC and Ohio State Newark will not hold our annual Independence Day concert and fireworks again this year. In recent years, crowds at the event have consistently exceeded 20,000 people on campus at one time. With support from the Reese Family Foundation, COTC and Ohio State Newark have been fortunate to be part of this celebration for many years. While we deeply regret that we will not be able to hold this event again this year, we optimistically look forward to the event returning to campus next summer.

Alford Center
We have received more good news about the John and Mary Alford Center for Science and Technology – the building recently passed its final occupancy inspection. The facilities department is planning to begin moving the first group of faculty members into their new offices next week, with the goal of having all 16 offices occupied by the end of the month. Research labs are planned to be moved by the end of June and teaching labs moved by the end of July. Don’t forget to save the date for the Alford Center Ribbon Cutting, which is scheduled for Friday, August 13, 9 to11 a.m.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer
COTC and Ohio State Newark will be conducting a national search for the campus’s and college’s first diversity, equity and inclusion officer, a position that will strengthen our efforts to advance toward greater diversity, equity and inclusion. The new position will be shared by the two institutions and will report directly to myself and Ohio State Newark Dean/Director Bill MacDonald. The search committee will be chaired by Jackie Parrill, COTC vice president and chief of staff/chief of staff for Ohio State Newark. The committee will include representatives from the student body, staff and faculty.

Members of the college and campus community are invited to share feedback, submit questions and recommend candidates by contacting Jackie at parrill.9@osu.edu. Your input will help the committee define the criteria they will use to evaluate candidates.

COTC 50^th Anniversary Gala
In July, COTC will officially begin our 50^th anniversary year-long celebration. Save the date now for COTC’s 50^th Anniversary Gala, which will be held in the John Gilbert Reese Center on the Newark campus on Friday, September 17.

As we start another semester, I offer my ongoing thanks and appreciation for all that you do in support of our students. Take care of yourselves, and be especially aware of those who may be struggling. While we’re thankful for positive developments surrounding the virus, many are still experiencing challenges during this difficult time. Let’s look out for each other with kindness, patience and understanding. We’ll all be better for it.

Stay Healthy. Stay Helpful. Stay Hopeful.

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

April 30, 2021

To all Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) faculty and staff:

Congratulations! Despite many ongoing challenges and uncertainty, you have made it to the end of another semester! As always, I am extraordinarily proud of the exceptional work you have accomplished on behalf of our students. Thank you for your enduring strength and resilience, and congratulations on another remarkable semester. There is much to celebrate and for which to be thankful.

Commencement
We look forward to celebrating our graduates during a modified in-person spring commencement on Friday, May 7, in the John Gilbert Reese Center on our Newark campus. Graduates will walk across the stage to receive their diploma covers in front of their families. While distancing and mask protocols will be in place, we are delighted to be able to celebrate this important milestone in person. We hope that many faculty members will be able to join the celebration. The event will take place between 3 to 5 p.m. for healthcare program graduates and between 5 to 7 p.m. for all other program graduates. Read more.

COVID-19 Protocols
Even as vaccinations continue, most of our state is still designated at a Level 2 or 3 Public Health Emergency, which signifies a very high or increased spread of the virus. It is important to continue following all of the college’s COVID-19 protocols whenever on campus, including daily health checks, mask-wearing and distancing. We understand that this situation is highly fluid. Yet, with variant strains of the virus spreading in our communities, it is urgent that we all continue to adhere to the health and safety protocols. If you have not received your vaccination yet, I urge you to take advantage of the many clinics and providers offering this service. It is the best path toward resuming the activities we love.

Summer Semester
We continue to be optimistic about summer semester enrollment as those numbers continue to trend on a pace more aligned with pre-pandemic summer enrollment data. As of Monday the 26^th, headcount stood at 1,085 (79% to goal) and FTE at 519.3 (79% to goal). Additionally, continuing student enrollment is up 8%, transfer student enrollment is up, and enrollment is up at all campus locations. Summer semester registration continues through the first day of classes on May 17.

Alford Center
The Alford Center achieved a significant milestone this week as the project passed its final life/safety inspection. After final electrical and structural inspections are completed, which should occur in the following weeks, we can begin occupying the building. We’ll continue to share building/move-in updates as they are available.

Founders Hall Renovation Update
The COTC Board of Trustees approved the Founders Hall renovation project at its April 20 meeting. The project will next go before The Ohio State University Board of Trustees for approval at its meeting scheduled for the week of May 17. Once that approval is in place, we’ll be back in touch with more detailed information regarding the renovation timeline.

Blue Line Twilight Run
COTC’s Blue Line Twilight Run 5K/10K will be held in person on Saturday, May 1, 7 p.m., at Rotary Park, adjacent to the COTC Newark campus. The event will kick-off at 6 p.m. with a free half-mile Kids Fun Run for youth 10 and younger. Online registration is closed, but participants can register at the event. Learn more at go.cotc.edu/bluelinerun.

May is Mental Health Month
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the mental health of people of all ages. Now, more than ever, it is critical to reduce the stigma around mental health struggles because that stigma often prevents individuals from seeking help. If you or others are struggling, please know that there are many sources of support.

Counseling resources for students:

• COTC Personal Support Services

Community resources for students and employees:

• 2-1-1 Crisis & Information Hotline | unitedwaylc
• Mental Health America of Ohio
• Ohio Crisis Text Line – Text “4hope” to 741 741 to be connected to a trained crisis counselor within 5 minutes.

Resources for employees:

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) 614.292.4700

Ending the Semester with Gratitude
I again send my heartfelt thanks to each of you. I know the extraordinary challenges and stresses you have faced for the past year – health and safety concerns for yourself and others; adapting to new procedures and technologies; upended work and home environments; unease surrounding ongoing tensions regarding race, equity and justice; the pain of not being with loved ones; and always – the overwhelming and surreal scale of loss.

It was not easy. Yet, you have persevered. And in that perseverance, I see COTC’s values brilliantly illustrated:

Helpful and inclusive, driven by compassion and the desire to care about others.
Resilient and tenacious, driven by overcoming challenges through grit and determination.
Forward-thinking and innovative, driven by a commitment to positive change.

These values are not merely words attached to our strategic framework. They are brought to life in the work you do every day for our students and the communities we serve.

Take care of yourselves. Find time to rest, refresh and approach each day with gratitude.

Stay Healthy. Stay Helpful. Stay Hopeful.

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

April 16, 2021

To all Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) faculty and staff:

We continue to applaud the massive vaccination rollout happening in our state and country. As I write this, more than 36% of Ohio’s citizens have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, according to the Ohio Department of Health. This is hopeful news that will sustain us as we continue to move ever closer toward ending this pandemic. Yet, with variant strains of the virus on the rise, it is urgent that we all continue to adhere to health and safety protocols.

To date, more than 25,000 COVID-19 vaccinations have been administered through the Licking County Health Department’s (LCHD) vaccination clinics occurring at the John Gilbert Reese Center on our Newark campus. Our thanks go out to all public health officials, healthcare workers and volunteers who are making this undertaking possible. This includes some of our own nursing students and instructors, who have been assisting the LCHD with vaccination clinics and contact tracing all semester. They are an example in real-time of COTC’s values of helpfulness and being driven by compassion and the desire to care about others.

Even with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine’s current pause, vaccination remains our best hope to end this pandemic and keep ourselves, our families, and communities safe. I encourage everyone who has not yet been vaccinated to take advantage of the opportunity. I will soon share information about a special vaccination clinic we will be hosting next week for faculty, staff and students.

Framework Forum
Thanks to the nearly 100 faculty and staff members who attended this past Wednesday’s Framework Forum, in which I shared results gathered from the recent economic needs and assessment work conducted for COTC in each county of our service area – Licking, Knox and Coshocton. These assessments primarily focused on our extended campuses. We’ll continue discussions with community members and industry partners in each county as we utilize these data to determine the next steps. You can find information regarding each county’s assessment here: Coshocton, Knox, Licking.

Blue Line Twilight Run
There’s still time to register for COTC’s Blue Line Twilight Run 5K and 10K, which will be held in person on Saturday, May 1, 7 p.m., at Rotary Park, adjacent to the COTC Newark campus. The event will kick-off at 6 p.m. with a free half-mile Kids Fun Run for youth 10 and younger. Online registration is available at go.cotc.edu/bluelinerun through Wednesday, April 28. The Blue Line Twilight Run, a collaboration between COTC and the Licking County Sheriff’s Office, honors law enforcement personnel as they prepare for National Police Week, May 9-15. Proceeds from the Blue Line Twilight Run will benefit COTC’s Officer Thomas W. Cottrell Jr. Award for Character and Dedication to Public Service and the LCSO’s Stuff the Backpack fund. All registration and event activities will occur outside and adhere to national, state and local COVID-19 health and safety guidelines current at race time.

Spring Commencement
As a reminder, COTC will hold a modified in-person spring commencement on Friday, May 7, in the John Gilbert Reese Center on our Newark campus. Graduates will walk across the stage to receive their diploma cover in front of their families. The event will take place between 3 to 5 p.m. for healthcare program graduates and between 5 to 7 p.m. for all other program graduates. Read more.

Summer Enrollment
We are very encouraged to see summer semester enrollment numbers back on pace with pre-COVID summer enrollment data. We continue to trend positively in numerous categories and remain cautiously optimistic with these early trends. Summer semester begins May 17.

Final Day to Vote for COTC’s 50^th Anniversary Ice Cream
We’re thrilled that more than 800 votes have been cast so far for COTC’s 50^th Anniversary ice cream. But, the voting remains close! We’re extending the poll by one more day, so don’t miss your chance to vote today. We’ll be able to taste the winning flavor at events during our anniversary year. Vote here.

End of Semester
As we move into the last few weeks of the semester, thank you for your continued hard work on behalf of our students. I know that the past year has not been easy. Yet, when faced with challenge after challenge, you continued to rise to the occasion. The end of the semester is always an exceptionally hectic time, and with COVID protocols still in place, our daily routines remain more complicated than ever before. I urge you to dedicate at least a few moments every day to your own well-being. Get outside, connect with a friend, or just take some deep breaths to relieve the heightened stress many of us are experiencing. Our end-of-semester finish line is in sight, and we are almost there. I trust in each of you to continue your outstanding support of our students as we complete another exceptional semester.

Stay Healthy. Stay Helpful. Stay Hopeful.

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

April 2, 2021

To all Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) faculty and staff:

This week brought the welcome news that COVID-19 vaccines are now available for everyone 16 and older in Ohio. Vaccination is not only the best way to protect ourselves, our families and community, but it also provides our most hopeful path toward the safe resumption of in-person activities. I urge all members of our campus community to take advantage of this opportunity. The Licking County Health Department continues to hold large vaccination clinics on our Newark campus. The Ohio Department of Health offers vaccination information and scheduling assistance for vaccination locations across the state.

Autumn Semester Academic Plan
As I shared last week, COTC plans to welcome more students back to our classrooms and labs for in-person learning during the autumn semester. To meet the broad range of students’ preferences and needs, the college will offer a wide array of course delivery options both this autumn and moving forward, including remote, online, on campus and hybrid. Any addition of on-campus classes and services will be guided by state and local health guidelines to ensure the health and safety of all. Read the autumn semester academic re-engagement announcement here.

Campus Re-engagement
I understand everyone’s eagerness for information regarding campus re-engagement beyond our autumn semester academic plan; I want to confirm that no decisions have been made at this time. College leadership is actively exploring possible scenarios and timelines for additional campus re-engagement, and I will communicate details as soon as they are available. As with our academic re-engagement plan, the safety and well-being of our students, faculty and staff are our highest priorities. COTC will work to create a re-engagement plan that allows for a safe return for all.

Newark Campus Hosted Learning Lunchbox Event
On Tuesday, more than 1,200 people received Learning Lunchboxes and boxed meals in a drive-through event hosted on the COTC and Ohio State Newark shared campus. Learning Lunchboxes is an innovative program led by COSI and a collaboration of meal providers, libraries, museums and cultural institutions across the state to deliver free, hands-on science kits called Learning Lunchboxes to help accelerate learning through fun, hands-on engagement. We are very proud to support colleagues from COSI, the Food Pantry Network of Licking County and The Works: Ohio Center for History, Art & Technology, along with other local leaders, in helping local families through this initiative.

Vote for COTC’s 50^th Anniversary Ice Cream
Be sure to cast your vote for COTC’s 50^th Anniversary ice cream. I understand that early voting has been strong and that the race is tight! Voting ends on April 15 – so don’t miss your chance to help choose a delicious start to our 50^th Anniversary celebration. These proposed flavors are only in the conceptual phase. We’ll be able to taste the winning flavor at events during our anniversary year. Vote here.

Alford Center Nearing Completion
I’m very pleased to report that the John and Mary Alford Center for Science and Technology is on track for a substantial completion date in late April. Construction fencing will be coming down soon to make way for landscaping, and we anticipate beginning to move into the building in May. A public ribbon-cutting is scheduled for August. Read more about the project here.

Spring Commencement
COTC will hold a modified in-person spring commencement on Friday, May 7, in the John Gilbert Reese Center on our Newark campus. Graduates will walk across the stage to receive their diploma cover in front of their families. The event will take place between 3 to 5 p.m. for healthcare program graduates and between 5 to 7 p.m. for all other program graduates. Read more.

Community College Month
Many of you know that I began my educational journey at a community college. And it was those early educational opportunities that built the foundation for any future success I have been able to achieve. As we celebrate Community College Month throughout April, please take some time to reflect on the importance of the work that each of you performs every day. Our nation’s community and technical colleges are not only the backbone of our workforce – they are drivers of opportunity for all. My thanks to each of you for your continued dedication to our mission and your unfailing support of our students.

Stay Healthy. Stay Helpful. Stay Hopeful.

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

March 24, 2021

To all Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) faculty, staff and students:

I share below important information regarding Central Ohio Technical College’s academic re-engagement plan for autumn semester.

COTC announces return to more in-person classes for autumn semester
We’re extremely pleased to share that COTC will welcome more students back to classrooms and labs for in-person learning during autumn semester. To meet the broad range of students’ preferences and needs, COTC will offer a wide array of options to our students both this autumn and moving forward. Delivery options will include remote, online, on campus and hybrid.

Offering flexibility in scheduling options will be key to this re-engagement plan. Our students have a diverse range of needs, and while we greatly welcome the ability to bring more students back to campus safely, we understand that remote and online options may still be the best fit for some students.

The health and well-being of students, faculty and staff have been COTC’s foremost priorities. The resumption of more on-campus classes will be guided by state and local health guidelines, including wearing masks at all times while inside any COTC building, physical distancing, hand hygiene and limited density in indoor spaces.

Due to varying demand, COTC’s autumn semester re-engagement plan will differ slightly between the Newark campus and our three extended campuses in Coshocton, Knox and Pataskala.

Newark campus
COTC’s Newark campus will welcome students back to campus in a modified format that expands in-person options while maintaining a robust array of remote modalities, allowing students to choose their preferred academic delivery method. Classroom capacity will be capped at 80% to ensure adequate space among faculty and students.

Hy-flex courses utilizing Zoom and DTEN technology, an immersive online collaborative platform, will also operate on campus. In Hy-flex sections, faculty may allow students to attend an in-person lecture according to the 80% capacity guideline; remaining students will attend the lecture via Zoom.

Coshocton, Knox and Pataskala campuses
COTC will welcome students back to our Coshocton, Knox and Pataskala campuses in a more robust and engaged format. Due to these campus communities’ smaller size, most courses will be offered in person, with a priority given to programs requiring lab courses. Solely lecture-based courses may be delivered on campus, remotely via Zoom or DTEN, or online.

Should there be a resurgence in the virus or governmental restrictions are again imposed, COTC could return to completely remote or modified remote formats for all instruction and student services. If immunizations are not readily available by the start of the semester, COTC will modify this plan to ensure faculty, staff and students are provided a safe environment.

COTC autumn semester calendar not changed
COTC will begin classes for autumn semester on August 25. The autumn 2021 academic calendar will not be altered; Thanksgiving and other holiday breaks will be followed as scheduled. Courses will be offered in the standard 15-week format. COTC will also continue offering flexible term start dates with courses offered in an accelerated format starting at both the beginning and mid-point of each semester. Field experiences are dependent upon site availability. Students will work directly with their course instructor to plan for any field experiences.

College Credit Plus (CCP) courses will continue to be offered. CCP students will be able to enroll in COTC courses taught at their high school by approved high school teachers or enroll in courses offered through one of COTC’s four campus locations or online.

Summer semester and phased return
COTC will continue offering most classes remotely during the summer semester, which begins on May 17. All student services will continue to be offered remotely, which remains the preferred method of service. A limited number of COTC staff will be available on campus to provide in-person services. These sessions must be scheduled in advance; no walk-in appointments will be available. In-person services should only be utilized if a student cannot engage with a college office remotely due to technological limitations. The college will consider a phased return to campus for staff members based upon state and local health guidance.

Stay Healthy. Stay Helpful. Stay Hopeful.

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

March 19, 2021

To all Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) faculty and staff:

This month we marked the one-year anniversary of COTC’s move to primarily remote classes and services due to health and safety concerns surrounding the spread of COVID-19. We faced many unexpected challenges together during the past year, and I’m particularly proud of how each of you responded to those challenges. You have demonstrated again and again your determination, resourcefulness and empathy. Thank you for all that you have done and continue to do in support of our mission and our students.

Racial Justice and Equity
We’ve recently seen tragic examples of crimes rooted in hatred toward or bias against racial or ethnic groups, and we must continually assess what we are doing to prevent them. Unfortunately, our country has seen an increase in targeting Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi Americans (APIDA). As a college community, we stand in support of our APIDA colleagues, staff, students and community members and reaffirm our commitment to social justice.

You can continue this critical dialogue and learn how you can work toward creating a culture of inclusivity at our 12^th annual Community Intercultural Relations Conference, Racial Justice Requires Equity and Me, which will be held virtually on Friday, April 9. If possible, I urge you to join with campus and community colleagues as they come together to create transformational change. Learn more and register here.

Staff Forum Town Hall
I was delighted that more than 120 campus colleagues joined Dr. MacDonald and myself on March 11 at this year’s Staff Forum Town Hall. Thank you for the opportunity to address your concerns, many of which involved campus re-engagement. For our upcoming summer semester, we anticipate operations to continue largely as they have through spring semester, with the majority of classes held remotely and student-facing offices offering scheduled in-person appointments. In autumn semester, if vaccinations are widespread and the pandemic eases, we anticipate increasing the number of in-person classes. However, it is essential that we offer our students flexibility in course modalities, and both remote and online options will still be available. We’ll share additional details about autumn semester academic engagement in the near future. Timing for a return to campus for other non-student-facing staff members has not been determined, but we will take a phased approach to any campus re-engagement. We will continue to monitor health officials’ recommendations as we assess how to keep all members of our community safe as we plan for any eventual return to campus. For those unable to join the town hall, a video is available at Town Hall 2021 Recording.Framework Forum
COTC’s next Framework Forum will be held on April 14, at 10 a.m. via Zoom. During this one-hour session, I’ll share information regarding the economic assessments and needs evaluations conducted for our three-county service area – Licking, Knox and Coshocton counties. If you haven’t responded yet, a reminder for the invitation will be shared soon in Outlook.

A Season of Hope
The arrival of spring always marks a hopeful turning point in the calendar, and this year that is especially so. There is much to be hopeful for with vaccinations continuing to ramp up across the state and eligibility soon expanding to everyone 16 and older. If you’re still waiting to be vaccinated, the state’s gettheshot.coronavirus.ohio.gov website is a helpful tool in vaccination scheduling. Please continue to take care of yourselves and remember that all college COVID-19 protocols remain in place until further improvement in the pandemic occurs. We’ve seen decreases in infection rates in recent weeks, so please continue doing your part to keep everyone safe.

Also, as we conclude spring break, I hope that all who were able to take time off had the opportunity to refresh and re-energize. For those who were working, please find some time for yourself in the next few days. Get outside this weekend, take a walk, call a friend, or just take time to rest and reflect.

Stay Healthy. Stay Helpful. Stay Hopeful.

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

March 6, 2021

To all Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) faculty and staff:

I hope you are well and that as we move into the second term your semester will continue to progress smoothly. We’ve seen very hopeful news recently of additional vaccine approval and falling COVID-19 infection rates. This is tremendously encouraging. Until the CDC and other public officials offer further guidance, please continue following the COVID-19 protocols. Daily wellness checks are still required for all faculty, staff and students who will be present on any COTC campus.

Virtual Campus Town Hall
Our annual campus town hall will be held virtually via Zoom on Thursday, March 11, at 8:30 am. Thank you to everyone who submitted questions. Dr. MacDonald and I hope that you will be able to join us. We look forward to sharing this time with you and addressing your concerns.

Extended Campus Community Town Halls Scheduled
Virtual town hall meetings to engage with community members in locations served by each of our extended campuses will convene this month. In the coming months, I will share how the information gathered at the town hall forums and other initiatives will inform our strategic planning.

Harriet Tubman Sculpture Dedicated
As part of our celebration of Black History Month, we were delighted to dedicate a sculpture on the Newark campus to honor abolitionist and activist Harriet Tubman. Expanding the diversity represented through our campus’s public art has been an important part of our ongoing strategic initiatives for diversity. Our thanks to the Gilbert Reese Family Foundation, who provided this sculpture on loan to campus. We thank them for their outstanding generosity. In particular, our thanks go out to Lou Reese, whose belief in the importance of public art continues to enrich our campus and community. View a short dedication video here.

Phased Return to Campus
While it is still too early for a detailed announcement regarding any reinstatement of campus activities, we are investigating options to incorporate more in-person engagement safely on campus in future semesters. I can report that any return to on-campus engagement would be phased and that all health and safety measures current at that time will continue to be followed. The health and well-being of our students, faculty and staff have been paramount concerns during the pandemic. I thank you for your continued patience, understanding and resilience as we navigate these uncharted waters together.

Spring Commencement
Due to the uncertainty regarding the ongoing pandemic, the commencement planning committee, led by Provost Heiser, is currently exploring options for COTC to host a limited in-person spring commencement ceremony in May. We will share details with our graduate candidates and the rest of the college community as soon as they are confirmed.

Welcome to New Staff Members
With so many of us working remotely, it can be especially difficult to meet new colleagues. It’s my distinct pleasure to welcome Hannah Barney, assistant dean of student life, and Chris Norman, Coshocton campus assistant building supervisor. Please give them a warm, if virtual, welcome.

COTC 50^th Anniversary
In July 2021, COTC will kick-off a year-long 50^th-anniversary celebration. An anniversary committee is already planning a wide range of events and activities, including a black-tie gala, family movie night, events at each extended campus, and a special publication featuring 50 notable alumni.

COTC is also partnering with Licking County’s Velvet Ice Cream to create a COTC 50^th anniversary ice cream flavor. Faculty, staff, students, alumni and members of the public will have the opportunity to help choose the winning flavor, which will be available at special events throughout the anniversary year. Look for information in early April on how to cast your vote.

COTC’s anniversary is an exceptional opportunity to reflect on the last five decades of growth and accomplishment, honor the many stakeholders who have helped shape the institution and celebrate what lies ahead.

Thank you again for your continued perseverance and all that you do to support our students and mission.

Enjoy the warming weather and continue to take care of yourself and others.

Stay Healthy. Stay Helpful. Stay Hopeful.

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

February 19, 2020

 

February 5, 2021

To all Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) faculty and staff:

I hope that you are well and that your semester is progressing smoothly. We’ve seen hopeful news in recent days of falling COVID-19 infection rates and of the vaccination rollout gaining momentum. However, it’s still critically important that we all continue adhering to the COVID-19 protocols. Especially with the highly contagious new COVID-19 variants spreading across the country, we must remain vigilant so that infection rates do not begin to rise again. Review daily wellness check procedures and COVID-19 symptoms here. The college will take a phased approach to resuming non-academic events during spring semester – beginning with student events. We will provide more information as it becomes available. COTC and The Ohio State University at Newark will also begin planning for resuming other public events as conditions allow.

Newark IT Help Desk Walk-In Support Resumes
The Newark IT Help Desk will resume walk-in support in Founders Hall 196 beginning Monday, February 8. The new walk-in hours will be 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Safety protocols to maintain social distancing will be in place. For immediate assistance, our support team is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling 740.366.9244 or 614.688.4357 (HELP) and pressing 3 for Managed IT Services.

Public Vaccination Clinics Continue on Newark Campus
Next week, the Licking County Health Department (LCHD) will utilize the John Gilbert Reese Center on the Newark campus for in-person vaccination clinics for those who fall under Phase 1B of the state’s vaccination program. We are delighted to provide a location for this important initiative. To determine your vaccine eligibility, visit the LCHD or the Ohio Department of Health websites.

Extended Campus Community Town Halls Scheduled
As I communicated in December, COTC has retired our three extended campus advisory boards. And while that paradigm served COTC well for years, especially during the early phases of each extended campus’s development, we are now implementing several new strategies we believe can further enhance and broaden engagement with constituents in those communities. The first of these, the creation of annual town hall meetings for each extended campus, is in process with virtual town halls scheduled for mid-March. During these sessions, participants will learn firsthand about the state of the college with a particular emphasis on initiatives at each respective campus. Our inaugural sessions will focus on aligning workforce development and higher education needs, and I will share the results of recently completed strategic workforce needs assessments for each county in our service area: Licking, Coshocton and Knox. Community members will also have the opportunity to submit questions in advance. In the coming months, I will share how the information gathered at the town hall forums and other initiatives will inform our strategic planning.

Alford Center Update
Yesterday, Provost Heiser and I had the pleasure of taking a hardhat tour of the John and Mary Alford Center for Science and Technology. This state-of-the-art facility is every inch as impressive as we had hoped and will offer countless opportunities for the advancement of STEM education. I am very pleased to report that the building is on schedule to be substantially completed by the end of March. It will take another month to complete punch list items, building commissioning and the installation of new furniture. But, we are on track for the first faculty and staff members to move into the building in May. The Advancement Office is anticipating a public ribbon-cutting ceremony in mid-August. Classes are expected to be scheduled in the building for autumn semester. Our thanks to the many donors who have made this much-needed facility a reality.

Pataskala Campus Renovation
Construction progress on the Pataskala campus renovation is also going well. At this time, work is focused mainly on the building’s interior (drywall, flooring, electrical services, ceiling grid and casework). We anticipate the project to be substantially complete in April, with completion (including furniture and equipment installation) in late May to early June. Staff will move back into the building this summer, prior to the start of autumn semester, when we expect to have classes scheduled in the building. The Advancement Office is anticipating a ribbon-cutting ceremony sometime in late August.

There’s much to look forward to in 2021! I understand your fatigue with COVID-19 protocols, and I thank you again for your continued perseverance during this challenging time. I firmly believe, however, that COTC will rise from our current challenges as a stronger and more viable institution. You are each an integral part of that bright future.

Stay warm and enjoy your weekend!

Stay Healthy. Stay Helpful. Stay Hopeful.

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

January 22, 2021

To all Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) faculty and staff:

I hope that you are well and that your semester is unfolding in a positive way. I understand that there are still challenges to be faced as the pandemic continues. I ask again that all faculty and staff be especially aware of any struggles students may face as the semester progresses. Student success can be adversely affected for many reasons, as you know, but early intervention can have a meaningful impact.

Daily Wellness Checks Continue
Even while vaccine distribution is progressing, I want to remind everyone of the importance of adhering to COTC’s on-campus COVID-19 protocols. Before coming to campus, all faculty, staff and students are required to perform a daily wellness check to identify COVID-19-consistent symptoms each day they intend to be physically on a COTC campus. If you experience symptoms associated with COVID-19 or think you may have been exposed to COVID-19, do not come to campus. Review daily wellness check procedures and COVID-19 symptoms here.

New Adena Hall Rec Center Wellness Check
To further promote health and safety and fight the spread of COVID-19 in our community, anyone accessing the Adena Hall recreation facilities on the Newark campus, including for classes, will need to show a green status from a separate online Daily Wellness Check to proceed through the access control point. Scan the QR CODE found at the Recreational Sports webpage to complete the wellness check. Students who do not have a smart device can visit the facility front desk to complete the health check on an iPad, which will include a temperature check before entry to the facility is allowed.

Multicultural Affairs Events
This past week I joined campus members for our 12th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration. Speaker Rev. Dr. Susan K. Smith inspired attendees at the virtual event by sharing details of the Poor People’s Campaign to confront systemic racism, poverty and ecological devastation. As we continue to honor Dr. King’s important work and legacy, I encourage you to learn how you can work toward social justice on campus and in our community. Find upcoming events and opportunities at the Office of Multicultural Affairs’ website or contact Multicultural Affairs Program Manager Vorley Taylor at taylor.1051@mail.cotc.edu

Revisioning Workforce Development and Noncredit Training
I previously shared that the effects of the pandemic on COTC’s budget necessitated a critical evaluation of all college operations, including the Workforce Development and Innovation Center (WDIC). This evaluation led the college to pursue a refocused strategy for provisioning these services in our community.

Furthering our relationship with a community partner known for strengths in workforce development, COTC’s Board of Trustees recently approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the Career and Technology Education Centers of Licking County (C-TEC) to promote joint workforce and noncredit training and programs. The scope of collaboration could include:

• C-TEC delivering noncredit programming with COTC supporting those efforts with referrals from industry partners or potential students.
• The development of articulated credit agreements leading to pathways for students between institutions and curriculum alignment to reduce duplication.
• Collaboration on statewide funding initiatives.
• The mobility of faculty, staff and students between institutions.

With the closing of the WDIC at the end of 2020, we look forward to the new educational opportunities this promising and vital collaboration will offer to our community. We’ll share more information as the first programming details are confirmed.

Writing our American Story
On Wednesday, we witnessed a triumphant and hopeful day in American history. Yes, some of the traditional presidential inaugural trappings appeared differently. The seated audience was masked and distanced, American flags were a proud stand-in for the national mall’s usual citizenry throng, and Capitol Hill and Washington, D.C. were awash in a sea of national guard members and historic safeguards.

Yet, despite the extraordinary circumstances necessitating these measures and a rancorous political climate – we witnessed the remarkable strength and resilience of our democracy. And while the symbolic significance of political leaders of both major parties standing side-by-side affirming the will of the people cannot be minimized, we should remember that the real power and hope of our democracy rests with us — its citizens. We have the power to unify our country.

President Biden’s hope-filled address pointed to this fact. “But the American story depends not on any one of us, not on some of us, but on all of us.”

Yet, we still face much uncertainty – an ongoing pandemic, economic crises, and continuing systemic racial and social injustices, among other national and world issues. Many of these circumstances are beyond our direct sphere of influence. But we can and must act to change those dynamics within our control – our behavior and attitudes toward one another and treating all with kindness, dignity, compassion and respect.

In closing, I’ll share the extraordinary words of our brilliant national youth poet laureate, 22-year-old Amanda Gorman, whose recitation of her remarkable original poem “The Hill We Climb” I found a personal highlight of the inauguration.

We close the divide because we know, to put our future first,
we must first put our differences aside
We lay down our arms so we can reach out our arms to one another
We seek harm to none and harmony for all
… … … … … … … … … … … … … … …

For there is always light,
if only we’re brave enough to see it
If only we’re brave enough to be it

We’ve endured quite a trying and troubling start to 2021. But possibilities and hope surround us. And as we continue forward in our journey together, may each of us be brave enough to see the light – and brave enough to be the light.

Stay Healthy. Stay Helpful. Stay Hopeful.

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

January 8, 2021

To all Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) faculty and staff:

I hope that each of you found time to rest and refresh during the holiday break. As we welcome a new year and a new semester, the health and well-being of students, faculty and staff remain our top priorities. All COVID-19 health and safety protocols, including daily wellness checks, masks and physical distancing will continue for those coming to campus. Even while vaccine administration broadens, it is critically important that we persist in our resolve against this deadly virus.

Spring Semester Academic Engagement Plan
Spring semester begins on Monday, January 11, with the college continuing academic operations in mostly remote instructional formats. While providing student services virtually will be the preferred mode, offices that are primarily student facing will continue to have a minimal on-campus presence during spring semester. The academic calendar will not be altered, and spring break and all holiday breaks will be followed as scheduled. Regardless of any major positive development with the virus, COTC will follow this plan. We will not ask students to come back to campus in the middle of the semester, even if the pandemic is declared over and vaccine dispersal is widespread. Read the full Spring Semester Academic Engagement plan here.

Emergency & Weather Closing Information
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, COTC and Ohio State Newark are operating with a majority of courses and staff in a remote modality. During this time, when the closing of a physical campus is necessary due to inclement weather or other emergencies:

• All classes and work that are being conducted remotely will continue as scheduled.
• Students participating in practicums, internships, student teaching or other experiential learning should follow their participating organization’s closing procedures. If their organization is open, they are expected to report even if the campus is closed.
• All face-to-face courses will be canceled.
• Staff currently working on campus who are not considered essential with the short-term closing policies should not report to campus. Staff should carry out their responsibilities remotely where possible.
• On-site essential staff will continue to report to campus as usual during inclement weather.

Find complete emergency closing information on the Department of Public Safety website.

Achieving the Dream Network
I’m pleased to announce that COTC has joined the national student success network for community colleges Achieving the Dream™ – which focuses on ensuring equity in student success and completion. COTC’s participation begins with a three-year commitment, during which we will identify equity gaps experienced by our student populations and institute best practice systems to help alleviate these lags. COTC will join only a handful of Ohio’s other community colleges who are network members. This critically important work addresses the very core of Provost Heiser’s Wildly Important Goals (WIGs) for COTC: increasing part-time student retention and completion rates for all students. Joining the network is a significant commitment for the college and an important strategic step toward meaningful change for some of our most underserved students.

The Importance of Education in Democracy
My friends and colleagues, together we have faced great uncertainty during the past 10 months.

And now, many of you may also be experiencing feelings of dismay, sadness, anger or loss after witnessing the acts of lawlessness and violence that occurred at the U.S. Capitol this week. And while we may differ in our political opinions and feel the impact of this dark event in American history in different ways, we can still be committed to maintaining respect for each other even while acknowledging our differences.

At COTC, we embrace and champion diversity in all forms, and our college’s vision and values articulate our broad desire to be a helpful and compassionate force for positive change. The actions the world witnessed this week in Washington did not reflect these values.

Our essential work as educators is a critical component in ensuring that democracy thrives. In the words of Franklin D. Roosevelt, “Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education.”

Next week, whatever other circumstances surround us, we will welcome students and again begin our work of educating citizens. As you prepare, please take some time to ensure your well-being and that of your loved ones. I share your current sadness and anxiety but also have known firsthand your resilience. But even the most enduring spirit needs time to replenish.

As we enter a new year and semester and welcome a new president, I encourage you to lead boldly with compassion and work together to find and build ways to unite our country while upholding our values.

Stay Healthy. Stay Helpful. Stay Hopeful.

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

December 18, 2020

To all Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) faculty and staff:

Friends and colleagues, last March I could hardly have imagined that we would conclude a third semester still fully embroiled in our COVID-19 odyssey. Yet, despite the many challenges and ongoing uncertainty, we made it – you made it. And once again, I am extraordinarily proud of the exceptional work you have accomplished on behalf of our students. Know that your efforts extend far beyond our classrooms (virtual or brick and mortar). The work you conduct daily transforms the lives of central Ohio citizens. Thank you for your enduring strength and resilience, and congratulations on another remarkable semester.

Unfortunately, we cannot host a December commencement ceremony as we had hoped, and pinning ceremonies remain in a virtual format. However, the arrival this week of the first doses of a COVID-19 vaccine gives us hope as we look forward to the time when we can celebrate our graduates’ accomplishments in some manner in person.

Spring Semester Enrollment
Spring semester will begin on January 11, with classes conducted mostly in remote formats, similarly to autumn semester. Earlier this week, headcount for spring semester was 2,464, which is 66% toward goal. College Credit Plus (CCP) registration is in full swing, and so we anticipate we will start seeing gains in CCP Option A enrollment. Additionally, many current students will likely register once grades are submitted. The Gateway is continuing outreach to applicants, current students and high school partners for spring semester.

New Website Launch Next Week
COTC’s new website is scheduled to launch in the early morning hours of Tuesday, December 22, when web traffic is minimal. Please be aware that there is a 24-to-48-hour window after launch for the site to become available everywhere on the web, so do not be alarmed if you continue to reach our current website shortly after launch. My thanks to the cross-departmental team who has worked for the past year toward completing this vital goal.

Retirement of Extended Campus Advisory Boards
This week the COTC Board of Trustees approved the retirement of our three extended campus advisory boards. Current advisory board members were informed of this decision, and we warmly thank them for their service to the college. The advisory board paradigm has served COTC well for years, especially during the early phases of each extended campus’s development. Moving forward, COTC will employ several different strategies we believe can further enhance and broaden engagement with constituents in our extended campus communities. COTC will hold an annual summit with local secondary educational leaders in each region to strengthen pathways between those schools and COTC. Further, COTC will annually conduct town hall forums focusing on local workforce development needs and how COTC can support these needs through academic programming at each extended campus. Additionally, with the culmination of the Strategic Workforce Assessment projects in all of COTC’s service regions, we anticipate additional participation from industry leaders on our current academic advisory committees.

Winter Break
As you prepare for winter break, remember that the college will be closed on December 24 and 25 and January 1. And with the current state public health map indicating a Level 3 Public Health Emergency in nearly every county in Ohio, it is critically important to continue following the health and safety protocols wherever you may go. Please take extra care of yourself and others.

Yes, our world still looks different. But I firmly believe that there is still much to be grateful for and much to look forward to with hope in the coming new year. However you may choose to celebrate, I wish for each of you a restful, safe and joyous holiday season. Here’s to an extraordinary 2021!

Stay Healthy. Stay Helpful. Stay Hopeful.

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

December 4, 2020

To all Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) faculty and staff:

I hope that each of you enjoyed a restful and safe Thanksgiving holiday and that no matter how or where you celebrated this year that you found time to reflect upon those things for which you are most grateful. While we all can be thankful for positive developments surrounding potential COVID-19 vaccines, I ask that you end the semester with continued vigilance in following the health and safety protocols. With COVID-19 cases increasing at alarming levels, we must all do everything we can to lessen the spread of this relentless virus.

Student Stress Increasing
The Office of Student Life notes that students are reporting increasing amounts of stress related to the pandemic (online classes, social isolation, mood changes, impaired focus, increased financial stress) on top of the typically stressful hurdles of daily living. Counseling Services has instituted Wellness Wednesday, 2-3 p.m. weekly. This drop-by Zoom session will offer advice on mental wellness, including stress management techniques. Learn more and find the Zoom link at the Counseling Services web page. As we move into the final weeks of our semester, I urge you to pay particular attention to your students for any signs of struggle, stress or withdrawal from class activities and encourage them to use the many resources available.

Coshocton Campus Focus Groups
This week COTC had the pleasure of hosting three focus groups with local industry leaders and relevant area organizations to discuss workforce development needs in Coshocton County. Each session focused on a single topic – manufacturing, healthcare and agribusiness – which had been identified in a recent economic impact study as Coshocton County’s three most important future workforce drivers. Participants reviewed findings from the study and discussed their views and specific needs for future workforce training. COTC will utilize the data to inform future academic programming at the Coshocton campus. Economic impact studies have also been conducted for Licking and Knox counties, and the college will hold similar focus groups to help determine future programming at the Knox and Pataskala campuses.

Congratulations!
We offer our heartiest good wishes to longtime COTC staff member Ellen Robinson, who retires today after 34 years with the college. Ellen represents the epitome of student-centered service. As an academic advisor at the Knox campus, Ellen’s passion for helping students was always evident. Ellen, you will be missed, and we hope for you all the best in your new ventures. As the inimitable Walt Disney said, “We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.”

Ellen, we wish for you many exciting and fulfilling new paths. But know that you will always have a home at COTC.

As I end this week, I want to again extend my thanks to all for your ongoing resilience in the face of such prolonged uncertainty. Each day you make me proud.

Have a great weekend.

As always,

Stay Healthy. Stay Helpful. Stay Hopeful.

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

November 20, 2020

To all Central Ohio Technical College faculty and staff:

 With the Thanksgiving holiday only days away, I hope that you find time to refresh in body, mind and spirit. Please stay safe and continue to act with others in mind. With coronavirus (COVID-19) cases increasing across our nation, I urge everyone to do everything you can to lessen the spread of this unrelenting virus.

Post-Thanksgiving Break
Throughout the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the health, safety and well-being of our students, faculty and staff have remained our highest priorities. To lessen the spread of COVID-19, the college’s Autumn Semester Academic Engagement Plan called for most academic programs to cease any physical contact with students prior to Thanksgiving break. While classes will not end at that point, those labs/clinicals that are able to finish by then were encouraged to do so. Student-facing offices will continue to provide services virtually. However, to assist students requiring in-person services, these offices are expected to continue to be staffed with at least one staff member during regular working hours throughout the remainder of the autumn semester as well as between semesters.

Autumn Commencement Postponed
In consultation with state and local health officials, COTC has made the difficult but necessary decision to postpone our in-person commencement scheduled for December 18, 2020. We informed our graduation candidates in an email this week. The rise in COVID-19 cases locally and the heightened risk of exposure to those participating in this event led to this decision. While we are disappointed, we are cautiously optimistic that we will be able to offer some sort of in-person celebration in the spring. At this point, we don’t know exactly what the ceremony will look like but wanted our candidates to know that we still intend on having a forum for graduates and their families to celebrate this important accomplishment. Students who meet graduation requirements will have diplomas mailed two to three weeks after the completion of the autumn semester.

Spring Semester Plans
With the pandemic continuing and infection rates currently increasing, the college’s spring semester will closely resemble our autumn semester plan. We will continue operating in mostly remote instructional formats while utilizing limited hybrid modes. While providing student services virtually will be the preferred mode, offices that are primarily student facing should continue to have a minimal on-campus presence during spring semester. All on-campus health and safety protocols will remain in effect. The academic calendar will not be altered, and spring break and all holiday breaks will be followed as scheduled. Regardless of any major positive development, COTC will follow this plan. We will not ask students to come back to campus in the middle of the semester, even if the pandemic is declared over and a vaccine/treatment is readily available. Read the full Spring Semester Academic Engagement plan here.

Moving Forward Together
As I reflect upon our shared journey of the past nine months, words cannot express my full gratitude for all that you have accomplished. In my May 8 letter to faculty and staff, I wrote that “I have every confidence in our ability to work together, to support each other and most importantly, to support our students.” At that time, we were already well into a College State of Emergency and anxiously preparing to begin a summer semester like none before. Five months later, while we are still fighting the virus in every aspect of our daily lives, I write to say that you have exceeded every expectation. Your dedication, strength, creativity and optimism in the face of ongoing adversity are inspired. Thank you all.

As always,

Stay Healthy. Stay Helpful. Stay Hopeful.

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

November 6, 2020

Campus colleagues:

As I am writing this, the country still awaits the final results of the presidential election. And with lawsuits and recounts coming into play, it is clear that we will not know the outcome for some time. As I said in my message earlier in the week, regardless of our opinions or the election’s eventual outcome, we must vow to continue moving forward together for meaningful change and the greater good. And while we will not always agree, we must respectfully work to overcome our differences and recommit to address social injustices wherever they may exist. The days ahead will continue to be an anxious time for many, and I again ask each of you to strive to act with kindness, compassion and empathy.

Autumn Enrollment

COTC’s autumn enrollment numbers show a 5% drop from last year. Many of our sister institutions in Ohio also experienced enrollment declines this fall – some at a much higher percentage than COTC. While most realized a decline between 10-20%, one institution’s enrollment fell by 24%. So, we are very thankful that COTC’s decrease was not as impactful as it could have been. Below is a recent snapshot of autumn enrollment.

COTC Autumn 2020 enrollment – Census data as of 10/28/2020

(including students registered in second-term accelerated classes)

1. • 3,282 students registered for 20AU
   • 40% Dual enrollment students (1,299)
   • 82% Part-time
   • 70% Female
   • 14% Minority (452 American Indian, Black/African American, Hispanic)

Autumn Commencement

The college will hold its annual autumn commencement ceremony with modifications due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic on Friday, December 18, 1-5 p.m., in the John Gilbert Reese Center. This earlier start time will allow graduates to enter individually to receive a diploma cover and congratulations from myself and Provost Heiser. Detailed information and an invitation to participate will be sent to all autumn, summer and spring 2020 graduates very soon. Unfortunately, we are unable to hold our traditional ceremony this December as we had hoped. My thanks to the commencement planning committee for their creativity in finding a way to honor our graduates.

New COTC Website Launching in December

A cross-departmental team led by the Office of Marketing and Public Relations and the OCIO has been working for most of the past year on the development of a new COTC website. The project has now reached its final phases. The team is currently migrating content from our current site and curating the new site in preparation for launch on December 21. We are very excited about the launch of this important asset for the college.

Veterans Day

As we approach Veterans Day next Wednesday, I convey the college’s profound thanks to all veterans for their sacrifice and devotion to duty. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, the campus will not hold in person what would have been our 10^th annual Remembrance Day National Roll Call. However, I urge you to take some time to view our National Roll Call recognition video. This virtual recognition includes visuals of students, families and friends who have served in one of our nation’s military capacities, along with a list of the fallen veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. While the video can be viewed at any time, you can join others in a moment of silence at 2 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on November 11 to remember all veterans and military personnel. All COTC campuses will be closed on Wednesday, November 11, in honor of Veterans Day.

As we close another week in this extraordinary year, it looks like we will enjoy some unseasonably warm weather this weekend. It will be a great time to get outside for some sunshine and R&R. Take advantage of this burst of mild weather!

While you do, please continue to be mindful of the ongoing need for diligence in staying safe from COVID-19. As always, practice the health and safety protocols wherever you may be.

Stay Healthy. Stay Helpful. Stay Hopeful.

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

October 23, 2020

Campus colleagues:

In previous communications, I have reaffirmed Central Ohio Technical College’s (COTC) commitment to combat racism, inequity and hatred in all forms. Many of you have undoubtedly read Ohio State Newark Dean/Director Dr. William MacDonald’s open letter to our local community recently published by the Newark Advocate’s Editorial Board. Sadly, Dr. MacDonald noted that in one week this September he received reports of three separate incidents of overt, racial discrimination or harassment against Ohio State students enrolled at the Newark campus we share. All three incidents occurred in our local community. In his letter, Dr. MacDonald asked all area organizations, including government agencies and businesses, to join him in the goals of dismantling racism, inequity and injustice. My friends, this struggle is real, and it affects our students, friends, neighbors and colleagues. In light of this appalling news, I am compelled to again affirm COTC’s ongoing pledge to combat racism and to ask you to join me in standing with our campus partner, Ohio State, to end racism. This calls to mind the magnitude of our institutional value “helpful and inclusive, driven by a compassion and the desire to care about others.” I thank you for your commitment to living this value through your good work every day.

Drive-up commencement

While the weather was a bit drizzly and cold, spirits were still high as spring and summer graduates participated in our drive-up commencement on Thursday, October 15. Those graduates attending were very grateful for the opportunity. Almost all arrived in academic regalia, and many were accompanied by full vans of cheering family. Thank you to all who helped plan this event to honor our graduates and to those who braved the elements to make this moment that much more meaningful. The commencement committee is currently discussing details for what form a December commencement ceremony could take, and more information regarding those plans will be shared soon.

Spring semester academic plan
Throughout the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the health, safety and wellbeing of our students, faculty and staff have remained our highest priorities. Thus, as I previously noted, COTC will continue in largely remote instructional formats while also utilizing limited hybrid modes for the spring semester. The academic calendar will not be altered, and spring break and all holiday breaks will be followed as scheduled. Registration is currently underway, and information regarding our spring semester plan was shared with local media.

United Way annual campaign

Today is the final day of our annual United Way workplace campaign. This year the need in our local community is greater than ever. Thank you to all who have already supported this important local cause. Check your recent email for instructions on contributing. You may also make credit/debit card contributions at https://igfn.us/f/2zml/n.

As I close this week, unfortunately, COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are rising across the state. And as you are probably aware, Franklin and Licking counties have risen again to Level 3 (red) public emergency designations. This means that exposure and spread of the virus are both very high.

Please continue being diligent in practicing the health and safety protocols wherever you may be. Also, public health officials are urging everyone to get a flu shot soon. This is another important step that you can take to be proactive for your health, especially in this uncertain year. The past months have brought about many new challenges related to the widespread effects of COVID-19. The CDC offers helpful ideas and resources to cope with job stress and build resilience during the pandemic. Please take some time this weekend to recharge and refresh.

Continue taking good care of yourself.

Stay Healthy. Stay Helpful. Stay Hopeful.

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

October 9, 2020

Campus colleagues:

Last week, Dr. MacDonald and I shared with you a reaffirmation that COTC and Ohio State Newark are safe spaces that do not tolerate racism or intolerance in any form. Further, we called for all members of our campus community to not remain silent and to not stand by when witnessing acts of injustice. Further, we pledge to continue working with area organizations, including government agencies and businesses, to join us in the goals of dismantling racism, inequity and injustice.

Our campus is already working on several cost-shared initiatives to move us toward these goals.

Public Safety Advisory Committee

We are currently drafting by-laws for a re-envisioned committee to replace the campus’s current Public Safety Committee, which has no constitutional document. The new committee will include members from COTC and Ohio State Newark.

Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)

Further, to enhance employees’ sense of belonging and connectedness, we are drafting guidelines for employee resource groups (ERGs) and intend to establish funding to support these groups. ERGs will be open to all campus employees – both COTC and Ohio State. An ERG will be able to apply for $500 in funding annually.

Other initiatives will continue to be refined and vetted with multiple employee groups. We must commit to this important work even as we deal with the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Spring Semester Academic Plan
This week the COTC President’s Cabinet approved a spring semester 2021 academic engagement plan as brought forth by Provost Heiser. Given the uncertainty surrounding the continuing effects of the pandemic, COTC will continue in largely remote instructional formats while also utilizing limited hybrid modes. The spring 2021 academic calendar will not be altered, and spring break and all holiday breaks will be followed as scheduled. Additional details regarding the plan and upcoming registration will be shared soon.

Courses will be delivered in four primary modalities:

• Remote synchronous (scheduled time/day)
• Remote asynchronous (no scheduled sessions, lectures recorded, weekly live office hours)
• Hybrid (mix of on-campus and remote/online learning)
• Online

 

Autumn Enrollment
I’m very pleased to report that our autumn enrollment figures have continued to climb since my last report. Remember that due to the pandemic, some area school districts announced delayed openings, which also led to delays in College Credit Plus (CCP) registration for autumn. As of yesterday, COTC’s enrollment was 3274. This number reflects CCP late enrollment. Please note that our final autumn enrollment number will likely change as second-term and additional CCP registrations are completed and any registration corrections are entered during the next few weeks. Nonetheless, we are very excited to see this number and congratulate everyone for your hard work in the past months.

 

Strategic Planning Council
COTC’s Strategic Planning Council met virtually on October 1 to examine internal and external forces and trends affecting the college and discuss major goals to support student success and institutional growth. In the coming months, we’ll share information about major initiatives such as furthering digital accessibility, plans to increase completion rates, and revisions in academic programming to directly support job growth in specific communities we serve. While we will still face challenges in the coming year, I am also confident that there are many opportunities to be embraced that will move COTC forward into a sustainable and strong future.

As I conclude this week, please continue to take good care of yourself and to stay especially in tune with students who may be falling behind or struggling in any way. Thank you for your continued good work on behalf of COTC.

Stay Healthy. Stay Helpful. Stay Hopeful.

 John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

September 25, 2020

 

September 18, 2020

Campus colleagues:

I hope that your semester is continuing to proceed smoothly; your health and safety continue as our highest priorities. To check in with colleagues serving students in person I recently conducted another walking tour of our Newark campus. I was so pleased to see all members of our campus community – faculty, staff and students – adhering to our coronavirus (COVID-19) protocols. I understand the inconvenience and difficulty of operating/instructing in this mode, and I thank you for your continued diligence.

Honoring Spring and Summer Graduates
The date for a drive-up commencement ceremony to honor our spring and summer graduates has been set for Thursday, October 15, 4-7 p.m., in front of Founders Hall. Given the continued uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, we felt that it was important to celebrate our graduates by giving each the opportunity to participate in a modified in-person ceremony now. Those who choose to participate are invited to wear academic regalia and will receive their diploma cover in person from myself and Provost Heiser in front of their families. A professional photographer will also be present to capture photos of each graduate. The event will take place during COTC’s autumn break, and while The Ohio State University at Newark will hold classes that day we believe this will present no significant intrusion. Invitations will be mailed to graduates in the immediate future. The event will also be promoted on the college’s social media channels.

Spring Semester
Planning for spring semester is in process with meetings for college stakeholders currently happening to determine the best path forward. I will note that COTC is not planning to follow Ohio State’s recently announced spring semester schedule, which includes the elimination of spring break. We’re continuing to gather feedback but expect to have some finality to the spring schedule within the next several weeks.

Thomas J. Evans Hall
This week the college announced that the Thomas J. Evans Foundation has arranged a charitable lease for COTC to use the former JBA building at 1000 Sharon Valley Road, Newark, as the future home for the Institute for Public Safety. While we are just in the beginning stages of planning long-term renovations to utilize the building, the use of this space so near our Newark campus will offer many new possibilities to expand the Institute’s educational offerings. Our profound thanks to the Evans Foundation for their ongoing support of local higher education.

Quickmail

You received an update from the OCIO earlier this week on continued issues with the Quickmail function in Moodle. While these complications are indeed unfortunate, I thank you for taking the time to ensure that our students are receiving all communications. I also urge you to not hesitate to reach out to the help desk should you need any further assistance.

• Call for immediate assistance 24/7: 740.366.9244 or 614.688.4357 (HELP) and press option 3 for MITS
• Get online support 24/7:  Self Service
• Email: helpdesk@cotc.edu 

Event Postponements
Regretfully, due to the ongoing pandemic several COTC annual events traditionally held during autumn semester are postponed. Our annual Legacy and Leadership Dinner, during which we recognize honorees of the COTC Legends of Loyalty Award, is postponed to September 2021. Additionally, our annual events to honor friends of the COTC Knox and Coshocton campuses will be rescheduled to spring 2021. These are important opportunities for COTC to show appreciation to friends, donors, community members, faculty and staff for their ongoing support of the college. We will miss these occasions for engagement and look forward to the time we can celebrate COTC together.

Community Intercultural Relations Conference

Lastly, there’s just a few days left to register for the annual Community Intercultural Relations Conference, which will be held virtually on Friday, September 25. Register by September 21 here.

“…and all at once, summer collapsed into fall,” wrote the incomparable Irish poet and dramatist Oscar Wilde. And as the calendar officially turns from summer to autumn, please take some time to refresh and enjoy the brilliant weather. Thank you for all that you do in support of our students and mission.

Stay Healthy. Stay Helpful. Stay Hopeful.

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

September 11, 2020

Campus colleagues:

As we finish the third week of autumn semester, I hope that you are continuing to stay well. As our students navigate the semester and adapt to new routines, I want to remind everyone of the importance of monitoring students’ progress and of proactively reaching out should you experience missing assignments, nonparticipation or any signs of stressors during this exceptional time. We know that many students are still struggling with additional challenges due to the pandemic, and I ask you to be extra vigilant on their behalf.

Due to the pandemic, some area school districts announced delayed openings, which also led to delays in College Credit Plus (CCP) registration for autumn. As of yesterday, COTC’s total enrollment stands at 3,077 (down 11% from autumn 2019); degree-seeking enrollment is 1,976 (down 4%) and non-degree seeking enrollment is 1,101 (down 23%). The Gateway is continuing to enroll CCP students, which will continue to increase our non-degree seeking number.

Honoring Spring and Summer Graduates
Due to the uncertainty surrounding the ongoing pandemic, especially with regard to continued limitations on large gatherings and the need to maintain physical distancing, the college is planning a limited outdoor commencement ceremony to individually honor our spring and summer graduates in person. My thanks to Provost Heiser for volunteering to lead a committee to explore options and plan a ceremony, which will take place in mid-October. We will share details with our graduates and the rest of the college community as soon as they are confirmed. Any final decision regarding autumn commencement is yet to be determined.

Alford Center and Pataskala Campus Update
For those who have not been to the Newark campus recently, the John and Mary Alford Center for Science and Technology is beginning to display its future character and is still on schedule to open in spring 2021. This 60,000-square-foot facility will allow us to expand academic programming and enhance student success. You can watch the progress on our live feed here. Also, renovations at the Pataskala campus have reached the interior wall framing stage, and our official construction sign will be in place soon. It’s gratifying to see the continued progress in our critical infrastructure and ongoing investment in our students, especially amidst the ongoing pandemic.

 New COTC Website Nearing Completion
Although not a part of our campus’s physical infrastructure, the COTC website is also an essential element to college operations. A cross-divisional team has been working with the national web development company Digital Deployment for the past six months and is in the closing stages of preparing a new college website for launch later this autumn. The team is currently migrating content to the new site and curating pages prior to the public launch.

COTC Impact Report
While we experienced many challenges as a COTC community during the past year, it’s important to remember that we also achieved many triumphs. The 2020 COTC Impact Report is a reflection of many of those triumphs – and a testament to how we worked together to overcome our challenges. I encourage you to take a few moments with this latest edition to look back on an extraordinary year in the life of COTC.

As I close, on this anniversary of one of our country’s most tragic events, we pause to remember those who lost their lives on that terrible day. And as we progress through the current pandemic, I hope that you will always continue to move forward and look ahead with hope and purpose. Take good care of yourself and others.

Stay Healthy. Stay Helpful. Stay Hopeful.

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

September 4, 2020

Campus colleagues:

As we conclude our second week of classes, I hope that this unusual autumn semester is proceeding smoothly and that you are continuing to stay well.

As our nation, state and communities continue to grapple with the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the recent tragic examples of social injustice are also constantly in our minds and hearts. I want to remind all members of our campus community that we are tasked with a deep responsibility to be a positive force locally for understanding, learning and healing during this time.

One long-standing example of our commitment to this responsibility is the annual Community Intercultural Relations Conference, which has been rescheduled to be held virtually on Friday, September 25. Attendees at this year’s event will learn important techniques for inclusion and active listening that are practical and easy to apply in everyday situations, and I encourage all who have not registered to consider attending. It will be an important and valuable day. Register by September 21 here.

Advancing social justice locally in another way, I’m pleased to share that COTC alumna and former Gateway staff member Bryanna Stigger has been named president of the newly reactivated Licking County chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). We congratulate Bryanna for taking on this important work. I’m very proud whenever I see a COTC graduate making a difference, but I’m even more proud to say that Bryanna is only one of countless examples of COTC alumni working selflessly to better their communities. It is a positive reminder of COTC’s broad and deep impact.

With the arrival of autumn semester also comes the political season, and as campaigning begins to intensify I want to remind each of you of the guidelines regarding political activity. Please remember that while political activity and speech are guaranteed by the First Amendment, both federal and Ohio law establish limitations on political speech that could suggest the college has endorsed a particular candidate. No member of the college community may speak or act on behalf of the institution in a political campaign. Although the guidelines linked above are shared from The Ohio State University website, they apply to both COTC and Ohio State employees, as they reflect both federal and state guidelines.

Finally, as the semester continues and we adapt to our new routines, my weekly communications will shift to a lesser frequency. As the month progresses, we’ll continue to follow closely any changes in the COVID-19 protocols and determine a new, appropriate communication schedule. I’ll continue my weekly updates through the end of September. Of course, I reiterate my commitment to timeliness and transparency regarding all college-specific initiatives, especially should any urgent matters arise.

The college will be closed for the Labor Day Holiday on Monday, September 7, so enjoy your long weekend! Be aware that while the public health advisories in Franklin and Licking counties have been lowered to level 2, this level still demands a high degree of caution. Knox and Coshocton counties are also still regarded to have active exposure and spread, so please continue to do your part – mask up, physically distance and wash your hands frequently, and continue to take good care of yourself and others.

Get some rest and enjoy the sunshine – you very much deserve it.

Stay Healthy. Stay Helpful. Stay Hopeful.

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

August 28, 2020

Campus colleagues:

Congratulations on a great opening week! I took some time to walk around the Newark campus on the first day of this uncommon semester, as I wanted to personally view the state of campus and check in with colleagues delivering in-person services. I’m pleased to report that operations were proceeding smoothly throughout, and accounts from area managers indicated that operations continued that way throughout the week.

My friends, this is no small feat. Your continued hard work during the past months made this week’s success possible. I am incredibly proud of our college and each of you. COTC has more than risen to the challenges created by the coronavirus (COVID-19), and I thank you for everything you have accomplished in support of our students and mission.

I’m especially grateful to our Offices of Academic Affairs, the Gateway and Student Financial Services. They worked diligently to manage late-breaking needs for extra class sections, ongoing registrations, and to ensure that all students were ready to start classes. Further, due to the pandemic, some area school districts have announced delayed openings, which has led to a delay in College Credit Plus (CCP) registration. The Gateway will continue to register CCP students over the next several weeks, which will allow our final autumn headcount to continue to climb. As of this morning, COTC’s headcount is 2,850, which is 81% to our goal of 3,501. We will continue to report enrollment figures as they are available.

As the semester continues, I ask that you stay alert to any challenges, and to alert your supervisor so that we can quickly address inefficiencies or other issues. Also, as during the summer semester, please be especially sensitive to any student issues and proactively reach out to students you suspect may need help in any way.

Continue taking good care of yourselves and following protocols. Our campus partner, The Ohio State University, has already noted an increase in the identification of positive COVID-19 cases during its first week of reporting these figures. The virus is still active in our communities, and we must each do our part to prevent further spread.

As I conclude this week’s message, I want to once again convey my deep thanks. Thank you for your creativity, for your diligence and dedication, and most especially for your resilience. We are in this together, as the hashtag says, and for that I am grateful. You represent the best of COTC.

Stay Healthy. Stay Helpful. Stay Hopeful.

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

August 25, 2020

To all Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) and The Ohio State University at Newark faculty and staff:

The Ohio State University and Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) are committed to a culture of caring and wellness for all members of the campus community. Wearing a mask is part of the larger picture of safe and healthy measures, including physical distancing, good hygiene and staying away from others when ill.

FACE SHIELDS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR FACE MASKS

Many have inquired about using face shields rather than face masks on campus. Following the most recent guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Ohio Department of Health, the university and college will not permit face shields to be substituted for face masks.

As the semester begins, below is a reminder of our on-campus protocols, daily health-check procedures and symptom-reporting protocols.

ON-CAMPUS PROTOCOLS

• All employees are expected to follow safe campus requirements to include but not limited to wearing masks, hand hygiene, physical distancing (maintaining a distance of at least six feet from others in any public space), wellness checks/health symptom monitoring, and must participate in contact tracing, quarantine and isolation as may be required by public health authorities.
• Face masks must be worn in indoor settings.
• Masks must be put on before entering enclosed or indoor spaces including, but not limited to, classrooms, common areas, conference rooms, shared office spaces, hallways and shared vehicles.
• Employees are always required to wear face masks except when alone in a private office or while eating food in the cafeteria.
• Masks must also be worn in outdoor spaces even when individuals can maintain appropriate physical distancing. There is an exception for staff working outdoors for long periods of time who are able to maintain appropriate physical distancing and have a mask available if needed.

DAILY HEALTH CHECK AND SYMPTOM REPORTING

All faculty and staff must perform a daily health check each day they intend to be physically on any COTC or Ohio State campus:

• COTC-paid employees will report to their supervisors using the criteria outlined on the COTC COVID site.
• Ohio State-paid employees can visit the Safe and Healthy Buckeyes daily health check site for instructions on recording their daily health check in the Ohio State mobile app or compass.osu.edu.

Supervisors of COTC-paid employees: Keep a record that employees reporting to the campus confirmed their temperature each day. Do not ask for or record the actual temperature, just record that they checked before the start of their shift or otherwise entered campus with authorization.

All employees: If you cannot confirm all aspects of your daily health check, then:

• Do not enter campus.
• Do follow usual call-off procedures.
• Contact your primary care provider, or
• COTC-paid employees: call the Licking County Health Department at 740.349.6535 for guidance.
• Ohio State-paid employees: call the Wexner Medical Center’s COVID-19 call center at 614.293.4000 for guidance.

Supervisors: If you receive a report, confirmed or unconfirmed, that a member of your team has been exposed to or has contracted coronavirus/COVID-19 contact John Ralston, 740.366.9360 or ralston.87@mail.cotc.edu.

Faculty and staff: If you learn of a possible case, do not share the person’s health information with colleagues. This is a violation of their privacy, and this information is protected by HIPAA and other laws. We must rely on regional public health officials to continue to investigate cases and trace potential contacts.

We thank you for your co-operation in helping maintain a safe and healthy environment for all. Please remember that these plans are provisional and are subject to change at any time. For the most recent information regarding campus protocols as well as health and hygiene links visit the COTC COVID-19 Website and the Safe and Healthy Buckeyes website.

Thank you for your ongoing commitment to the missions of COTC and Ohio State.

Stay safe,

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

William L. MacDonald, PhD
Dean and Director
The Ohio State University at Newark

 

August 21, 2020

 

August 14, 2020

All official communication regarding the college’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak will be communicated from the Office of the President. Find all communications as well as health and hygiene links on the COTC COVID-19 Website.

Campus colleagues:

With the start of autumn semester just a little over one week away, I know that many of you are busy readying for the resumption of both remote and in-person instruction and also preparing for the new ways we will serve our students who need in-person services on campus. For those participating in our annual faculty development days, I hope that you gain both insight and inspiration, especially as you continue to manage the challenges of our unusual circumstances. For staff members preparing to return to campus, thank you for your adaptability and resourcefulness in serving our students during this crisis. The health and wellbeing of students, faculty and staff have always been our foremost priorities, and I thank all staff and faculty members for your continued patience, resilience and dedication to the college’s mission.

Semester Health and Safety Protocols
This week, in conjunction with our Newark-campus partner, The Ohio State University, Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) expanded our face mask guidelines to require that face masks be worn in outdoor spaces on campus, even when individuals can maintain appropriate physical distancing. This is an update from previously stated guidelines.

Also, as many of you return to campus in the coming weeks, remember that COTC requires a wellness check each day you will be on any COTC campus. For your reference, an updated one-page guide highlighting key elements of the campus re-engagement plan (mandatory daily wellness checks, personal on-campus protocols and on-campus groups and meeting protocols) is attached.

Please be aware that due to the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic that all plans can be subject to change. Details of campus re-engagement protocols and an archive of all previous communications from the Office of the President regarding COVID-19 protocols can always be found at the COTC COVID-19 website, which is the best source for official information regarding COTC’s response.

COTC Zoom Available for Faculty and Staff
As part of the college’s continuing efforts to facilitate virtual learning and collaboration, this week you received information that COTC Zoom Pro accounts are now available for all COTC faculty and staff. COTC Zoom is replacing CarmenZoom as COTC’s official academic web conferencing solution, and if you had been using CarmenZoom to host meetings and webinars you can transition to COTC Zoom immediately. Visit the Getting Started Guide in the COTC Teaching Resource Center for an overview of the tool. For any questions, don’t hesitate to contact the Digital Learning Team:

• Kacy Burchfield – burchfield.53@osu.edu – go.cotc.edu/kacy
• Kris Read – read.23@osu.edu – go.cotc.edu/scheduleKris

Financial Future
In my campus communication of July 31, you will recall that I shared information regarding COTC’s financial future. Due to highly fluid financial factors surrounding COVID-19, we modified our traditional budgetary approach this spring and in May presented the COTC Board of Trustees with a balanced foundational FY21 operating budget, which they approved.

Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, COTC was already experiencing a revenue shortfall of $800,000 due to low enrollment and losses in investment income. In early July, the state of Ohio cut State Share of Instruction (SSI) funding by 4.38%. While this was not as much as we initially feared, it is still significant to our budget and combined with our previous shortfalls has created the need for budgetary adjustments. To address these shortfalls and cuts, we have developed a budget correction plan which will be presented to the COTC Board of Trustees at their August 18 meeting. It is important to note that due to the volatility with state funding further cuts to SSI could be implemented throughout the year.

I will provide a full report regarding details of the budget correction plan after the board meeting next week.

Moving Forward Together

My friends, we have journeyed far together during this crisis, and as I close this week’s communication I want to remind each of you of the important role you play in contributing to the health and safety of our campus and local communities. As we begin a new semester, please remain vigilant in your adherence to physical distancing, mask wearing and other important health and safety guidelines. Our unified efforts can make a difference.

Please take good care of yourselves and each other. I look forward to an exciting, productive and engaging semester.

Stay Healthy. Stay Helpful. Stay Hopeful.

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

Additional Resources:
Steps to Prevent Illness
CDC and Health Departments

 

August 7, 2020

To all Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) and The Ohio State University at Newark faculty and staff:

The safety of our students, faculty and staff remains our top priority, and today we are sharing additional information regarding on-campus protocols to prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). With the start of autumn semester quickly approaching, we hope that this information will help you understand not only the general hygiene and safety measures put in place on campus but also your role in ensuring a safe campus environment. Brief updates from the OCIO and campus bookstore regarding autumn semester procedures are also included. Please remember that these plans are provisional and are subject to change at any time.

 

CAMPUS READINESS

Campus Cleaning Protocols
In addition to the usual daily housekeeping activities (cleaning restrooms, trash collection, sweeping, etc.) the facilities department has established enhanced daily housekeeping operations that meet or exceed the cleaning and disinfecting standards for campus readiness defined by The Ohio State University during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Additional cleaning protocols include:

• Daily cleaning of door handles, tables, ATMs and other high-touch surfaces.
• Daily disinfecting of the two open computer labs on the Newark campus (Founders Hall 180 and Reese Center 206) and the computer labs at the COTC extended campuses (Coshocton campus: Montgomery Hall room 265 (PC lab) and room 345 (Mac lab), Knox campus: Ariel Hall room 10, Pataskala Campus Annex: room 2F).
• Use of sanitizing misters throughout campus spaces each evening. The disinfecting/sanitizing products are Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approved for killing COVID-19.
• Disinfectant wipes supplied to each classroom and lab used during autumn semester.
• Disinfectant wipes or spray and paper towels supplied to high-volume areas on campus.
• Required use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for all custodians.

First shift housekeeping operations have been ongoing, and cleaning and sanitizing processes were employed in classrooms and labs during the summer semester. Second shift housekeeping operations will resume on August 17.

Campus Signage

• COVID-related signage referencing CDC guidance for hand washing, mandatory face coverings and social distancing requirements, as well as floor and seat stickers to ensure that safe distances are maintained, have been installed throughout all campus buildings.

Hand Sanitizer

• The number of public hand-sanitizing stations throughout campus has been more than doubled through a combination of wall-mounted and cardboard dispensing units.
• Personal bottles of hand sanitizer are being distributed to all faculty and staff offices.

Digital Touchless Thermometers

• Touchless, wall-mounted thermometers will be installed outside the Office of Public Safety in the Warner Center and at each of the COTC extended campuses.

Disposable Masks

• A plastic bag containing 10-12 disposable masks will be placed at the instructor’s podium in all classrooms and labs that will be in use during autumn semester as well as in student-facing administrative offices. Custodial staff will check this supply as part of their daily rounds.

Furniture Reconfigurations and Plexiglas Screens

• The furniture in all public spaces has been moved and/or relocated to promote social distancing.
• The tables and chairs in all classrooms and labs being utilized this autumn have been arranged to follow Ohio State’s spacing guidelines.
• Plexiglas screens have been fabricated and installed in various student/public-serving areas.
• The exercise equipment in the Adena Recreation Center has been rearranged and/or moved into the gymnasium to promote social distancing.

Air Filters

• New, high-density air filters will be installed in all campus buildings.

Building Hours

• Signs detailing autumn semester building hours will be posted at each building entrance.

 

DAILY HEALTH CHECK AND SYMPTOM REPORTING

• All faculty and staff must perform a daily health check each day they intend to be physically on any COTC or Ohio State campus:
  • COTC-paid employees will report to their supervisors using the criteria outlined on the COTC COVID site.
  • Ohio State-paid employees can visit the Safe and Healthy Buckeyes daily health check site for instructions on recording their daily health check in the Ohio State mobile app or compass.osu.edu.
• Supervisors of COTC-paid employees: Keep a record that employees reporting to the campus confirmed their temperature each day. Do not ask for or record the actual temperature, just record that they checked before the start of their shift or otherwise entered campus with authorization.
• All employees: If you cannot confirm all aspects of your daily health check, then:
  • Do not enter campus.
  • Do follow usual call-off procedures.
  • Contact your primary care provider, or
    COTC-paid employees: call the Licking County Health Department at 740.349.6535 for guidance.
  • Ohio State-paid employees: call the Wexner Medical Center’s COVID-19 call center at 614.293.4000 for guidance.
• Supervisors: If you receive a report, confirmed or unconfirmed, that a member of your team has been exposed to or has contracted coronavirus/COVID-19 contact John Ralston, 740.366.9360 or ralston.87@mail.cotc.edu.
• Faculty and staff: If you learn of a possible case, do not share the person’s health information with colleagues. This is a violation of their privacy, and this information is protected by HIPAA and other laws. We must rely on regional public health officials to continue to investigate cases and trace potential contacts.

 

ON-CAMPUS EXPECTATIONS

• All employees are expected to follow safe campus requirements to include but not limited to wearing masks, hand hygiene, physical distancing (maintaining a distance of at least six feet from others in any public space), wellness checks/health symptom monitoring, and must participate in contact tracing, quarantine and isolation as may be required by public health authorities.
• Face masks must be worn in indoor settings.
• Masks must be put on before entering enclosed or indoor spaces including, but not limited to, classrooms, common areas, conference rooms, shared office spaces, hallways and shared vehicles.
• Employees are always required to wear face masks except when alone in a private office or while eating food in the cafeteria.
• Masks must also be worn in outdoor spaces where individuals cannot maintain appropriate physical distancing.

 

OCIO OPERATIONS 

To support the health and safety of faculty, staff, and students, drop-in IT support is currently unavailable. Please contact the IT Service Desk for assistance.

• Faculty and Staff: We encourage you to reach out for remote assistance via phone, email or Self Service. If in-person support is required, a technician will be dispatched or an in-person appointment will be scheduled in alignment with the safe and healthy guidelines. When in-person support is necessary, it will be performed via curbside pickup, at the customer’s desk or in Founders Hall Room 175 following physical distancing recommendations.

 

CAMPUS BOOKSTORE

• The bookstore will be staffed during regular hours but operating with significantly reduced capacity due to physical distancing requirements.
• Orders can be placed online and shipped to home rather than for in-store pickup. Any order over $50.00 will receive free shipping and one-day transit time in Ohio.

 

We understand that the details surrounding campus re-engagement are numerous, and we thank you again for your patience and resilience. The health and safety of our campus community remain our highest priorities. Please understand that due to the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic that all plans can be subject to change.

The virus is still prevalent in our communities, and we urge all to continue practicing social distancing, hand washing and other health and safety protocols. Keep abreast of accurate information and developments of the virus by visiting the CDC and the Ohio Department of Health websites.

Thank you for your ongoing commitment to the missions of COTC and Ohio State.

Stay safe,

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

William L. MacDonald, PhD
Dean and Director
The Ohio State University at Newark

July 31, 2020

Campus colleagues:

It hardly seems possible that another semester has concluded while we are yet still in the midst of employing pandemic protocols in the fight against the coronavirus (COVID-19). I know that this has not been an easy journey, and my thanks go out to each of you for your resilience and resolve. You inspire me daily with your dedication to our mission and our students. Congratulations – and thank you on a job well done.

The health and wellbeing of our students, faculty and staff remain our top priorities, and, as you know, the summer semester will begin on August 25 in remote, in-person and hybrid formats. COTC will follow this academic plan for the entire autumn semester regardless of any positive developments around the pandemic. Should there be a resurgence in the virus or governmental restrictions are again imposed, however, COTC could return to completely remote formats for all instruction and student services. I thank you for your understanding and patience. The future holds much uncertainty regarding COVID-19, and I promise continued updates as more information is available.

Financial Future
I also want to share further information regarding COTC’s financial future. You will recall that due to highly fluid financial factors surrounding COVID-19, we modified our traditional budgetary approach this spring. As we approached budget planning for FY21, there were several key dynamics to consider. In May, we presented the COTC Board of Trustees with a balanced foundational FY21 operating budget, which they approved. From this baseline budget, we immediately began developing contingency targets and plans for anticipated reductions in State Share of Instruction (SSI) and enrollment. Now, with additional information at hand, David Brillhart, vice president for business and finance, is nearing finalization of a comprehensive budget plan that will balance our FY21 operating budget. This plan will be presented to the COTC board at their next scheduled meeting on August 18.

Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, COTC was already experiencing a revenue shortfall of $800,000 due to low enrollment and losses in investment income. In early July, the state of Ohio cut SSI funding by 4.38%. While this was not as much as we initially feared, it is still significant to our budget and combined with our previous shortfalls has created the need for budgetary adjustments. It is important to note that due to the volatility with state funding, further cuts to SSI could be implemented throughout the year.

Enrollment for autumn semester is currently at 12% less than last year at this time. In speaking with my presidential counterparts at other Ohio Association of Community College institutions across the state, I can confirm that we are certainly not alone in an enrollment deficit at this point in the summer. Nor are we experiencing the worst deficit – most institutions are currently reporting autumn enrollment deficits between 10-20%. Our colleagues in the Gateway are continuing to conduct outreach via email, text and phone calls to close this deficit as much as possible.

As reported previously, COTC initially received $1,660,000.00 in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding. Half was already distributed as emergency grant funding directly to students impacted by COVID-19. The other 50% will be used to assist in expenses related to the pandemic directly improving our financial situation. We are also pleased that additional CARES Act funding of $436,000 has been received through the state of Ohio’s allocation and an additional $81,000 of CARES Act funding is being requested through the Federal Department of Education. These funds are carefully monitored with specific criteria and will be carefully considered in covering current and future costs of the pandemic.

As we continue to assess this evolving situation and confront the fact of falling revenue, it is imperative that we address long-term operational efficiency and program sustainability. In the coming weeks, as the budgetary plan is finalized, I will share additional critical information regarding the college’s plans. Supporting COTC’s mission and commitment to educational access will be the driving factors in all budget considerations, as is our commitment to financial sustainability in honoring our role as stewards of the public trust through efficient and effective use of our resources.

My colleagues, we still face difficult times ahead. As always, I thank you for your continued hard work and dedication to COTC.

Stay Healthy. Stay Helpful. Stay Hopeful.

 John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

July 24, 2020

 

July 17, 2020

To all Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) and Ohio State Newark faculty and staff:

Last week (July 8) we communicated information regarding our phased re-engagement with campus for autumn semester (read the archived message at COTC and Ohio State Newark). Today we share additional details about campus re-engagement. We understand that this is an extraordinary time, and we hope that these further details will help you better understand expectations and plans for any on-campus activities. As always, the safety of our students, faculty and staff remains our top priority, and we ask that you please adhere to all outlined regulations to lessen the spread of COVID-19. Due to the uncertainty surrounding the ongoing pandemic, please remember that these plans are provisional and are subject to change at any time.

Campus Re-Engagement Autumn 2020

Campus buildings

To facilitate faculty and staff preparations for autumn semester, the John L. and Christine Warner Library and Student Center will be unlocked and open for faculty/staff access on August 3, 2020, and most other campus buildings will be unlocked on August 17.

Beginning on August 19, 2020, the Adena Hall Recreation Center will open for use with full regular hours, including Saturdays, to coincide with residence hall move in. In addition to all available federal, state, local and university guidelines, the Office of Student Life will also follow the guidance of national sports governing bodies to ensure that physical distancing practices and other safety protocols are in place for any recreational sports activities.

Student access

Students will have access to all internal campus spaces during autumn semester, following physical distancing (six feet) and face-covering protocols. The Warner Center and other gathering areas such as the Hopewell Hall mall area, Founders Hall entry lounge, John Gilbert Reese Center lobby and the Jones Event Center in Jane C. and William T. McConnell Hall will be available to students with modifications to ensure physical distancing (i.e., spacing/rearranging of furniture).

Spaces should be managed by departmental staff to ensure physical distancing is maintained. At this point, we are not placing limits on the number of people within a space, since most classes will be offered in a remote format, limiting the number of students needing to come to campus. However, should this become an issue, we can revisit and adjust our plans as appropriate. We do, however, still anticipate having a regular contingent of students on campus. Students who are taking a class in person, who then have an online class shortly thereafter, may choose to stay on campus to take their online class. Students who do not have their own transportation will be dropped off and may remain on campus for extended periods of time. We will also have our resident students who may also choose to utilize available campus space.

We anticipate that not all students will have a strong enough home Internet connection to support a live Zoom class, and we expect some students will use campus space for those classes. The Reese Center computer lab will continue to be open for students, and we are adding a second computer lab in Founders Hall (room 180). The computer labs on each of COTC’s extended campuses will continue to be open. Access to the Newark campus Wi-Fi will remain available in the Adena Hall parking lot.

On-campus safety protocols and daily cleaning

Face coverings and physical distancing are required for all individuals in all COTC and Ohio State buildings. Employees are required to wear face masks at all times except when alone in a private office or while eating food in the cafeteria. Masks must be worn in indoor settings, including, but not limited to: classrooms, common areas, conference rooms, shared office spaces, hallways and shared vehicles on all campuses. Masks must also be worn in outdoor spaces where individuals cannot maintain appropriate physical distancing.

Daily cleaning protocols are in place and will be fully implemented by mid-August. With these protocols in place, we should not need to close offices or buildings should the campus have a confirmed case of COVID-19.

Residence Hall Dining Services, Table of Contents and the Bean Counter

August 19 and 20: dining services will open in the Warner Center, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. (limited menu).

August 21: open 8 a.m.-7 p.m. (limited menu) so food service will be available to students moving into the residence halls.

Beginning August 24: Table of Contents (TOC) and the Bean Counter hours of operation:

• Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-9 p.m.
• Friday, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Saturday & Sunday, noon-6 p.m.

All TOC orders will be conducted through Grubhub during autumn semester. Read more about those changes and about installing the Grubhub app for ordering at the TOC here. Snacks that are offered at the Reese Center Cyber Café can be ordered on the Grubhub app and picked up at the TOC.

On-campus groups and meeting protocols
Convening in groups increases the risk of viral transmission. Therefore, during time on-campus, employees are encouraged to communicate with colleagues and supervisors as needed by email, instant message, telephone or other available technology, rather than face-to-face. Employees can also use a range of available collaboration tools (e.g., Zoom, Skype, Microsoft Teams, conference calls, etc.)

Departmental meetings should be conducted by virtual means (such as Zoom) whenever possible. If the meeting must be conducted in person, the participants will be limited to 10 or fewer and all must maintain appropriate physical distancing requirements and wear a face covering.

In an office setting, no more than one person should be in the room unless the required six feet of distancing can be consistently maintained.

Check Safe and Healthy Buckeyes (Ohio State) and Stay Connected (COTC) sites for the latest updates.

Additional Zoom security measures coming July 30
In an effort to increase security and privacy for the campus community, all Zoom meetings will require a passcode beginning July 30, and the change will prevent users from turning off the passcode going forward. Passcodes will be applied to previously scheduled meetings and Personal Meeting ID links. If you have any upcoming meetings without a passcode, you will need to edit those meetings, as well as your Personal Meeting ID. Updating your Zoom meetings before July 30 will create a smoother experience for your attendees.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue to develop and communicate these many new procedures for on-campus engagement. We understand that there is much information to consume, and as we continue to approach the start of autumn semester we will share additional documents outlining this information.

Thank you for your ongoing commitment to the missions of Ohio State and COTC.

Stay safe,

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

William L. MacDonald, PhD
Dean and Director
The Ohio State University at Newark

 

July 10, 2020

To all Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) faculty and staff:

I hope that your semester is progressing well. While we will each experience different emotions and events during this pandemic – uncertainty, frustration, loneliness, income loss – I want to re-emphasize the importance of supporting each other as a COTC family. Challenges will undoubtedly remain as the coronavirus (COVID-19) circulates in our communities. Therefore, in today’s message, I reminded our students of COTC’s We’re Here for our Students Promise – that COTC pledges to do everything in our power to ensure that their educational paths are not adversely affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. I urge you to remain vigilant in monitoring student progress as well as continuing to take good care of yourself and others. Your health and welfare, and the academic success of our students, remain our highest concerns.

COTC Travel Restrictions

Essential news I want to share this week is that COTC is implementing a domestic travel-related campuses access restriction effective immediately and until further notice. This restriction applies to COTC-paid employees who are direct service providers/have face-to-face interaction with students.

Employees in this category who travel to any states identified as “hot spots” must not enter the Newark campus or any of the COTC extended campuses for fourteen days after their return to Ohio. For this purpose, “hot spot” states are defined as those states that the CDC reports having the highest number of cases in the last seven days on the CDC data tracker (those states in the far right category). While restricted from campus, employees may utilize their accrued sick leave or vacation time, or work from home with their supervisor’s approval. Employees who cannot work from home and have no available paid leave must utilize leave without pay.

Governor DeWine Announces Higher Education Funding and Guidelines
On Thursday, Gov. DeWine announced important news on Ohio’s higher education reopening guidelines. Key elements of these guidelines align directly with the Ohio Association of Community College’s recommendations as well as with COTC’s current re-engagement plan, which I shared earlier this week. Any campus re-engagement will be introduced in thoughtful and strategic phases with adherence to CDC and ODH guidelines for lessening the spread of the virus.

Notably, Gov. DeWine also announced his intention to request $200 million for higher education COVID-19 relief from the Ohio Controlling Board. This funding will come from the federal CARES Act to help defray the additional costs colleges and universities will incur due to COVID-19, and institutions will have flexibility on how to best spend these dollars at the institutional level. This funding is in addition to the CARES Act support COTC has already received, and we are extremely thankful to Gov. DeWine for his leadership.

Nursing Students Help with Contact Tracing
Some additional positive news I want to share this week is that COTC healthcare students are conducting contact tracing for the Licking County Health Department. We’re very proud to report this important collaboration; it’s wonderful to see COTC help lead this effort in our community. Thanks to all who are participating in this critical strategy for defeating COVID-19.

Stay Safe
As you are probably aware, COVID-19 cases are increasing across the state, and wearing face masks is now required in several counties, including Franklin and Fairfield. Please help everyone stay safe by continuing to follow CDC and Ohio Department of Health guidelines. It is uncertain how long the virus will continue impacting our communities, but if we all take action to lessen spread of COVID-19 we can together have a positive impact to lessen spread in our communities.

Stay Healthy. Stay Helpful. Stay Hopeful.

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

July 8, 2020

To Ohio State Newark and Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) faculty and staff:

The safety of our students, faculty and staff remains our top priority during the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and we write to offer several updates related to our phased return to campus. As we move closer to the opening of autumn semester, we hope that this information will help you understand the next steps in our staged process for campus re-engagement. Please remember that these plans are provisional and are subject to change at any time.

Phased Return to Campus

Update: nonessential employee campus visits
Nonessential employee visits to campus to retrieve items from your office or from research and instructional labs that are necessary for you to continue working remotely will continue to be available through the month of July. So that proper cleaning can be conducted, please continue to schedule these trips to campus with the Office of Public Safety or the respective campus’s facilities supervisor for COTC’s extended campuses. Find contact info for scheduling visits at myCOTC and myNewark.

Checking in at Public Safety or the facilities offices before going to your office for nonessential visits is no longer necessary. However, prior to coming to campus, all employees must complete and record a daily wellness check. Ohio State-paid employees can visit the Safe and Healthy Buckeyes daily health check site for instructions on recording their daily health check in the Ohio State mobile app or compass.osu.edu. COTC-paid employees will continue reporting to their supervisors using the criteria and procedures already in place. Masks are required in all public spaces and social distancing protocols must be followed.

During the month of July, we are working to ready the campus from an environmental standpoint for re-engagement including signage, cleaning regime, hand sanitizing stations, etc. Therefore, beginning August 1, 2020, all COTC and Ohio State Newark employees will have access to the campus without making appointments through Public Safety/facilities. However, please be advised that employees should only come to campus for work that cannot be completed remotely. Those employees who are able to telework must continue to do so. Daily wellness checks will continue to be required for all faculty/staff prior to coming to campus.

Autumn semester staffing

Offices that are primarily student facing are expected to have a minimal on-campus presence during the autumn semester. We do expect these offices to be staffed during regular working hours with at least one staff member to provide assistance to those students with needs requiring in-person services. Those employees may return to campus the week of August 17. All other offices will continue to work remotely throughout the autumn semester. Coming back to campus because you want to is an unacceptable reason to return to campus if you can do your work from home.

Library staffing
Library staff will return to the library in a limited capacity starting July 27; this will allow them to manage the return of OhioLINK materials and set up a quarantine area for all returns. Beginning on August 3, the library will be staffed 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and the book drop in the Warner Center will be open. Contact-free materials pickups by appointment will also start within open hours.

Ohio State: Resumption of research and creative expression activities
Ohio State faculty who are resuming activities under the Staged Reopening of Research and Creative Expression should follow the dates assigned in that plan.

In-person meetings
Face-to-face internal meetings on campus will only be permitted on an exception basis, with our approval. We feel that most spaces will be used for academic purposes and that there will be limited availability for other internal uses. We also don’t anticipate many people working on campus to be meeting and are encouraging virtual meetings.

Thank you again for your patience as we worked through the many details of any campus re-engagement. The health and safety of our campus community remain our highest priorities. Please understand that due to the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic that all plans can be subject to change.

Please continue taking good care of yourselves, and we urge you to continue practicing social distancing, hand washing and other health and safety protocols. Keep abreast of accurate information and developments of the virus by visiting the CDC and the Ohio Department of Health websites.

Thank you for your ongoing commitment to the missions of Ohio State and COTC.

Stay safe,

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

William L. MacDonald, PhD
Dean and Director
The Ohio State University at Newark

 

July 6, 2020

To all COTC faculty and staff,

Effective immediately and until further notice, prior to entering any Ohio State or COTC campus, all faculty and staff must perform a daily wellness check.

Employees are to check their temperature at home prior to entering campus.
Employees unable to check their temperatures at home should contact John Ralston at 740-366-9360 or Ralston.87.

Ohio State (Newark)-paid employees visit the Safe and Healthy Buckeyes daily health check site for instructions on recording their daily health check in the Ohio State mobile app or compass.osu.edu.

You may come to campus only if you can confirm:

• No fever of 100°F/38°C or higher,
• No cough or shortness of breath, and
• No known exposure to someone with a confirmed case of COVID-19.

If:

• Your temperature is 100°F/38°C or higher, OR
• You have a cough or shortness of breath, OR
• You have known exposure, for example:
  • a family member at home with a confirmed COVID-19 positive test, or
  • you have knowingly been exposed to anyone with a confirmed COVID-19 positive test,

Then:

• Do not enter campus,
• Do follow usual call-off procedures, and
• Contact your primary care provider, or
  Ohio State-paid employees: call the Wexner Medical Center’s COVID-19 call center at 614-293-4000 for guidance, or
  COTC-paid employees: call the Licking County Health Department at 740-349-6535 for guidance.

Supervisors:

• Confirm each day that employees checked their temperature before they entered campus, and
• For COTC-paid employees, keep a record that employees reporting to the campus confirmed they checked their temperature each day. Do not ask for or record the actual temperature, just record that they checked before the start of their shift or otherwise entered campus with authorization.

Remember:

• If you learn of a possible case, do not share the person’s health information with colleagues. This is a violation of their privacy, and this information is protected by HIPAA and other laws. We must rely on regional public health officials to continue to investigate cases and trace potential contacts.

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

William L. MacDonald

Dean/Director

The Ohio State University at Newark

 

July 2, 2020

To all Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) faculty and staff:

 Your health and welfare remain our highest priorities, and I hope that you are continuing to take good care of yourself and others. In my communication today to students, I reminded them that every department at COTC stands ready to help them succeed and achieve their goals. I thank you all for the many ways you help our students every day. As the semester continues, please continue to proactively reach out to students who may be struggling in any way. Together, we will help our students successfully reach their goals.

Autumn Semester – Registration Underway
As announced previously, COTC will conduct a combination of remote, in-person and hybrid classes during autumn semester. Key elements of the plan are the continuation of remote delivery for lecture-only classes and the resumption of full face-to-face instruction for classes that require a student’s physical presence in a laboratory. Registration is already underway for autumn and will continue until August 25, the first day of classes.

Autumn semester enrollment is currently trending 17% behind enrollment for the same time last year. However, the Gateway did see a significant increase immediately following our announcement of autumn semester plans, and we are hopeful for a continued upward trend. Healthcare programs are registering in the next few days, which will boost this number. The Gateway will work to identify specific areas that may be trending behind to determine additional outreach. On a positive note, applications continue to trend up. My thanks to the Gateway staff and all student service offices who are working very hard remotely to help students finalize their autumn semester plans.

Justice for Racial Equality
The Office of Multicultural Affairs is wrapping up its summer virtual series for students, Justice for Racial Equality, and is also planning virtual sessions for faculty and staff. I am incredibly proud of COTC’s diverse community, and we remain dedicated to providing an inclusive, welcoming environment grounded in respect for human dignity and each other. We must stand up daily to maintain these principles, and I encourage you to engage in these important conversations.

COTC closed July 3
The college will be closed on July 3 to celebrate Independence Day, and with COVID-19 cases increasing across the state, please help everyone stay safe by continuing to follow CDC guidelines during any gatherings. July 3 would normally find me preparing for the annual Independence Day concert and fireworks hosted by the Newark campus, as I am sure many of you would be, too. But, as we all find different and creative ways to safely spend the holiday this year, I hope that yours still includes some hallmarks of the celebration – good food, good fellowship and enjoying the outdoors.

Stay Healthy. Stay Helpful. Stay Hopeful.

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

June 26, 2020

 

June 19, 2020

To all Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) students, faculty and staff:

This week, the COTC President’s Cabinet approved a plan for autumn semester 2020 academic operations at all COTC campuses. The health and wellbeing of our students, faculty and staff remained our top priorities during this planning, as did our commitment to continue offering exceptional academic experiences for our students. Any level of campus re-engagement during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic will follow CDC guidelines to lessen the spread of COVID-19. This includes classroom readiness, physical distancing, safety signage and the use of personal protective equipment.

Autumn semester course delivery overview
COTC will use a hybrid delivery strategy incorporating fully in-person classes/labs, remote instruction, and hybrid classes/labs offering a mix of both in-person and remote instruction. Key aspects of this plan are the continuation of remote delivery for lecture-only classes and the resumption of full face-to-face instruction for all classes that require a student’s physical presence in a laboratory. This primarily, although not exclusively, refers to healthcare program labs. When labs can be accomplished effectively remotely, faculty will be encouraged to choose this option.

COTC will begin classes on August 25 as planned and will follow the normal semester schedule, including breaks. However, the majority of academic programs will cease any physical contact with students before Thanksgiving break. While classes will not end at that time, labs and clinicals that require physical presence and are able to finish by that time will be encouraged to do so. Those classes with cumulative final exams that require a student presence after Thanksgiving will be allowed to do so, pending approval by the appropriate dean. Clinicals and internships will function normally. Should a change in state guidance regarding clinicals and internships occur, students will be informed by their respective faculty.

COTC will follow this academic operations plan for the autumn semester regardless of any positive developments around the pandemic. Further, should there be a resurgence in the virus and/or governmental restrictions are again imposed, COTC could return to completely remote formats for all instruction and student services.

We understand that you will have additional questions regarding the full scope of COTC’s plan for autumn semester. We encourage students to reach out to their academic advisor with any questions.

To read the entire academic operations plan, please click here.

Tutoring and Testing Centers
All tutoring and testing center services will continue virtually at this time. Further announcements regarding the potential addition of in-person services in these areas will be forthcoming.

Enrollment Management
Advising appointments will continue to be held virtually. In-person appointments will be approved on a case-by-case basis and must be scheduled ahead of time. Walk-in appointments will be unavailable during the autumn semester. The advising staff will create guidelines for physical distancing and for following other CDC recommended guidelines.

College Credit Plus (CCP) courses will continue. CCP students will still be able to enroll in courses taught at their high school by approved high school teachers (Option A) or enroll in courses offered through one of COTC’s four campus locations or online (Option C). COTC will not send college faculty to teach in area high schools (Option B).

Recruitment events including individual appointments, info sessions and visit days will continue to be exclusively held virtually during autumn semester. No in-person events will be scheduled.

These are challenging times for all, and I want to thank you for your continued patience and perseverance during this time of such uncertainty. COTC will strive to keep the student experience as normal as possible while also working to ensure the continued safety of our communities.

I want to thank our Offices of Academic Affairs, Enrollment Management and the many faculty members who contributed their insight and expertise during the creation of this plan. We believe that our hybrid approach will help ensure the safety of our college community while also offering a breadth of engaged academic experiences.

It is uncertain how long the virus will continue impacting our communities, and we ask for your continued flexibility as the autumn semester unfolds. I am grateful for your continued resilience and strength, and I look forward to celebrating your accomplishments in December as our autumn semester concludes.

Stay Healthy. Stay Helpful. Stay Hopeful.

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

June 16, 2020

To Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) and Ohio State Newark faculty and staff:

The safety of our students, faculty and staff is our top priority, and we write to offer several updates related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. While there is still much work to do, we hope that this update will help you understand what COTC and Ohio State Newark are doing now to plan for any re-engagement with campus.

 As you know, both Ohio State Newark and COTC have operated almost exclusively in remote formats since mid-March to lessen the spread of COVID-19. Our initial onsite presence was limited to essential employees deemed necessary to maintain business continuity, including public safety and security, facilities staff and some COTC administrative staff. In late May, as the state moved toward strategically reopening some businesses and services, we were able to begin offering limited, prescheduled campus visits for nonessential employees. As we plan for campus re-engagement for autumn semester, we will continue to implement a phased approach focused on safety, including: classroom readiness, physical distancing, safety signage and personal protective equipment.

Continuation of Teleworking
Until further notice, all nonessential employees are to continue teleworking and to remain off campus. Exceptions are limited to nonessential employees who wish to briefly visit their office or the Services Center and to those faculty who have approval to conduct research in their labs. To schedule a visit to a campus building, please follow these guidelines posted at myCOTC and myNewark.

Resumption of Research and Creative Expression Activities

Ohio State’s Office of Research has approved the first three stages of our five-stage plan for resuming research and creative expression activities. Resumption of those activities will begin on June 22, and the appropriate faculty and staff have been contacted. All returning employees returning under that plan must complete a training program and submit an attestation form before returning, and have plans in place to maintain distancing, masks and cleaning protocols for their spaces. Density must not exceed 25% at any given time within spaces, within buildings, and across campus.

Facilities Protocols to Promote Compliance with COVID-19 Guidelines
Brian Boehmer, Jackie Parrill and Suzanne Bressoud are leading our effort to ready our facilities protocols to facilitate social distancing. They will work with others (including Katie Blocksidge, Lazaro Fuentes, Desiree Fuerst, Lori Garrabrant, Holly Mason and Joe McCartney) to prepare to investigate, create, and/or acquire signage, plexiglass barriers, ribbon dividers, hand-sanitizing stations, cleaning supplies and other equipment necessary to promote all campus constituents’ compliance with state, COTC and Ohio State COVID-19 policies. Brian, Jackie and Suzanne will work with unit managers to identify offices/areas in which we need to install equipment.

Brian and his team have already done a lot of work to get us started. They have developed a prototype plexiglass barrier and are currently looking into obtaining the supplies needed to make additional barriers. Our facilities office has also ordered bottles of personal hand sanitizer and pump sprayers.

 Classroom and Instructional Lab Occupancy Limits and Scheduling
Ohio State Newark Associate Dean Stephanie Brown and COTC Provost Eric Heiser, with assistance from Brian Boehmer, are taking the lead on defining new occupancy limits for classrooms and instructional labs and on assessing the possible need to adjusting the course schedule for autumn semester if new occupancy limits force us to reduce class sizes and add new course sections. Brian has already developed estimates of new occupancy limits and is looking at ways of arranging or marking furniture to facilitate social distancing.

 Preparing Employees to Return to Campus

John Ralston and Jackie Parrill are readying us to communicate with faculty and staff about resuming activities on campus.

 Preparing Students to Come to Campus

Holly Mason and Justin Kohl are preparing us to communicate with students about returning to campus this fall.

 Preparing Visitors to Resume Visiting Campus Buildings
Suzanne Bressoud and David Brillhart will take the lead on preparing us to communicate with external constituencies about visiting campus buildings and reserving spaces for events.

We thank you for your patience as we work through the details of any campus re-engagement. The health and safety of our campus community remain our highest priorities. We will do our best to avoid confusion, but the COVID-19 crisis is full of uncertainty. Please understand that all plans can be subject to change.

Please continue taking good care of yourselves as the state of Ohio continues to open more businesses and venues. We urge you to continue practicing social distancing, hand washing and other health and safety protocols, and to keep abreast of accurate information and developments of the virus by visiting the CDC and the Ohio Department of Health websites.

Thank you for your ongoing commitment to the missions of Ohio State and COTC.

Stay safe,

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

William L. MacDonald, PhD
Dean and Director
The Ohio State University at Newark 

 

June 12, 2020

To all Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) students, faculty and staff:

As we end another week during this extraordinary time, I hope that you continue to be well. As you read in my communication from earlier today, COTC confirmed our first case of the coronavirus (COVID-19) this week. While safety measures and protocols were followed on campus by the individuals directly involved, this is a clear reminder that COVID-19 is still present in our communities. Your health and wellbeing continue as our highest priority, and as I stressed earlier, I urge everyone to continue social distancing and following the CDC guidelines to lessen transmission of the virus.

Conversations with Allies & Advocates
Spurred by the recent tragic examples of inequality in our society, COTC and The Ohio State University at Newark this week held a virtual forum, Conversations with Allies & Advocates, as the first in a newly planned series to engage campus voices to become positive forces for healing. Additional virtual conversations for all students, faculty and staff are currently being planned. We have posted several helpful resources for education about racism, white privilege and systemic bias on our website.

Autumn Semester Planning
As we complete our plan for autumn semester instruction amidst the continuing threat of COVID-19, please know that health and safety have been at the forefront of our discussions and strategy. I expect to make an announcement regarding autumn semester next week. I thank you for your patience and understanding as we worked through the many details involved in this planning.

COTC Pataskala Campus Renovation Beginning

In some very exciting news for the college, I want to remind everyone that the renovation of our COTC Pataskala campus facility at 8660 E. Broad St. is beginning. As of Monday, June 15, all classes, advising, scheduling and other operations that would be held at the campus once face-to-face operations resume will be temporarily relocated to the COTC Pataskala Annex in the Pataskala City Administration building at 621 W. Broad St., Pataskala, 4.3 miles east on State Rt. 16/E. Broad St. Please note that the limited access student-use computer lab at the E. Broad St. Pataskala campus is closed. Students will have access to a computer lab at the COTC Pataskala Annex, room 2F. Details of days and hours of computer lab availability with be forthcoming very shortly. Keep up to date with the project on the COTC website.

I hope that you find time for rest and reflection this weekend. Enjoy the sunshine, but please take good care of yourselves and others. I applaud your perseverance during these trying times, and I thank you again for being a part of our COTC family.

Stay Healthy. Stay Helpful. Stay Hopeful.

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

All official communication regarding the college’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak will be communicated from the Office of the President. Find all communications as well as health and hygiene links on the COTC COVID-19 Website.

Additional Resources:
Steps to Prevent Illness
CDC and Health Departments

 

June 12, 2020

To all Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) students, faculty and staff:

 First and foremost, the health and wellbeing of our students, faculty and staff remain our top priority. And as you know, COTC has continued to operate almost exclusively in remote formats since mid-March to lessen the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

The Licking County Health Department has confirmed that a COTC student has been diagnosed with COVID-19. This is COTC’s first confirmed case of the virus. All safety measures and protocols were followed in this matter. The student only came into direct contact with one college employee. The public health system will conduct contact tracing and notify individuals who had close contact with the student. All individuals were wearing facemasks, social distancing was followed, and the room was cleaned and disinfected after the meeting and before any subsequent use.

As this pandemic continues to evolve, it is important that information is shared appropriately to protect the health and wellbeing of our community while working to stop the spread of COVID-19. At the same time, we must respect everyone’s medical privacy and ensure the accuracy of information. As a result, the college is not able to publicly confirm and share details of individual COVID-19 cases. Please remember: If you learn of a possible case, do not share the person’s health information with colleagues. This is a violation of their privacy, and this information is protected by HIPAA and other laws. In the face of this unprecedented pandemic, we must rely on regional public health officials to continue to investigate cases and trace potential contacts.

This development reminds us all of the importance of following hygiene protocols and that COVID-19 is still very much present in our communities. I urge each of you to continue strictly following the CDC guidelines to lessen transmission of the virus.

How to protect yourself and others
Social distancing is scientifically proven to be one of the most effective methods to slow the transmission of communicable disease, such as COVID-19. The CDC recommends to:

• Keep a distance of at least six feet away from another person
• Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
• Refrain from touching your face
• Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others
• Use hand sanitizer
• Cover coughs or sneezes (into the sleeve or elbow, not hands)
• Regularly clean high-touch surfaces and refrain from shaking hands

Also, please continue to follow the college’s established procedures for on-campus activity. These are limited to essential employees, pre-scheduled non-essential employee campus visits, and a very limited number of face-to-face instructional activities for students and faculty. Students should reach out to their faculty members with any procedural questions or concerns. Faculty and staff should contact their supervisor or John Ralston, COTC director of human resources, 740.366.9360.

If you are experiencing symptoms of respiratory illness consistent with COVID-19, have been exposed to an individual with COVID-19 or have been diagnosed with the virus, you should contact your primary care physician. If you are unable to reach your primary care physician you should contact the Ohio Department of Health coronavirus hotline at 833.427.5634.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue to navigate these uncharted waters together. Your safety and welfare are our highest concern. While many businesses and activities continue to open, it is still critically important that we all remain diligent in our efforts to lessen the spread of COVID-19.

Stay Healthy. Stay Helpful. Stay Hopeful.

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

All official communication regarding the college’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak will be communicated from the Office of the President. Find all communications as well as health and hygiene links on the COTC COVID-19 Website.

Additional Resources:
Steps to Prevent Illness
CDC and Health Departments

 

June 5, 2020

To all COTC faculty, staff and students:

Earlier in the week, Dr. MacDonald and I shared with you an important call to action in response to the latest string of tragic examples of injustice in our society. We are tasked with a deep responsibility to be a positive force to help our campus and larger communities listen, learn, understand and heal during this time. We are calling on all faculty, staff, students and alumni to reaffirm their personal commitment to accepting social responsibility, to fostering peace and nonviolence, striving for equality and leading toward meaningful change through collaborative service.

To this end, we will work with our Office of Student Life, COTC’s Division of Academic Affairs, Ohio State Newark’s Committee on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and several student organizations to coordinate a Courageous Conversation initiative. We are not perfect, but our campus community has exhibited a strong and stable commitment to citizenship for a just world, something the broader world desperately needs right now. And on the strength of our commitment to that virtue, we must lead.

My friends and colleagues, these are indeed grave and extraordinary times.

Amidst the anguish of widespread protests over the past week, our state and communities continue to slowly re-engage in business and social activities curtailed by the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

Responsible Restart Ohio
I participated in a phone call with Gov. DeWine, the chancellor of higher education and the 22 other Ohio community college presidents on Saturday, May 30. While no formal announcement was made, I am confident that the state’s recommendations for autumn semester will closely follow the plan previously submitted to the governor by the Ohio Association of Community Colleges (OACC), which included a continuation of remote lectures with in-person lab and practicum experiences allowed under strict health protocols. While we await the governor’s recommendations, our Newark campus co-located partner, The Ohio State University, announced its plans for autumn semester this week. Those largely mirror the OACC plan, including utilizing a combination of in-person and distance instructional methods, social distancing, hand hygiene and limited density in indoor spaces. We will, or course, work closely with our Ohio State partner as we complete our own re-engagement plan, which I anticipate announcing in the coming weeks.

Capital Projects
Pataskala Campus – Perhaps the most positive news I can share this week is that the state controlling board approved the release of previously secured capital appropriations for the COTC Pataskala campus renovation project. As you may recall, the Pataskala campus at 8660 E. Broad St. will undergo a complete renovation during 2020-21. When we return to on-campus engagement, all classes, advising, scheduling and other operations that would be held at the campus will be temporarily relocated to the COTC Pataskala Annex in the Pataskala City Administration building at 621 W. Broad St., 4.3 miles east on State Rt. 16/E. Broad St. We anticipate that the move out of the current building will be complete on or before June 26, and that the renovation project will be well underway this summer. The campus re-opening is anticipated for summer 2021.

Alford Center – Other good news to share is that during our long sojourn away from campus work on the John and Mary Alford Center for Science and Technology on the Newark campus has continued. Approximately 35% of the project is complete overall and the project is still on schedule for substantial completion in March 2021. Click the live stream below and you’ll be pleasantly surprised to see the progress achieved in the past weeks.

As this week draws to a close, and with the resonance of our country shaken, I hope that you can each find hope as we recommit to work together in the spirit of justice and community.

Thank you for all that you do. Please know that your safety and welfare, in both body and spirit,  continue as our highest concern.

Stay Healthy. Stay Helpful. Stay Hopeful.

 John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

May 29, 2020

Campus colleagues:

The health and wellbeing of faculty, staff and students remains our highest priority, and as you know, COTC is continuing operations almost exclusively in remote formats. The updates I have received from departments across the college indicate that the semester is progressing smoothly, and I again want to thank you for your dedication and perseverance.

Restart Ohio
I understand, of course, that you are eager for news regarding any return to additional on-campus operations. I will participate in a phone call with Gov. DeWine and the 22 other Ohio community college presidents on Saturday, May 30. The purpose of this call is to discuss the Restart Ohio plan for higher education. I will continue to share information as it becomes available about any campus re-engagement, and I am pleased to see the statewide conversation moving this topic forward. Look for more on this in the following weeks.

CARES Act Funding
Some very positive news I want to share this week regards COTC’s Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding. To date, COTC has already disbursed $632,109 of the college’s $833,625 allocation with 557 applications submitted and 365 students awarded funding. This demonstrates the urgent need for relief felt by our students, and I am so incredibly proud of how swiftly COTC has been able to implement these new procedures and direct relief funds to students who need support the most. Thank you to the staff in Student Financial Services for a job well done!

Student Support Services

We understand, also, that many students are still experiencing multiple unique challenges due to the far-reaching effects of the coronavirus. Thus, I urge you to remain vigilant in looking for signs of stress – be it academic, emotional, financial, technological – or some other stressor – please let our students know that COTC is always here to help. Students can find helpful links to COTC support services as well as community services on COTC’s COVID-19 Stay Connected web page.

Non-essential employee campus visits
I also want to remind you that this week we were able to introduce limited campus visits for non-essential employees to retrieve work items. Several staff and faculty members have already taken advantage of this opportunity. Please remember that these visits must be scheduled in advance to restrict the number of people simultaneously in any building. You can find the complete guidelines and scheduling information here.

Finally, I thank each of you again. Your work has great meaning and impact which reaches far beyond the scope of our campuses. I hope that each of you can take some time this weekend to get outside in the beautiful weather to refresh both body and spirit.

Stay Healthy. Stay Helpful. Stay Hopeful.

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

May 22, 2020

To all Ohio State Newark and Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) faculty and staff:

We hope that you are continuing to stay well. First and foremost, the health and wellbeing of our students, faculty and staff remains our top priority. As you know, both Ohio State and COTC are continuing operations almost exclusively in remote formats. However, as the state continues to move toward strategically reopening, we are now able to begin offering limited campus access to staff and faculty. We thank you for your understanding that these new procedures will need to be conducted under specific and controlled safety protocols informed by the latest guidelines from the Ohio Department of Health, local health departments and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Non-essential employee campus visits

Beginning on Tuesday, May 26, all non-essential employees may submit requests to visit campus to retrieve items from your office or from research and instructional labs that are necessary for you to continue working remotely. Requests for access to campus spaces other than these areas, including the Newark campus Services Center, should be referred to the Ohio State Newark dean/director or the COTC president’s office for approval. This update pertains specifically to faculty and staff who had not previously been deemed essential employees during the COVID-19 work-from-home directive. Further information regarding essential employees is embedded below.

Non-essential visit guidelines

To limit the number of faculty/staff simultaneously present in any building, we ask that all campus visits be scheduled in advance.

• Newark campus visits:
  • schedule by contacting the Ohio State Newark/COTC Department of Public Safety
  • 740.366.9237 or email to safety@newark.osu.edu
• COTC extended campuses visits:
  • schedule by contacting your respective campus’s facilities supervisor
  • Mark Miller (Knox) miller.5879@mail.cotc.edu
  • Alan Roberts (Coshocton) roberts.1848@mail.cotc.edu
  • Robert Drakeford (Pataskala) drakeford.8@mail.cotc.edu
• All campus visits should be conducted between 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
• Faculty/staff must log in upon arrival and log out upon departure at the public safety office in the Warner Center (Newark campus) or at the front desk area of the COTC extended campuses.
• A temperature and wellness check will be conducted by public safety/facilities personnel upon arrival.
• Visits must be necessary for work continuation.
• Visits must be brief (an hour or less) and for item retrieval only.
• Other work activities (e.g., analyses, reading, etc.) are not permitted during visits.
• Faculty/staff must wear masks and comply with the state’s physical distancing requirements.
• Guests may not accompany you into any campus building during your visit.
• Using the visitor log, public safety will inform facilities of necessary cleaning after visit conclusions.

Please understand that these requirements are subject to change as circumstances continue to evolve.

Essential employee campus access
Essential employees will maintain campus access and work routines as previously established. Essential employees are those who had previously received approval from the office of the president or dean/director or Brian Boehmer, director of facilities, to work on campus during the college’s and university’s work-from-home directive. These individuals are limited to our critical and most basic operations and support for animals involved in research or instruction.

We thank you for your continued hard work, patience and resilience in support of our students during this extraordinary time. Take good care of yourselves and of each other.

Stay well and stay safe,

William L. MacDonald, PhD
Dean/Director, The Ohio State University at Newark

 John M. Berry, PhD
President, Central Ohio Technical College

 

May 19, 2020

Campus colleagues,

I share today important budgetary and academic program actions approved this morning by the Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) Board of Trustees as well as key information regarding future strategic planning. As you are well aware, the coronavirus (COVID-19) has created unprecedented uncertainty across all aspects of our lives, including higher education, and I convey today critical decisions which have been made to help ensure the future health of the college.

Baseline Budget and Further Contingency Plans
As we approached budget planning for FY21, there were several key dynamics to consider. Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, COTC was already experiencing a revenue shortfall of $800,000 due to low enrollment and losses in investment income.

Unfortunately, we fully expect cuts to COTC’s State Share of Instruction (SSI) for FY21 to be imminently forthcoming. Thus, while the COTC Board approved a balanced FY21 operating budget this morning, I must clarify that we have modified our traditional budgetary approach and recommended to the board that this budget be viewed as a base foundational budget only. We expect that several key financial factors will continue to be highly fluid during the year necessitating future budget modifications. From this baseline budget we will immediately develop contingency targets and plans for anticipated reductions in SSI and enrollment.

The critical loss of revenue due to the anticipated reduction in COTC’s SSI subsidy for FY21, along with enrollment and short-term investment rate uncertainty, have precipitated and accelerated difficult decisions.

Departmental Reorganizations and Hiring Freeze
To keep the college’s expenses in line with declining revenues, COTC will create efficiencies through several departmental reorganizations. These administrative savings will provide increased efficiency while not compromising COTC’s high quality. The college will also continue a hiring freeze on open positions.

• Institute for Public Services and Safety – The director position will be eliminated after Kevin Reardon’s departure on May 29.
• The Gateway – Two current positions will be eliminated and two currently open positions will not be filled during the hiring freeze. The open College Credit Plus (CCP) manager position has been recast and collapsed into a newly formed position of CCP coordinator, resulting in cost savings to the institution.
• Financial Aid and Fees and Deposits – These areas will be merged under the new title of Student Financial Services. This combined office will result in a more effective structure to serve students and will allow the office to operate with one less position.
• Faculty Hiring Freeze – Three open faculty positions in nursing, natural sciences, and English/communications will not be filled during the hiring freeze. If the college’s financial outlook should become more favorable throughout the year, however, these positions could be re-examined for reopening job searches.

Tuition Increase and Reserve Funds

• The budget includes a 2.6% or $5 per credit hour tuition increase for FY21. The college has worked hard to remain in the lower quartile of two-year peer colleges in terms of its tuition level and even with the current proposed tuition increase, it will remain in that position.
• To balance the budget, we will also utilize reserves from COTC’s tuition stabilization fund.

Compensation
Even in a challenging year, COTC recognizes that its investment in human resources is at the base of the institution’s success. To that end, an increase in compensation has been included in this baseline budget. However, please understand that once the level of cuts to SSI are defined, the college may need to revisit the viability of this investment as a way to address any budget shortfall.

CARES Act Funding
COTC will receive $1,660,000.00 in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding. Half will be distributed as emergency grant funding directly to students impacted by COVID-19. COTC will be able to use the other 50% institutionally for general campus relief, with some restrictions.

Programmatic Review
Additionally, prior to COVID-19, the college had already begun a strategic review of all academic programs to ensure relevance, effectiveness and viability. The financial effects of the pandemic, however, expedited the timeline to address previously identified programmatic inefficiencies. While these decisions do not hold an immediate impact on the budget, they are integral to the long-term health and viability of the college. All academic programs will continue to be evaluated on a regular basis to ensure that they are meeting the needs of the communities we serve and the mission and vision of the college.

Therefore, after thorough consideration and extensive review, I must sadly announce the discontinuance of the culinary science technology associate degree and certificate programs and the full-time faculty position supporting these programs. Students currently enrolled in these programs will be notified individually and will be given the ability to finish their studies per the policies and regulations of COTC and the Higher Learning Commission. Effective immediately, COTC will no longer accept new students into these programs.

Further, acting upon direct input from our industry partners, COTC is undertaking a comprehensive reorganization of our engineering technology programs. This process, which likely will take a year to implement, will strategically move COTC away from specialized engineering programs toward a more general engineering associate degree offering more broadly sought job skills and transferability. This restructuring, which has been strongly recommended by area industries for some time and which will better align our academic programming with local workforce needs, will result in the elimination of two full-time faculty positions.

My colleagues, these are very hard decisions.

However, we must confront the fact of falling revenue. It is imperative we also address the long-term need for operational efficiency and program sustainability. As always, supporting COTC’s mission and commitment to educational access were driving factors in all budget considerations, as is our commitment to financial sustainability in honoring our role as stewards of the public trust through efficient and effective use of our resources.

I thank you for your time in reading this lengthy communication. My goal is to be as open and transparent as possible during this critical time in the life of the college, and I welcome your questions and concerns. As always, I thank you for your continued hard work and dedication to COTC.

We are faced with unprecedented uncertainty. I believe that together we will emerge a more resilient and stronger institution.

Stay well,

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

May 15, 2020

Campus colleagues:

I hope that you have experienced an outstanding start to the summer semester, and I want to thank you again for all that you do each day for our students. You truly embody COTC’s “We’re Here for Our Students Promise,” in which we pledge to do everything in our power to ensure that our students’ educational paths are not adversely affected during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 First and foremost, the health and wellbeing of our students, faculty and staff remains our top priority, and as you know, COTC is continuing in remote instructional and student service formats as we start our summer semester. We have been able to reinstate, though, a very limited number of face-to-face instructional activities in programs where some on-campus instruction is essential due to regulatory or accreditation requirements (diagnostic medical sonography technology, nursing technology, radiologic science technology, and Peace Officer Basic Training). All activities will be conducted under very specific and highly controlled safety protocols. Decisions regarding any additional return to on-campus activities will be informed by the latest guidelines from the Ohio Department of Health, local health departments and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Further, to help alleviate some of the challenges brought about by the pandemic, COTC will continue to offer limited computer and Wi-Fi access for students at each of our campuses. All CDC guidelines regarding social distancing will continue to be imposed at these settings, with additional, regular cleanings scheduled and sanitizing supplies available for student use.

Also, I’m exceptionally pleased to share our very promising enrollment data for summer semester. That COTC could exceed our enrollment goals during this time of deep uncertainty is a testament to each of you. It is also strong evidence of the high confidence the public holds in our academic programs and to the exceptional services afforded to our students. Congratulations. A special thank you to our colleagues in enrollment, advising and academic affairs who worked exceptionally hard during the past weeks to help COTC realize its goals.

Enrollment data as of May 12, 2020

Total Enrollment	Headcount	HC Goal	Percent of HC Goal	FTE	FTE Goal	Percent of FTE Goal
Total	1393	1306	107%	702.2	648.8	108%

Additionally, congratulations are in order for this year’s Teaching Excellence Award recipients. Customarily these recipients are announced during the commencement ceremony, and I included the announcement in my video recognition of our spring graduates. These faculty members exemplify excellence and dedication to both their students and their profession. Congratulations to Kimberly Goudy, PhD, professor of business management technology, as the 2020 full-time Teaching Excellence Award recipient. In their nomination, a student wrote about Dr. Goudy: “Kimberly Goudy was one of my absolute favorite teachers! … During the more stressful times both personally and academically, she was always there to motivate me and remind me of how much of an asset I was to this process. Kimberly is the most kind, caring, and passionate instructor I have ever crossed paths with. Her passion and drive to lead and help others goes well beyond this structured learning platform, and I’ve been a witness to that. She is more than deserving of this award.”

Congratulations also to Pamela Kirst, MA, English and composition faculty member, as the part-time Teaching Excellence Award recipient. “She makes you leave class with a sense of pride and motivation to continue on,” wrote one of her nominators. “Her class was the biggest class I’ve taken so far with over 15 people and she made everyone feel like family. She knew everyone’s name and made sure of it. She encouraged peer involvement and had everyone making friends the first day. Her class is full of laughter and long lasting knowledge that you don’t forget. I plan on taking another of her classes this summer.”

As I conclude this week’s message, I also want to urge each of you to continue taking good care of yourselves and each other. As the state of Ohio continues to lift stay-at-home directives for some employers and businesses, use an abundance of caution and discretion when traveling, and keep abreast of accurate information and developments of the virus by visiting the CDC and the Ohio Department of Health websites.

I thank you again. Keep up your great work!

Stay Healthy. Stay Helpful. Stay Hopeful.

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

May 8, 2020

Campus Colleagues:

I have always found the approach of each new semester to be a particularly hopeful and exciting time. It’s not only the occasion for our students to begin enlivening, new academic pursuits, but it also offers the opportunity for each of us to approach our work and goals with renewed optimism and determination.

As you know, our summer semester will begin on Monday with a continuation of our remote formats. In a departure from previous practice, however, class registration will close on May 11, the first day of the semester. There will be no late registrations. Especially given the ongoing crisis, an important element for student success will be ensuring that students are registered and starting classes without delay. My weekly student message reiterated this deadline, as well as included another reminder about the important availability of CARES Act and COTC scholarship funding.

Also, some important and promising news to share is that summer enrollment is currently trending stronger than we had originally feared. This is a very hopeful sign, and we will report more on enrollment numbers as they are finalized in the coming weeks.

As we prepare for the beginning of summer semester, I’d like to share with you the sage words of the inspirational Helen Keller, who said, “A bend in the road is not the end of the road … unless you fail to make the turn.”

COTC’s road will continue to bend with the ongoing crisis. To successfully negotiate any needed “turns,” however, I have every confidence in our ability to work together, to support each other and most importantly, to support our students.

I hope that you are finding time to refresh in body, mind and spirit as we all cope with the many uncertainties of this exceptional time.

Stay Healthy. Stay Helpful. Stay Hopeful.

 John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

May 6, 2020

COTC faculty and staff,

Due to the continuing pandemic, we were sadly unable to hold our traditional commencement ceremony on May 1. Still, the college is committed to celebrating with our spring semester graduates in person when it is safe to gather in large groups. It is our hope that we can hold and invite them to our next scheduled commencement ceremony in December. Details regarding a future in-person ceremony will be shared with you as our understanding of the coronavirus pandemic and its multifarious impact improves. Graduates can expect to receive their diplomas in the mail in the coming weeks. For now, we are preparing a virtual recognition to acknowledge and congratulate the spring semester class of 2020. This will be online and on social media soon.

Thank you for finding a way to assist our graduates in achieving their goals. This is an important milestone for our graduates, for our college and for all of you.

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

May 4, 2020

Campus colleagues:

First, let me reiterate what I mentioned in my video message of last Friday – congratulations! It has been a long and arduous journey to reach the end of spring semester. But through it all I have never been more proud of a college community. I send my utmost thanks to each and every one of you for your determination and resilience on behalf of our students. Congratulations and thank you on a job well done.

CARES Act Emergency Grant Funding and Scholarships Available
As we continue to realize the full effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, however, we understand that many current and prospective students are struggling with issues never previously imagined. The funding opportunities linked below have been shared with our students, but I ask you to take special note and share with any students needing support.

Using funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, COTC is able to provide financial support in the form of emergency grant funding to our students impacted by COVID-19. Also, COTC is in the enviable position of being able to offer more than $1 million dollars in scholarships to continuing and new students.

Summer Semester and Phased Plan for Campus Re-Engagement
As you know, the summer semester will begin on May 11 with a continuation of our remote delivery formats. On behalf of our students, I ask that you continue the exceptional teaching, service and resourcefulness you have demonstrated so superbly during this crisis. Also, I urge you to not hesitate to reach out to department leadership or myself regarding any rising challenges or systemic issues as the semester progresses.

I also appreciate that all of you are anxious to know any details regarding a phased return to campus. While I understand that it may be frustrating to hear no definitive news at this time, I do want you to know that I have been in active discussion for several weeks regarding the many aspects of how daily interactions will change upon any return to campus. The Ohio Association of Community Colleges (OACC), with input from member colleges and the Chancellor of Higher Education, is currently finalizing a statewide plan to provide consistency and guidance for Ohio’s two-year college’s to return to on-campus operations. I anticipate the plan to be finalized and presented to the governor’s office in the very near future.

With Gov. Mike DeWine’s announcement extending the stay safe order until May 29, however, please know that community colleges will not be imminently resuming on-campus operations. Instead, we will move cautiously and carefully to ensure that the identified strategies, which are highly informed by the latest guidelines from the Ohio Department of Health, local health departments and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, can be faithfully executed. Each institution will move at a different pace toward inviting faculty, staff and students back to campus. In addition, while protecting the health and safety of the college community will be the top priority during this time, colleges will also remain focused on the ultimate success of our student’s academic goals.

Financial Future
My final information to share regards COTC’s financial future. While we have already seen other state institutions in Ohio announce budget cuts, each college’s full financial effect from COVID-19 will be felt individually. As a result of the pandemic, the state has indicated the possibility of a 20% reduction to state agencies with an almost certain cut to higher education connected to continuous review of state income sources. This reduction in state share of instruction funding comes on the heels of an $800,000 deficit COTC must overcome from previous enrollment patterns from the 2019-2020 fiscal year.

Several factors will be key to COTC’s budget considerations and any possible adjustments:

1. Amount of reduction in state share of instruction funding.
2. Final enrollment data for summer semester and projected enrollment numbers for autumn semester.
3. Utilization of COTC budgetary reserves to help offset a deficit.

Together, these three key areas, which as yet contain some unknowns, will inform our budget decisions. While waiting for a full assessment of COTC’s financial outlook, David Brillhart, COTC vice president for business and finance, is currently creating several budgetary contingency plans which include a range of scenarios.

My friends and colleagues, there will be difficult decisions to be made in the coming months. We know there will be hardship ahead, and that COTC will be affected. My goal is to maintain the standard of excellence COTC has always continued to offer. Together, we will move ahead with a singular focus of providing access to exceptional educational opportunities for our communities.

I promise continued updates as more information is available.

Take Care. Stay Healthy. Stay Helpful. Stay Hopeful.

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

May 1, 2020

 

April 24, 2020

Campus colleagues,

As this extraordinary semester ends, I hope that you are well and continuing to take good care of yourselves and family members.

I certainly understand that this past month under the stay-at-home directive has brought challenges to us all. That is undeniable. Today, though, I want to briefly shift away from those challenges to focus on something else I’m experiencing through this pandemic – gratitude.

I am grateful for our healthcare workers, first responders and essential employees (many of whom who are COTC students, graduates and faculty members) working on the front lines in this fight. I’m grateful for our students – they have entrusted COTC to help them meet their educational and career goals. I’m grateful for their resilience through this difficult time and for their understanding as we implemented unexpected new processes and methods of delivery.

I am also grateful for you – COTC’s dedicated faculty and staff. You have demonstrated time and again through your courage, inventiveness, flexibility and perseverance the true heart and nature of COTC. You have not only risen to the occasion of adapting quickly to our new remote formats – you have exceeded the challenge!  Thank you all.

I’m also grateful for the incredible community support COTC has long enjoyed. This long-standing support enabled us to announce last week the availability of more than $1 million in scholarships for the coming academic year. Community members who have lost their jobs or are facing financial challenges or hardships due to COVID-19 can get financial help through these scholarship dollars for career training from COTC. Scholarships are available to help new students, those transferring from another institution and continuing students, with a special allocation specifically for displaced workers impacted by the pandemic. These scholarships combined with other forms of financial aid can be used for tuition and books as well as living expenses – a critical and much needed differentiating point for our students. Please note that the funds which support the scholarship process were specifically designated for that purpose and cannot be transferred to support our basic operational needs.

We are broadly pushing this message to our communities through both paid advertising and earned media. During the past week I’ve had the opportunity to share this announcement on radio outlets in Coshocton, Mount Vernon, Newark and Columbus, as well as NCB4 TV in Columbus. And I encourage each of you to also share this good news with any who may want to take advantage of this opportunity. 

Additionally, COTC will soon have access to federal funds relating to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. One intention of this act is to provide college students with emergency grants to help cover expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus including food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child-care expenses. More information regarding the CARES Act funding will be shared with our students very soon.

Finally, I want to share that we are working directly with the Ohio Association of Community Colleges and the Chancellor of Higher Education to prepare a phased plan for re-engagement with our campuses. We are working to present a systemic, methodical and gradual reopening process for consideration by the Governor. We will keep you all posted as this process progresses. Please know that the most important theme in this proposal will always remain the health and safety of all our constituents.

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have questions or concerns as we continue to navigate this evolving situation together. Thank you again for your outstanding work and dedication to our students.

And as this very long and challenging month of April finally comes to a close, I am indeed finding much for which I can be grateful.

Stay well and stay safe,

We are In This Together Ohio.

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

April 17, 2020

 

April 2, 2020

 

March 26, 2020

Now that we have almost completed our first week of fully remote services, I want to thank each of you for your patience and persistence during this extraordinary time. I hope you have taken the opportunity to read and review the various messages regarding steps we have taken in response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19). If not, I encourage you to visit our website where you can find the messages, along with other relevant and up-to-date information.

My sincere thanks to the dedicated people from state government to our respective Licking, Knox and Coshocton counties who have been working tirelessly as we monitor this public health crisis and developing plans for our campus. Our efforts are being done with the highest regard for the greater good of the Central Ohio Technical College community as well as the people who live in the surrounding region and are also affected by this dangerous virus.

The announcements we have rendered thus far are the first of many as we address a constantly changing situation involving significant uncertainty ahead. I am sure many of you have questions and, quite frankly, there are some that we are still contemplating as the situation unfolds. Nonetheless, we will do our best to make decisions and keep the community apprised.

For the moment, however, I would like to simply take pause from the planning and logistics, and provide some thoughts on the current global crisis, our campus situation, and the impact it is having on each of us in a personal and emotional way.

Certainly the COTC community — along with other communities across the nation and the globe — is confronting some very serious challenges. I understand that the never-ending stream of disturbing news, cancellations, and changes to life as we know it weigh heavily on many of us. Indeed, the next few weeks, perhaps months, may be unlike anything we have experienced in our lifetime.

At the same time, I am confident that together we will reach the other side of this crisis and that campus life will return to normal. The preventative measures being taken by organizations such as cities, colleges, and sports leagues are critical to confronting this health emergency. At this point, as medical experts work toward positive solutions — which I am confident they will — the best course of action in defeating this outbreak is to undertake aggressive public measures to slow the spread of the virus and to protect our health system from undue burden.

To our students, especially those who participate in hands-on learning experiences, clinicals, internships, and many other activities that cannot be conducted online, I know the safety measures we and our partnering organizations have taken may be deeply disappointing. You have worked extraordinarily hard to engage in these opportunities, and I regret that this period of your college experience is subject to such uncertainty. As a parent and as your president, I wish I could prevent this. But my highest priority is to keep you safe. My commitment to each of you is that we will do everything in our power to keep you moving forward to your goal of academic achievement.

To our faculty and staff, I want to thank you for your support, flexibility and willingness to roll up your sleeves as we do our absolute best on behalf of our students. I recognize that you are doing the great work of the college in pursuit of our educational mission and the well-being of our students, all while you may be experiencing your own anxiety and uncertainty. I consider myself fortunate to be working alongside you through this challenge and can’t imagine a group of academic professionals better positioned for success. I am committed to ensuring the college does everything it can to provide support to you and your families.

I ask all of you for your understanding as our plans evolve and change. We have caring and talented people assessing the appropriate course of action for Central Ohio Technical College, but I recognize that our plans may have unexpected ramifications and unintended consequences. I can assure you that while we do not have perfect vision of the manner in which this crisis will be resolved or when our campus life will return to normal, we are doing our absolute best to ensure the well-being of our campus and greater community. I ask for your patience and, as always, appreciate your support.

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

March 23, 2020

Dear Central Ohio Technical College Community:

Like many governments and institutions, to formalize some of the modifications Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) has made in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19), I am today declaring a college state of emergency. This declaration is pursuant to COTC’s Short-Term Closing and State of Emergency Policy (policy 2.6.21). This declaration provides context for college leadership to ensure continuity of services to students and the public during extreme conditions and make a variety of financial decisions over an extended period of time. The emergency designation will be reviewed on a weekly basis as circumstances evolve.

COTC remains open with a number of restrictions that have already been announced.

The weeks ahead will be challenging, and I am certain of this community’s strength and resilience.

COTC remains committed to ensuring the health and welfare of all faculty, staff and students. As we begin offering all face-to-face college services remotely this week, I want to thank our faculty and staff again for your hard work, dedication and creativity in working through the unprecedented challenges brought about by the worldwide spread of COVID-19. You have demonstrated time and again over the past weeks your commitment to delivering our educational mission.

Stay well.

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

March 23, 2020

To all students, faculty and staff,

The Newark campus bookstore, which is operated by Barnes & Noble, will close effective tomorrow March 24, 2020, with a tentative plan to re-open on Monday, April 6, 2020. This closure is to comply with Gov. Mike DeWine’s stay-at-home directive.

Full details are still developing and we encourage all students, faculty and staff to visit the Newark campus bookstore webpage, which will be updated with information regarding rentals and other specifics as soon as additional information is available.

Questions can be directed to Barnes & Noble customer service.

John M. Berry, PhD
President, Central Ohio Technical College

William L. MacDonald, PhD
Dean/Director, The Ohio State University at Newark

 

March 22, 2020

Dear faculty and staff,

As you may know, Gov. Mike DeWine announced a stay-at-home Public Health Directive for all Ohioans effective at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, March 23. The health and wellbeing of our faculty, staff and students continues to be our highest priority, and the measures we announced last Friday, March 20, restricting all Ohio State and Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) employees to work from home except those performing some limited essential operations have already brought both institutions into compliance with the governor’s new stay-at-home directive. As outlined in our message of March 20, only those employees who received approval from the offices of the president or dean/director, or Brian Boehmer, director of facilities, are permitted to work on campus. These individuals are limited to our critical and most basic operations and support for animals involved in research or instruction.

As the governor said, “what we do now will slow this invader,” and we must all do our part to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. We ask that each of you adhere to the governor’s and Ohio Department of Health’s stay-at-home directive while working remotely.

The Public Health Directive will last at least until April 6 and limits members of the public to leaving home for only essential activities, including: health and safety, obtaining necessary supplies and services, outdoor activities, certain types of essential work, and to take care of others. Read the Public Health Directive and stay-at-home FAQs here.

The guidance comes after substantial input from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Ohio Department of Health and from international health experts.

What to do if you have been exposed to COVID-19 or are ill

Should any Ohio State Newark or COTC employee be exposed to or contract coronavirus (COVID-19), please connect with John Ralston, director of human resources. Ohio State employees should also call the Wexner Medical Center’s COVID-19 call center at 614.293.4000 for guidance on what you should do. Please do not call this line for general coronavirus information.

If you are experiencing symptoms of respiratory illness consistent with coronavirus, have been exposed to an individual with coronavirus or have been diagnosed with the virus, you should contact your primary care physician. If you are unable to reach your primary care physician, Ohio State employees should call the Wexner Medical Center’s COVID-19 call center 614.293.4000 for guidance. COTC employees who are unable to reach their primary care physician should contact the Ohio Department of Health coronavirus hotline at 833.427.5634.

Please remember

Social distancing is scientifically proven to be one of the most effective methods to slow the transmission of communicable disease, such as COVID-19.

• Keep a distance of at least six feet away from another person
• Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
• Refrain from touching your face
• Use hand sanitizer
• Covering coughs or sneezes (into the sleeve or elbow, not hands)
• Regularly cleaning high-touch surfaces, and not shaking hands

We thank you again for all that each of you are doing to support our students and each other during this extraordinary time.

John M. Berry, PhD
President, Central Ohio Technical College

William L. MacDonald, PhD
Dean/Director, The Ohio State University at Newark

 

March 20, 2020

Dear faculty and staff,

First and foremost, the health and well being of our faculty, staff and students remains our top priority. To that end, The Ohio State University and Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) will take the following steps to reduce spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

Ohio State is requiring all employees who can do so to work from home and restricting services to those that are critical to our most basic operations. At the Newark campus, those services include law enforcement and public safety, limited food and residential services for students who remain in our residence halls, management of utilities, support for our buildings (including research and instructional labs), and support for animals involved in research or instruction.

Brian Boehmer, director of facilities, will be communicating with our facilities and public safety staff regarding working from campus or from home. A small number of Ohio State faculty and staff who must conduct work on campus to ensure the safety and maintenance of research and/or instructional labs or support animals involved in research or instruction will be contacted today by Bill MacDonald, dean/director.

All other Ohio State faculty and staff and cost-shared staff who are paid by Ohio State must work from home. Cost-shared staff who are paid by COTC will have received information from the Office of the President if they are approved to work on campus. All other COTC employees must work from home.

If it is not critical for you to be on campus but your duties can’t be completed through teleworking, please contact John Ralston, who will work with you to determine next steps. If you don’t have the resources to telework and you are paid by Ohio State, please visit keepworking.osu.edu. If you are paid by COTC, please contact Jeff Crabtree.

We thank you for your continued patience, creativity and collaborative spirit during this unprecedented situation.

John M. Berry, PhD
President, Central Ohio Technical College

William L. MacDonald, PhD
Dean/Director, The Ohio State University at Newark

 

 

March 13, 2020

Members of the Central Ohio Technical College Community:

Thank you for your continued cooperation and collaboration related to the coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19). Today, I announce additional measures in our response to reduce the potential spread of the virus, and to help ensure that our faculty, staff and students have time to prepare for Governor Mike DeWine’s announcement regarding the temporary closing of all K-12 institutions in the state. We know that adapting to these new circumstances will require planning and patience throughout our community.

March 16 – 20 Most Classes (face to face, online, labs) are Canceled
COTC is canceling most face-to-face classes, all online classes, and all lab sections at all four of our campus locations (Newark, Coshocton, Knox and Pataskala) for the week of Monday, March 16, through Friday, March 20.

Exceptions:

• All nursing clinical experiences
• Peace Officer Basic Training classes

Please note that all clinicals in COTC’s nursing programs as well as COTC’s Peace Officer Basic Training classes will continue as scheduled during this time. All other healthcare clinicals and all COTC practicums and internships are canceled for the week of March 16-20.

COTC classes offered at other locations will operate according to each individual institution’s schedule during this time. This includes classes held at:

• C-TEC
• Ohio Fire Academy
• Knox Technical Center
• Area high schools

Students should check with their respective provider to determine their schedule if they have classes at any of the above locations.

March 23-27

COTC will transition all face-to-face classes and most labs to a remote method of instruction, which will remain in effect indefinitely.

 Please note, the college is not closed, and we do not intend to do so at this time. Students who are symptom free are welcome to continue to utilize the campus library, computer labs and common areas. In addition, students are free to access their college’s wi-fi network when on campus. The Gateway office will remain open and available to assist current students, prospective students and their families who are symptom free. The Gateway will provide alternative options for students who would like to access Gateway services virtually. While services and amenities may be limited on campus, we remain committed to providing quality teaching and learning and exceptional customer service.

While social distancing is just one of the ways to help minimize the spread of COVID-19, you are strongly encouraged to continue practicing good hygiene, take care of your health, use an abundance of caution and discretion when traveling, and keep abreast of accurate information and developments of the virus by visiting the Centers for Disease Control website. The College will also continue with its enhanced cleaning standards, providing disinfecting wipes for offices and laboratories, and maintaining hand sanitizer stations throughout campus.

The safety of our campus community is our top priority and while these measures will create disruption, I call on all members of our college community to respond to this extraordinary circumstance with patience, kindness and resilience. Thank you for your efforts to provide a safe environment for all our campus community.

All official communication regarding the college’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak will be communicated from the Office of the President. Find all communications as well as health and hygiene links on the college’s coronavirus web page u.cotc.edu/covid19updates.

Sincerely,

John M. Berry, PhD
President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

March 11, 2020

Members of the Central Ohio Technical College Community:

We have been closely monitoring the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and continue to align our procedures to follow the guidelines from local, state and federal officials, and medical experts.

I convened a meeting of the college’s senior leadership to formalize the college’s preparations and response. While there are no college-associated cases of COVID-19 and the risk of local transmission is low, Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) will follow Governor Mike DeWine’s recommendations to take immediate action to minimize the risk of exposure and slow the spread of this virus in our communities.

COTC is canceling most face-to-face classes and lab sections at all four of our campus locations (Newark, Coshocton, Knox and Pataskala) upon the return from spring break, Monday and Tuesday, March 16 and 17, to allow our faculty time to prepare for remote methods of instruction. However, during these two days, healthcare clinicals, COTC Peace Officer Basic Training classes, as well as COTC classes held at C-TEC, the Ohio Fire Academy, Knox Technical Center, area high schools and online will operate normally.

Effective Wednesday, March 18, COTC will move all face-to-face instruction to a remote instructional format. Practicums, internships, most laboratory experiences, healthcare clinicals, COTC Peace Officer Basic Training classes, COTC classes held at C-TEC, the Ohio Fire Academy, Knox Technical Center, area high schools and online will continue as scheduled, though extra measures to minimize group settings will be reevaluated on an ongoing basis. Social distancing and enhanced preventative public health and hygiene measures are actively encouraged.

These decisions will remain in effect indefinitely and be reevaluated on an ongoing basis based upon recommendations from health and government officials regarding the health and safety of our communities. We will share updates and modifications as more information is available.

During this time, all of our campus locations will remain open for regular business hours. Staff members are expected to report to work during their regularly scheduled work hours. Additional information for faculty and students will be forthcoming. Recommendations regarding college events, student support services, business travel and other college services will also be forthcoming.

This situation is evolving rapidly. Please be aware that these guidelines and policies may change. I encourage you to check the CDC website and the Ohio Department of Health website regularly for up-to-date information.

The safety of our campus community is our top priority, and while these measures will create disruption I call on all members of our college community to respond to this extraordinary circumstance with patience, kindness and resilience. Thank you for your efforts to provide a safe environment for all of our campus community.

Sincerely,

John M. Berry, PhD

President
Central Ohio Technical College

 

March 4, 2020

I write to provide an update related to the coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19). There are still no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ohio. One person in Ohio is currently under investigation for the virus with lab results pending. To date, seven persons in Ohio have been tested with negative results, and the state continues to be considered a low risk area. However, we are continuing to monitor the guidelines and recommendations from local, state and federal officials during this quickly evolving situation.

With spring break approaching, I want to remind everyone in our COTC community to continue good hygiene practices wherever you may be. We should all take a proactive approach to campus and general health.

• Get a flu shot immediately if you have not received one.
• Follow recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to avoid all nonessential travel, which currently includes travel to China, Iran, South Korea and Italy. There are currently no travel restrictions within the continental United States. Please continue to monitor the CDC website for the most up-to-date information on travel advisories associated with COVID-19.
• Implement the personal prevention protection methods used to prevent flu and other infectious disease.
  • Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
  • Dry hands with a clean towel or air dry hands.
  • Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water are unavailable.
  • Cover your mouth with a tissue or sleeve when sneezing or coughing.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Avoid contact with people who are sick.

I encourage you to check the CDC web site and the Ohio Department of Health web site regularly for up-to-date information.

We will continue to stay in close contact with government and local healthcare officials and provide updates as the landscape regarding this outbreak evolves.