• March 17, 2020

    Good Afternoon BCCC Faculty and Staff:

    I wanted to start by expressing my sincere gratitude to each of you during this challenging and concerning period.  The support that you have shown one another is truly inspiring.  I especially would like to thank the faculty for completing the online instructional training over the last couple days.  You all showed up with true academic force and prepared to “go above and beyond”.

    Yesterday and today, Governor Larry Hogan announced the latest in a series of unprecedented actions to further combat the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) for the State of Maryland, ranging from postponing the primary election, reducing MARC and MTA service, restaurant and gym closures and expanding hospital capacity.  Many of our students and employees rely on public transportation. 

    Without question, a lot is happening very quickly – at BCCC and all around us.  News is coming in at an extraordinarily fast pace and ongoing disruption has become our norm, at least for the foreseeable future.  If you find yourself feeling anxious and outside of your comfort zone, you are not alone.

    While these are drastic changes for all of us, they are even more so for our students.  In addition to having to adjust to online classes, students are having to do so without the daily in-person support from many of you.  As well, many of you will miss the daily close collaboration and camaraderie that you enjoy with your peers.

    Baltimore City Community College is actively working to limit the spread of COVID-19 and are taking the following new actions:

    • Effective Wednesday, March 18, BCCC is transitioning to Teleworking. Nearly all faculty and staff will be expected to work remotely.  Faculty are still permitted to come to campus to teach online courses.
    • Effective Wednesday, March 18, the Campus is closed to all students and all labs are suspended. 
    • Effective Wednesday, March 18, The Clarence W. Blount Child Development Center is closed.
    • Courses will be taught exclusively online via the Canvas system beginning Wednesday, March 18 through Saturday, March 28 (Vice President Jones will continue to work with the respective faculties).
    • Spring Break has been rescheduled to March 30-April 5 from April 6-12. Only authorized employees will be permitted on Campus during Spring Break.

    Telework

    Faculty will have the option to teach remotely or from their offices.  Please see the previously provided Faculty Resource Guide for additional information on remote teaching.

    A select number of employees, due to their job duties, will need to physically report to Campus to fulfill essential tasks.  These employees will be contacted by their Supervisor and will receive written notification.

    Normally, Telework may not be used to supplement or supplant childcare.  During this period of Telework, there will be flexibility to allow employees to Telework while also having children or other individuals at home who may require their care and attention.

    Employees must be accessible to their Supervisor by telephone and email during your normal work hours or individually agreed upon flexible hours.  While Teleworking, you are bound by all applicable State personnel laws, regulations, policies and procedures.

    IT Remote Work Resource Guide

    The Office of Information Technology Services (ITS) has prepared a “Remote Work” resource guide.  This guide will assist employees with the essentials they need to continue to perform most of their job-related tasks while working remotely and includes: Call Forwarding, Skype for Business, Email, Microsoft Office, VPN and Remote Desktop (per Cabinet approval), with the only requirement of having a Windows or Mac computer, and access to the internet. The guide can be accessed by clicking on the following link: https://www.bccc.edu/remoteworkresourceguide.  For additional assistance or support, please contact the help desk at helpdesk@bccc.edu.

    Payroll and Leave

    During the next two pay periods for full-time employees (March 11 – March 24, 2020 and March 25 – April 7, 2020) and contractual/adjuncts (March 15 – March 28, 2020 and March 29 – April 11, 2020), Human Resources will manage all payroll time and processing and you will receive pay as normal.  Therefore, you will not need to submit your time into MD Time during these two periods.  Employees who are designated as “essential” are eligible to receive essential personnel pay.

    Unless leave has been approved, you may perform only official duties and are asked to refrain from conducting personal business while teleworking.

    All normal policies associated with leave usage remain in place.  If you are unable to work, you must request and be approved for leave.  If you become sick while teleworking and your illness prevents you from working, you must use leave.  If you become sick, but you wish to work, you may continue to do so while teleworking to the extent that you are able to.

    Supervisors of student workers who are normally required to report and submit their work hours bi-weekly via web time-entry (time sheets) should report work hours as they were scheduled for this period – regardless of the student workers presence at the worksite and/or the number of hours worked remotely.

    Please know that everyone is doing their best to safeguard the health of our students, employees and community during this public health emergency.  It is critical that all BCCC employees and students stay informed: continue to monitor your email regularly, follow the College’s social media accounts, and refer to BCCC’s webpage for COVID-19 communications, resources and updates at www.bccc.edu/coronavirus.  We will continue to reassess conditions and provide updates to the BCCC community.

    Stay well and safe!

    Debra L. McCurdy, PhD

    President