Coronavirus Update

8/16/22 - Updated COVID-19 Guidance for All Campuses

We hope that you had a relaxing summer. As we look ahead to the start of the fall semester, we want to provide some important updates about the College’s evolving response to COVID-19.

Delaware Tech has complied with the recommendations of the Delaware Department of Public Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) throughout the COVID-19 pandemic in furtherance of our commitment to provide a safe and healthy learning and work environment for our students, staff, and visitors, and we will continue to do so.

In accordance with the new guidelines issued by the CDC on Thursday, the College has revised its COVID19 policies as follows:

• Individuals who have been exposed to COVID-19 are no longer required to quarantine.
• Individuals who are exposed to COVID-19 will instead be required to wear a high-quality mask for 10 days from the date of exposure and get tested on day five.
• Individuals who are sick and suspect that they have COVID-19 are required to isolate until they have been tested and receive the test results, regardless of vaccination status.
  • Individuals who test positive must follow the CDC’s full isolation recommendations.
  • Individuals who test negative may end isolation.
  • FDA approved at-home Covid-19 diagnostic tests may be used. Free at-home COVID-19 tests can be ordered.
• Face coverings are recommended while indoors in areas where the CDC has designated the COVID-19 Community Level as high, but are not required.
• Reporting of positive cases and contact tracing will no longer take place.

COVID-19 vaccinations are still required for all students and clinical instructors in nursing, allied health, and study away/study abroad programs unless a medical or religious exemption is approved by the clinical site.

As always, please stay home and get tested if you are experiencing symptoms suggestive of COVID-19. The College will continue to offer free COVID-19 testing in our campus wellness centers for students and staff. All members of the College community are encouraged to get vaccinated and boosted when eligible.

Each of us has a responsibility to protect ourselves and others. All students, staff, and visitors should take personal responsibility to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 by assessing the individual risk of attending large and/or crowded gatherings, considering face coverings in public, staying up to date on vaccinations, and getting tested when you are sick.

3/01/22 - Vaccine Mandate Lifted

As we have done from the beginning of the pandemic, we continue to make operational decisions based on COVID data and in compliance with Governor Carney’s directives and CDC guidelines. In light of the Governor’s announcement yesterday, the recent updated CDC guidelines, and a significant decline in regional COVID rates, Delaware Tech will also remove all masking, testing, and vaccine requirements for our employees and students effective March 2. The most recent directives regarding self-screening, isolation, and quarantine remain in effect until further notice.

Even though the College is not requiring vaccinations for the general student population, a vaccination may be required by assigned clinical placement settings for nursing and allied health students into the future.

As we have said through the course of these past two years, every decision we have made has been in the best interest of our students, employees, and the entire College community. Although no longer required, vaccines, masks, and distancing remain effective health strategies to combat the spread of the virus in the months ahead.

We will continue to monitor health data and state and federal guidelines to manage the pandemic moving forward, always keeping the health and safety of our College community as our top priority.

2/22/22 - COVID-19 Vaccine Policy Revision

In response to students who have expressed their intent to participate in College programs exclusively online, Delaware Tech has modified the student vaccine policy implemented last month. Students who exclusively enroll in programs or classes during the summer and fall 2022 semesters that are offered completely online and who confirm that they will not access on-campus student services are exempt from the COVID-19 Immunization Policy Directive dated Jan. 21, 2022.

This policy revision applies to all students enrolling in credit or non-credit programs/classes offered by the College, participants in virtual camps, and high school students who participate in online programs/classes offered by the College. High school students participating in Delaware Tech programs/classes conducted off campus are not subject to the College’s interim COVID-19 immunization policy.

Students who are exempt from the COVID-19 vaccination requirement based on their online status must provide written certification of their agreement to the terms and limitations of this policy as a condition to enrolling in summer or fall 2022 programs/classes. Again, these students may not access campus-based student services or resources during the summer and fall semesters. Students who violate this policy will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal from the College.

1/26/22 - Campus Vaccinations

Acme Pharmacy will be on all Delaware Tech campuses to administer the first, second, and booster doses of the Pfizer COVID vaccine, and you are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity if you are not already up to date on your vaccines. There is no charge.

Making an appointment is easy. Just choose the campus of your choice and click on one of the dose options beneath the dates and times for each campus.

Please complete this form, print it, and bring it with you to the event, along with your insurance card and driver's license. Copies of the form will also be available at the vaccination events if needed.

Please wear clothing with easy access to the upper part of the arm to expedite the immunization process. Pharmacists will administer the vaccine and can answer any questions you may have. In keeping with CDC guidelines, everyone must wait 15 minutes after the immunization before leaving campus to make sure there are no immediate reactions to the vaccine. Those who have previously had a severe reaction to any food, medication, or immunization will have to wait for 30 minutes.

Please remember to wear a mask upon entering all campus buildings.

1/21/22 - Vaccination Policy Update

As a result of the recent holiday surge, Delaware has experienced record-high COVID incidence and hospitalization rates, crippling our health care systems statewide. Last week, four of our health care systems announced that they are operating under Crisis Standards of Care protocols because they are “stretched beyond capacity.” For these reasons, the College will require vaccinations for all students registering for summer and fall classes. This new policy (PDF) will require students to have proof of vaccination to register for summer courses beginning on March 30, and the same will apply to students registering for the fall semester beginning on April 20 (this also applies to priority of service registrations for veterans and athletes, which begin on March 28 and April 18).

The vaccination requirement also will apply to all workforce training courses and any members of the public who come to our campuses for events, beginning on May 1. This would include parents attending new student orientations, registrants for personal interest courses, and members of the public attending meetings and conferences. Additional information about how to prove vaccination status will be shared soon, so stay tuned.

State and national health experts continue to advise that vaccinations are our best defense against severe illness and death from COVID-19. According to state officials, about 70 percent of those hospitalized with COVID in Delaware are unvaccinated and 90 percent have not received their booster shot. The new vaccination policy will not only help to protect the health and safety of our College community, but it also will help to alleviate the incredible strain on our hospital systems.

Our College has had a vaccination policy in place for employees since
September 30, 2021. Since then, all Delaware Tech employees have been required to provide proof of COVID vaccination or weekly proof of a negative COVID test to gain access to campus facilities.

With record-high case numbers and the highly transmissible omicron variant, we had to take action to implement the most effective means necessary to protect the health and safety of our faculty, staff, students, and community stakeholders. Not only is this a top priority for us as we adhere to our mission of putting students at the center of everything we do, but it is also our duty and responsibility as a community partner.

1/05/22 - Spring 2022 Announcement

Dear Delaware Tech Community,

As we approach the start of the spring semester, our state and our nation are continuing to see record-high numbers of positive COVID cases. In addition, Delaware’s hospitalizations are at an all-time high, further stressing our health care system statewide. Because the health and safety of our College community remains our top priority, we have made the difficult decision to delay the start of our spring semester for two weeks. Classes will begin on Saturday, Jan. 22, and end on Saturday, May 14. This will move spring break to March 14-18, and our summer semester will begin on May 21. The academic calendar will be updated to reflect these changes.

To protect our College community, we will convert many spring semester classes originally planned in a hybrid or in-person format to be taught synchronously online. This means students will attend class virtually (via Zoom) on the originally scheduled days and times. A limited number of lab and skill-based courses will be conducted on campus as originally scheduled. They are in the following program areas—allied health, nursing, automotive/diesel, aviation, HVAC, engineering, upper-level science, culinary, applied agriculture, and English as a second language (ESL). The updated spring 2022 course schedule will be available by Friday, Jan. 7, when students can find their course format by checking their schedule at go.dtcc.edu/sisdashboard.

Our advising centers and student support staff are available virtually to help navigate these changes, and the College also will continue to provide targeted student support services (such as math and writing tutors, computer labs, etc.) on our campuses.

College employees will continue to work in a remote environment through the month of January with supervisors using alternative work schedules and flexible hours to meet critical operational needs and vital on-campus services. Please look for updates on this and other COVID-19-related matters through portal announcements and on our COVID webpage.

Like you, we are disappointed and frustrated that the current health crisis continues to disrupt college operations for our students and faculty. However, these schedule changes are the best way for us to preserve the spring semester and our academic year. As a community partner, we must do all we can to prevent further spread of this virus, which is why we made this decision to protect the health and safety of our students, their families, and our College employees.

As we continue to minimize the impact of COVID-19 on our community, please continue to practice social-distancing, wear face-coverings in public spaces, and wash your hands frequently to keep us all healthy. For those of you who have not yet been vaccinated, please do so. And for those who are already vaccinated, please get your booster shot as soon as you can.

Thank you,
Mark T. Brainard
President

12/31/21 - Important Employee Update Regarding COVID

In light of the increasing COVID-19 rates in our state and our community, College employees will return to work after the 2021-2022 holiday break in a remote format, during the week of January 3 – January 7, 2022. During this time, a decision will be made regarding the format of classes for the Spring 2022 semester, and a more detailed work schedule for employees will be determined and communicated next week.

By putting students at the center of everything we do, instructors and advisors are expected to work closely with our students next week to assist them with enrollment, advisement, and other student services needs through technology.

The only exceptions to this format will be for public safety, facilities, and child development staff, who will keep the campuses open in order to provide support for our most critical operational needs.

Please continue to check this Coronavirus Update Page and your personal college email account for updates in the days ahead. Stay healthy and safe in the New Year.

11/08/21 - UPDATE: Reminder about Delaware Tech’s Immunization Policy

Delaware Tech’s Immunization Policy is published in the College Catalog/Student Handbook. Please review carefully prior to enrolling in classes

While Delaware Tech does not currently require proof of vaccination for any students, many off-site facilities for internships, observations, and allied health and nursing clinicals are requiring vaccines including full vaccination for COVID-19. These off-campus experiences are required by the curriculum, accreditations, and state licensing authorities and must be successfully completed in order to graduate. The number of off-campus facilities requiring COVID-19 vaccination is continuing to increase, and the College cannot coordinate placement based on vaccination status.

Therefore, all nursing, allied health, and workforce development students in courses which require placement in a healthcare facility or office, must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to January 8, 2022 as a condition of enrollment. Although the College will provide religious and medical exemptions as a reasonable accommodation under the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, off-site facilities that require full COVID-19 vaccination may not provide accommodations for religious or medical exemptions. Information and instructions on submitting your vaccination card is forthcoming. This information will be communicated to you via your Delaware Tech email. 

In addition, students participating in Spring 2022 study away/study abroad programs must also be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of enrollment.

The full policy is available in the College Catalog/Student Handbook.

10/27/21 - Reminder about Delaware Tech’s Immunization Policy

Delaware Tech’s Immunization Policy is published in the College Catalog/Student Handbook. Please review carefully prior to enrolling in classes.

While Delaware Tech does not currently require proof of vaccination for any students, many off-site facilities for internships, observations, and allied health and nursing clinicals are requiring vaccines including full vaccination for COVID-19. These off-campus experiences are required by the curriculum, accreditations, and state licensing authorities and must be successfully completed in order to graduate. The number of off-campus facilities requiring COVID-19 vaccination is continuing to increase, and the College cannot coordinate placement based on vaccination status. Although the College will provide religious and medical exemptions as a reasonable accommodation under the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, off-site facilities that require full COVID-19 vaccination may not provide accommodations for religious or medical exemptions. Information and instructions on submitting your vaccination card is forthcoming. This information will be communicated to you via your Delaware Tech email.

Full policy is available in the College Catalog/Student Handbook.

8/2/21 - Mask Update

As both a state agency and an institution of higher education, we have adhered to both the State of Delaware’s requirements, as well as the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during the pandemic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have recommended face coverings be used indoors by everyone in areas of high or substantial transmission rates, including people who are fully vaccinated.

All three counties are now designated as areas with substantial transmission rates. As a result, face coverings are required to be worn by everyone while indoors at every Delaware Tech campus or facility until further notice in accordance with the COVID-19 directives issued on July 29.

4/29/21 - Employee Return-to-Work Reminder

The COVID-19 vaccine is widely available in Delaware, and all College employees who want and are medically permitted to do so have had ample opportunity to obtain a vaccination at one of our campus events or at other vaccination events/sites throughout the state. In support of the College’s decision to bring 50% of the fall 2021 courses back into an on-campus hybrid format, we want to remind everyone that their presence on campus during the fall semester will be required to provide in-person services to our students. As a result, employees should be making plans to work on campus.

If you haven’t already obtained a vaccination, we encourage you to do so. A working group has been appointed to consider employee and student vaccination requirements in order to return to campus. There will be more information forthcoming regarding this topic in the weeks ahead.

We are currently in the process of creating the fall schedule. Your supervisor will be in contact once that occurs to establish your work schedule in support of our preparations for the fall semester. As always, student success will be at the center of everything we do, and decisions regarding work schedules and course offerings will be made based upon the operational needs that support our students and the mission of the College.

Thank you for all you do to support our students, and stay healthy and safe in the weeks and months ahead.

4/14/21 - Fall Semester Update for Students

Dear Students,

As we continue to remain vigilant in the fight against COVID, we have been working to bring significantly more classes on campus for the fall semester. With continued precautions and vaccinations becoming more readily available, we are very pleased to announce that we will offer approximately 50% of our courses in a hybrid format this fall. This means classes will have meeting times live, in person and on campus with an instructor at least once a week. We will continue to offer the other half of our classes in a distance format. Please review important details about these course offerings and fall registration.

Distance classes
A variety of classes will remain in our current distance learning format. Please note that distance classes with published meeting times will have live video instruction on the designated days/times. Students may register for these classes beginning April 21.

Hybrid classes
We are currently finalizing a plan to offer more than 1,000 class sections in a hybrid format, which is a blend of on campus instruction and distance learning. These offerings will include classes with lab components, as well as general education classes that students typically take during their first semester. We are currently reviewing the on campus schedule to adhere to capacity limitations and social distancing requirements and ensure we have staggered schedules to minimize interactions and allow for proper cleaning between classes. To allow time for this careful planning, the schedule for these classes will be posted on May 16, and students may register for these classes beginning May 19.

Tips
Students who register for distance classes before May 19 will be able to change their schedule to on-campus offerings.

Most of the program classes for allied health, nursing, automotive, aviation, energy, engineering, culinary, and English as a second language (ESL) will be offered in a hybrid format. Most English, math, and science courses will be available in distance and hybrid options.

Most of the program classes for business, criminal justice, human services, paralegal, and education will be offered in a distance format.

3/31/21 - Delaware Tech Students Eligible for COVID-19 Vaccine Next Week

We were pleased to hear Gov. John Carney announce that all Delawareans 16 and over will be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine starting next week. That means that as of April 6, all of our students will be eligible to receive the vaccine from Delaware pharmacies and can register to be added to the state’s COVID-19 vaccination waiting list.

While it will still take some time for the majority of our state residents to become fully vaccinated (we are currently at just over 16 percent), this is encouraging news. We hope our students will take advantage of these vaccination opportunities as they become available.

However, this hopeful news does not mean we can let down our guard. As we said yesterday, COVID infection numbers are continuing to climb in Delaware and nationwide. New variants of the virus are also creating concern among state and national health experts because they are more easily transmissible and in some cases, more severe, than the original strain. This has created the potential for another surge of the virus, which means we need to continue to maintain social-distancing, wear masks in public spaces, wash hands often, and avoid large gatherings.

For more information on COVID precautions, variants, and guidelines for those who have been fully vaccinated, please visit the CDC’s coronavirus website. For information specific to Delaware, please visit the state’s coronavirus website.

3/30/21 - Please Don't Let Your Guard Down Yet

As the weather is beginning to warm up and people are getting out more, we are sending a reminder to remain vigilant as COVID-19 infection numbers are back on the rise. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky yesterday warned of another possible surge in the U.S., as the national seven-day average of new cases rose 10 percent over the week prior. Following the national trend, our COVID infection numbers are rising here in Delaware as well.

New variants of the virus are also creating concern among state and national health experts because they are more easily transmissible and in some cases, more severe, than the original strain. While the increasing number of Delawareans receiving vaccines is encouraging, we still have only about 15 percent of our state’s residents fully vaccinated. This means we need to continue to maintain social-distancing, wear masks in public spaces, wash hands often, and avoid large gatherings. To quote Dr. Walensky, “We are almost there, but not quite yet.” Now is definitely not the time to let down our guard.
For more information on COVID precautions, variants, and guidelines for those who have been fully vaccinated, please visit the CDC’s coronavirus website. For information specific to Delaware, please visit the state’s coronavirus website.

3/18/21 - Update on Summer Classes and Commencement

Dear Students,

As we move closer to the Class of 2021 graduation and registration for the summer and fall semesters, we have received many inquiries about whether commencement and classes will be held virtually or in person. With the pandemic still very much a threat to public health and national health experts cautioning us to remain vigilant to stop the spread, the College will host virtual graduation ceremonies for all four campuses on Saturday, June 5. Most summer 2021 courses will remain in a distance-learning format with select sections of skills labs and classes on campus. The complete summer schedule will be available by April 1. As the College continues to assess state and national health statistics and guidance from medical experts, an announcement about the fall 2021 semester will be made before the start of fall registration in mid-April.

While we have all read and heard very optimistic news about the pandemic in recent weeks, Delaware remains under a state of emergency declaration that went into effect in spring 2020 restricting the size of public gatherings and requiring social-distancing. State and national health experts are still advising us to avoid large congregate settings as vaccine distribution continues in Delaware and across the country. Over 90,000 Delawareans have contracted the COVID-19 virus, and over 1,500 have died. Obviously, we cannot afford to risk the health and safety of our campus community or the community at large. Again, while much great work has been done to distribute vaccines throughout our country, less than 25 percent of Delawareans have received at least one dose of the vaccine, which mainly includes people over the age of 65, health care workers, and other front line employees. We still have a long way to go with no definitive timeline, and because graduation planning starts early, we had to make this decision now to protect the safety of our students, faculty, staff, and community.

It has been a very long year, and everyone is very anxious to return to our campuses and in-person events. We know that. And while a virtual celebration is disappointing to many, the college team tasked with planning this year’s graduation will be working diligently to create an enjoyable, high-quality, and engaging virtual event to celebrate the hard work and dedication of our Class of 2021. Congratulations to those of you who are graduating. We will be sending an official invitation with instructions later this month. In the meantime, our graduation page is the best source for additional information regarding commencement.

Please stay healthy and safe.

Mark T. Brainard
President

1/5/21 - FREE COVID-19 Testing Still Available in Campus Wellness Centers

Free COVID-19 testing is still available for Delaware Tech students and staff in the campus wellness centers. The on-campus testing began in early September and is available from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at each campus on an alternating basis. The full schedule can be found on the College’s calendar of events.

Testing will be conducted by CardioKinetics staff and is available on a walk-in basis, or you can make an appointment by contacting your campus wellness center. COVID-19 testing in the wellness center is limited to current students and staff at the present time.

• Delaware COVID-19 Saliva Test Collection Instructions (VIDEO)
• Fact Sheet for Patients (PDF)

Please contact Karin at karin.ryndak@cardiokinetics.com for further information or to make an appointment.

10/1/20 - Spring Semester Announcement to Students

As we complete the 5th week of classes for this fall semester and enter the month of October, it is time to begin our planning for the spring semester and determine how and in what format we return for classes in January 2021.

As you might have seen, the Centers for Disease Control has announced that COVID-19 cases are on the rise in many states. In addition, the Center also released data that showed that young adults, those in their 20's, had the highest rates of COVID-19 infections over the past three months, accounting for one in five cases throughout the country. This trend is not likely to change as colleges and universities opened this month for the new academic year, many with on-campus classes and activities.

In Delaware, fortunately, data lines over the past few weeks continue to trend down, in incidence rates as well as hospitalizations and admissions. Clearly, public policy actions as well as individual behaviors, such as wearing masks, distancing, avoiding large crowds and proper hygiene, have our state on a healthy track in managing new COVID-19 cases.

Over the next few months, however, a couple of realities require us to be prudent and consider elements that are beyond our control as we plan for next year. First, the weather will continue to bring cooler temperatures and bring some activities and larger numbers of people indoors. This is clearly a risk factor for new COVID cases. As a complicating factor, the traditional flu season is already upon us (flu shots are being administered on our campuses this week and next) and history shows that influenza cases have peaked during the month of January in prior years.

In light of these considerations, I have determined that the Spring 2021 academic semester will remain in our current format, primarily distance learning with select sections of skills labs on campus. Delaware Tech will continue to provide targeted student support services on our campuses for those who need to access that assistance in person and we will continue to support our faculty, through professional development and additional resources, to enable them to provide the highest quality distance learning experience for our students. While this is clearly disappointing and frustrating to many students, their families, and College employees, this decision is being made with health and safety, first and foremost, being our primary consideration. The timing of this announcement will allow us to spend these valuable weeks planning and preparing for next year.

My heartfelt appreciation to the entire Delaware Tech team for all of your creativity, hard work, and commitment to our students in what has clearly been an unprecedented time of change and disruption.

Thank you again, and please be healthy and safe in the weeks ahead.

Mark T. Brainard
President

9/1/20 - FREE COVID-19 Testing is now available in the Campus Wellness Centers

Free COVID-19 testing is available for Delaware Techstudents and staff in the campus wellness centers beginning Tuesday, September 8, 2020. Testing will be available from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at each campus on an alternating basis according to the following schedule:

• Stanton Campus – Tuesday (9/8), Thursday (9/10), Monday (9/14), Wednesday (9/16), Friday (9/18), and every Tuesday, Thursday, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday thereafter until further notice.
• George Campus– Wednesday (9/9), Friday (9/11), Tuesday (9/15), Thursday (9/17), Monday (9/21), and every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Tuesday and Thursday thereafter until further notice.
• Owens Campus -- Tuesday (9/8), Thursday (9/10), Monday (9/14), Wednesday (9/16), Friday (9/18), and every Tuesday, Thursday, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday thereafter until further notice.
• Terry Campus -- Wednesday (9/9), Friday (9/11), Tuesday (9/15), Thursday (9/17), Monday (9/21), and every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Tuesday and Thursday thereafter until further notice.

Testing will be conducted by CardioKinetics staff and is available on a walk-in basis, or you can make an appointment by contacting your campus wellness center. COVID-19 testing in the wellness center is limited to current students and staff at the present time.

• Delaware COVID-19 Saliva Test Collection Instructions (VIDEO)
• Fact Sheet for Patients (PDF)

Please contact Karin at karin.ryndak@cardiokinetics.com for further information or to make an appointment.

9/1/20 - The Wellness Centers are Open

Limited health and fitness services are now available in the campus wellness centers. Beginning September 8, 2020, CardioKinetics will be conducting free COVID-19 testing every other day in the wellness centers at each campus location for current employees and students. Karin Ryndak will alternate between the Stanton and George Campuses, and a CardioKinetics representative will alternate between the Owens and Terry Campuses. Hours of operation will be posted at each wellness center.

In addition to COVID-19 testing, CardioKinetics is resuming limited health and fitness activities, both in-person and virtually. These activities include personal training, incentive programs, group classes (live and virtual), consultations, fitness evaluations, nutrition guidance and conditioning for student athletes. In addition, the centers will be open for general use by current students and staff when COVID-19 testing is taking place.

Please contact Karin at karin.ryndak@cardiokinetics.com for further information.

7/9/20 - Fall Semester Announcement to Students

In light of the health data we’ve been monitoring throughout the summer, we have decided to maintain the current distance learning format for the fall semester. We will, however, continue to review and identify a limited number of skills laboratory courses that will take place in person, on campus. In addition, clinicals for nursing and allied health courses may continue off campus at the discretion of the clinical site. We know that this is disappointing for all of us who want to be back on campus, but our first responsibility is to protect the health and safety of our students, employees, and community at large.

In order to provide our students with additional support, our tutoring, math, computer and writing centers will be open on each campus to offer supplemental in-person instruction. Of course, students can also access a variety of support services, such as financial aid, advisement, tutoring, and requests for access to food pantries, through our Student Support.

This decision continues College operations under the current State of Emergency and while all campuses remain open and operational, the preferred work model for employees is telecommuting and flexible scheduling to minimize in-person interactions at the College. All in-person activities on our campuses will be rigorously monitored so as to remain in compliance with CDC and state DPH guidelines. Everyone who enters our facilities will be screened, must wear a mask, and will practice social distancing. Classrooms, labs, and common areas will be thoroughly disinfected through enhanced cleaning schedules.

We are committed to providing a meaningful academic experience for our students. Our faculty and staff have spent the last few months working to enhance distance learning courses and developing innovative strategies for engaging with our students and providing the services they need. We will continue to offer high-quality academic programs while putting our students at the center of everything we do.

As with all announcements related to the COVID-19 health crisis, please continue to monitor the College portal for updates in preparation for the fall semester. Thank you, and enjoy the summer!

Mark T. Brainard
President

6/24/20 - Free COVID-19 Testing

Delaware Tech is partnering with the State of Delaware to offer free testing for COVID-19 at the College’s Georgetown and Dover campuses. The test provided is a mouth swab test that does not require assistance.

To register, please visit the State of Delaware's COVID-19 website and enter your email address. The registration link will be emailed to you, where you can select either “Delaware Tech – Dover” or Delaware Tech – Georgetown” and schedule an appointment through a secure website.

6/1/20 - 2020 Summer/Fall Semester Updates

Due to the uncertainty associated with the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the current state of emergency restrictions in Delaware, and in an effort to sustain operations, the College has decided to continue distance learning for all summer sessions through August 8. Plans for fall 2020 courses will be announced on or around August 1.

Access to campus remains restricted to students who need to use campus computer labs, bookstores, and food pantries, and to employees whose jobs do not permit them to work from home. Information about when computer labs, food pantries, and bookstores are open can be found at the bottom of the web page for Student Support.

Also, Wi-Fi hotspots are now available to students, faculty and staff at all four Delaware Tech campuses. To access the free Wi-Fi available in our parking lots, look for signs in the designated areas, which are noted on the campus maps found on the Delaware Tech webpage. This access is only for DTCC students and employees.

View information about how students can register online. Connect with an advisor at Delaware Tech Student Support or call (929) 436-2866 and enter the meeting ID: 381 474 716.

4/10/20 - Emergency Childcare Sites

On March 30, 2020, Governor John Carney issued a modification to the State of Emergency, which allows child care programs in Delaware to be designated as emergency child care sites in an effort to assist essential personnel during the coronavirus crisis.

Per the governor’s order, beginning April 6 and continuing until the State of Emergency is lifted, child care may only be provided by child care centers that have been designated as “Emergency Child Care Sites” by the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families (DSCYF).

In order to be an emergency child care site, child care centers must certify that they are only providing child care to children of personnel working for essential businesses, as defined by Governor Carney’s State of Emergency, and cannot work from home.

Delaware Tech Child Development Centers in Wilmington, Dover, and Georgetown have been certified as emergency childcare sites and are now enrolling children of essential personnel who cannot work from home. Additionally, Delaware Tech is offering day camps at each of its four locations to provide care to school-age children up to age 12. Spaces are limited, and applications will be processed based on a first-come, first-served basis.

We have emergency childcare spots for the following ages at each location:

* Limited space for younger school-age children in our child development centers. Additional school-age care is provided in our day camps offered on each campus.

Enrollment Packet (PDF)

Please contact Lisa Peel at lpeel@dtcc.edu or (302) 519-3743 with questions about any of our emergency childcare sites.

4/9/20 - Wear Cloth Face Coverings

Consistent with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control Prevention (CDC), the Division of Public Health (DPH) recommended on Wednesday that Delawareans should wear cloth face coverings in public settings where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. Those settings include grocery stores and pharmacies.

For further information visit:

• Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) Issues Guidance Around Masks
• Guidance For The Use Of Face Coverings During Covid-19 Pandemic DHSS (PDF)

4/8/20 - 2020 Summer/Fall Semester Updates

Due to the uncertainty associated with the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the current state of emergency restrictions in Delaware, and in an effort to continue operations, the College has decided the following for the 2020 summer and fall semesters:

The College will continue distance learning for the following two summer sessions:

• 12 week (May 16 - August 8)
• 10 week (May 16 - July 25)

The College plans to resume on-campus courses for the 7-week (June 20 - August 8) summer session; however, if the coronavirus pandemic is still a threat to the health and safety of our students and employees, courses will be moved to distance learning where possible or be canceled. Notification of course delivery changes for the 7-week summer session will be made by June 1.

The College plans to resume on-campus courses for fall 2020; however, if the coronavirus pandemic is still a threat to the health and safety of our students and employees, courses will be moved to distance learning where possible or be canceled. Notification of course delivery changes for the fall semester session will be made by August 1.

View information about how students can register online. Connect with an advisor at Delaware Tech VStudent Support or call (929) 436-2866 and enter the meeting ID: 381 474 716.

4/3/20 - Class of 2020 Commencement Update

As our scheduled 2020 commencement dates grow closer, I know many of you are wondering how we will celebrate this year’s graduation given our current, social-distancing environment. Our students have worked hard, often juggling personal and professional commitments to reach the finish line, and we need to recognize this important milestone for them.

While current restrictions under Delaware’s state of emergency declaration will prevent us from having traditional, in-person events, we are committed to holding “virtual” commencement ceremonies for all of our campuses on their originally scheduled dates and times this year:

• Dover - Monday, May 11, 6 p.m.
• Georgetown - Tuesday, May 12, 6 p.m.
• Stanton - Wednesday, May 13, 7 p.m.
• Wilmington - Thursday, May 14, 7 p.m.

We’re still working out the details as we think creatively about how to make this year’s commencement ceremonies meaningful and fun for our graduates, so stay tuned for more information about the ceremonies and how everyone can participate.

While we are certainly disappointed that we cannot have our traditional graduation ceremonies this year, we will still have a wonderful celebration together, and hopefully, our graduates will challenge their family and friends to make this year’s audiences the biggest ever.

Again, we will be in touch soon with further details, but in the meantime, please stay healthy and safe.

4/1/20 - President Brainard Pandemic Message

3/26/20 - Welcome Back from Spring Break

We were happy to welcome our students back from Spring Break on Monday and are proud of everyone who has worked very hard to navigate the move to a distance-learning format.

Although we cannot see our students on campus, we are still working to meet their needs. We are available for students who need to talk with an advisor, check on financial aid, meet with a tutor, access writing support for a paper, get help with a math assignment, or ask a question about their schedule or a bill. Our Student Support is loaded with resources for our students.

Under the current State of Emergency, we can provide limited services on campus to deliver distance learning materials and food pantry resources since not everything can be delivered from a distance. Effective Monday, March 30, our open computer labs, campus bookstores, and food pantries will be available during the temporary hours listed below:

Monday 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Wednesday 12 – 6 p.m.
Friday 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

These hours are subject to change. The College’s website is the best source for hours, locations and additional details.

To be permitted on campus, students must follow CDC guidelines for social distancing and health. The campuses are following all CDC guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting. We appreciate everyone’s patience as we navigate the challenges of our current situation.

3/22/20 - Classes Resume / Distance Learning

Delaware Tech classes will resume through distance learning formats beginning Monday, March 23, 2020. However, in response to Governor John Carney’s modified State of Emergency Declaration this afternoon restricting all non life-sustaining businesses and ordering residents to shelter in place effective Tuesday, we are limiting access to our buildings and facilities to essential employees identified by the College to support distance learning. Faculty and staff will utilize telecommuting to continue to teach and provide support services in order to give our students the ability to finish the spring semester.

3/20/20 - President Brainard Message

Dear Colleagues:

First, I would like to thank all of you in the Delaware Tech community for your creativity, hard work, and commitment to our students these past few weeks in preparation for the remainder of the spring semester under very difficult circumstances.

While we all remain focused on staying healthy and caring for and supporting our families, we have also been taking all necessary steps to deliver high-quality instruction and support for our students as we transition to distance learning on Monday, March 23, 2020.

In particular, the Academic Affairs team collegewide has done an unbelievable job in such a short amount of time making this transition. Thank you all.

We also appreciate the leadership, support, and creativity of our technology teams in IIT and CCIT who have done a remarkable job supporting every division of the College. And the campus directors and their administrative councils have worked tirelessly with their collegewide colleagues on implementing this work. In short, the teamwork at every level in all of the College’s divisions and departments under these extremely difficult circumstances has been nothing short of spectacular.

As we use these final days in preparation for Monday, I leave you with a couple of reminders to help contribute to a successful launch next week:

1. Please provide faculty and the Student Support staff priority access for peak usage hours (8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.) when using Zoom and remote access (e.g. remote.dtcc.edu). To the extent possible, employees in supporting divisions should use this technology early in the morning (prior to 8:30 a.m.) or late afternoon (after 2:30 p.m.).
2. Please remember that this historic, unprecedented change in delivering our academic programs has been shifted in a matter of days. Again, our teams have done a remarkable job to prepare and implement this change. We anticipate there will be disruptions to services and technology and many unplanned changes that will have to be navigated that we can’t even begin to envision at this point in the semester. With patience, persistence, and on-going communication with our deans, directors, department chairs, supervisors, and colleagues, we will successfully manage those challenges.

Again, thank you all for your work and commitment to our students. Please stay safe and healthy in the days and weeks ahead.

3/17/20 - State of Emergency

Employees and Students

As ongoing restrictions under the existing State of Emergency continue to evolve, the College has implemented the following:

• Credit classes will resume on Monday, March 23, 2020 in a distance learning format, and faculty will teach those classes remotely for the remainder of the spring semester. As of this time and date, the campuses will remain open to provide support services to students unless the State of Emergency is extended to require the closure of state buildings. Staff in those areas will be operating under enhanced telecommuting models, which will provide adequate staffing on site, but with most employees encouraged to work at home when possible. Supervisors will work with employees to develop plans that will allow us to greatly reduce the number of employees on campus, while continuing to support our students.
• All Workforce Development and Community Education courses are suspended until further notice.
• We will all continue to work to provide the necessary resources and technology to ensure that our students receive the appropriate communication, support, and academic instruction to provide the high-quality education that they expect and deserve from Delaware Tech.

3/16/20 - Event Update

Due to the directive as outlined in Governor Carney’s updated State of Emergency, as well as recommendation by the Centers for Disease Control, Delaware Tech will no longer host or sponsor any events that involve 50 or more people for the next eight weeks (May 15).

3/14/20 - Governor Closes K-12 Schools

Employees

We wanted reach out to all of you in light of Governor Carney’s directive to close K-12 schools statewide. This directive does not apply to Delaware Tech.

As you know, we have extended spring break for our students through March 22 so that our faculty and staff can prepare for our classes to be available in distance learning formats. Our campuses will be open.

Employees should contact their supervisors with questions about their schedules.

Thank you all for your commitment and dedication to the success of our students.

If you have questions about the College’s response to this pandemic, email the Emergency Operations Planning Team at eop@dtcc.edu.

3/12/20 - Spring Break Extended

Students

In response to the public health concerns about the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, the College is closely monitoring the situation as it relates to the health and safety of our students and employees. The College is extending spring break through March 22 to ensure our faculty and staff are prepared should we need to move to alternative distance learning methods. Classes are scheduled to resume on March 23, 2020; however, this is a rapidly changing situation, so we will continue to update you as information becomes available.

Community events on our campuses have been canceled through March 31, when we will reassess the situation.

Please continue to check our website for updates: go.dtcc.edu/coronavirus. If you have questions, email the dean of student affairs on your campus.

• Gail Charrier, Georgetown campus 
• Kerri Harmon, Dover campus
• Sharon Mossman, Stanton campus
• Jeff Rose, Wilmington campus

3/6/20 - Travel Precautions

For all students and employees who have traveled in the last two weeks or will be traveling to CDC Level 2 or Level 3 countries, we are instituting the following precautions. As of today, these countries include Japan, Italy, China, Iran and South Korea.

You must self-monitor at home for 14 days before returning to campus. You will be allowed to return to campus after a 14-day monitoring period. During this time, you should monitor yourself for symptoms of fever, cough, or shortness of breath.

You must call the Delaware Division of Public Health at (866) 408-1899 to review recent travel history and receive health screening and guidance.

If you are a student, you must contact the dean of student affairs on your campus regarding your absence:

• Gail Charrier, Georgetown campus 
• Kerri Harmon, Dover campus
• Sharon Mossman, Stanton campus
• Jeff Rose, Wilmington campus

If you are an employee, you must contact your local Human Resources Office:

• Janis Beach, Georgetown campus
• Marybeth Roach, Dover campus
• Courtney Hutt, Stanton campus
• Tamesha Broughton, Wilmington campus
• Lynn Beaty, Office of the President

If you experience a fever, cough, or other acute illness during the monitoring period, continue to stay home and self-isolate.

If you develop symptoms during the 14-day monitoring period, call your primary care provider’s office or the Delaware Division of Public Health at (866) 408-1899, and provide details of your recent travel and symptoms to determine if further medical care is needed.

For updated information about the Coronavirus, visit de.gov/coronavirus.

3/5/20 - Monitoring the Coronavirus

As a follow up to the February 27 portal announcement, I want to update you on the steps we are taking to monitor the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The health and safety of the Delaware Tech community is our primary concern.

As the information about this virus is rapidly evolving and being updated, it is important that all of us rely on accurate information. We encourage you to regularly visit de.gov/coronavirus for the latest information. If you are traveling abroad or in the United States, be aware of travel advisories and possible trip interruptions.

The senior leadership at the College receives continual updates and meets regularly to review emergency management plans, connects with local health agencies, and monitors the latest developments related to the Coronavirus. We will continue to communicate with you through ongoing portal announcements and email messages as new information becomes available.

2/27/20 - Prevent the Spread of Coronavirus

I know most of you are probably keeping an eye on the news regarding the worldwide coronavirus outbreak, and I want to assure you that the Delaware Tech leadership is in communication with the Delaware Division of Public Health to ensure we stay abreast of the situation in our state. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has said the immediate risk of this new virus is currently low for the American public, however, it is cold and flu season in the U.S. The CDC estimates that as many as 41 million people have gotten sick with the flu in the U.S. this year, with as many as 500,000 being hospitalized. The estimated number of U.S. flu deaths could be as high as 41,000, according to the CDC.

So what can you do to protect yourself? The best way to prevent the flu is to get vaccinated, but in addition, you can take the following precautions as recommended by the CDC :

• Wash your hands frequently.
• Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are ill.
• Avoid touching your eyes or mouth.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, school or work, including doorknobs, keyboards and phones to help remove germs.
• If you begin to feel sick while at school or at work, please go home as soon as possible.

Thank you for joining us to do all we can to prevent the spread of illness on our campuses. We will continue to provide updates like these as the need arises. Thank you for joining us to do all we can to prevent the spread of illness on our campuses. We will continue to provide updates like these as the need arises.