two faculty during graduation

Faculty & Staff

Instructional and Student Services Continuity Plan

virtual spring professional learning week graphic

Flex Week Recordings Available 

Session recordings & resources

 

About the Plan

Maintaining course delivery and support services is fundamental to Foothill College’s ability to fulfill its mission.

Technological advancements provide an ability to maintain academic continuity during unforeseen closures by offering flexibility of instructional delivery via a range of options.

Instructional continuity refers to Foothill faculty, college and staff efforts to continuing course delivery during responses to normal academic operations due to weather, fire, illness, or other factors. Even if you teach your courses on campus, face to face, it is important to be prepared for unforeseen scenarios that result in a campus closure.

The plan also considers Student Services, such as Financial Aid, Admissions & Records,  Testing & Assessment, Counseling, Disability Resource Center, Veterans, Student Affairs & Activities, and Food Pantry. Our students often rely on these student support services in order to have successful outcomes.

Levels of Response

Foothill faculty should be prepared for four levels of response in the event of response:

  • Low
  • Moderate
  • High
  • Critical  

Current Level:  HIGH

High Level Description and Example

Description

Campus moves everyone (limited-to-zero exception) to a virtual campus — with most or all employees working from home.

This may occur to maximize social distancing as a voluntary college effort; as required by state and federal; or by public health officials. In this case, only essential employees (if any) are expected to report to work in person at the Foothill campuses. All (if not most) services will be virtual. Only certain designated spaces to remain open (if at all). All other employees will report to work remotely.


Example

Foothill closes the campus for 2 or more days, or until directed by state and federal.  In this case, only essential staff are expected to report to work at Foothill.  Only essential lab classes will be held.  Many services will be virtual. Only certain designated spaces to remain open.  All other staff will report to work remotely.   

Health Center COVID-19 Virus Response Protocol

Student Health Services Staff COVID-19 Virus Response Protocol

Due to the Santa Clara County Shelter in Place order, the Student Health Center physical office will be closed until further notice, at least through spring 2020. However, students will continue to be served through TeleMedicine appointments  during regular business hours. 

Hours

Mon & Tues, 8:30 a.m.–Noon, 1–6 p.m.
Wed & Thur, 8:30 a.m.–Noon, 1–4 p.m.
Fri, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

For most current information, please direct students to the Health Services website: foothill.edu/healthservices

If you are sick with fever or been exposed to the COVID-19 Virus

  • Seek medical care. CALL- Before you go to a doctor’s office or emergency room, call ahead and tell them about your recent exposure and your symptoms.
  • Another option is to schedule a Telemedicine consult through Foothill Health Services. 
  • If possible wear a mask when you show up at the medical office or ask for a mask immediately 
  • Avoid contact with others.
  • DO Not travel while you are sick.
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
  • Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available. 

If you have been advised to stay home or take precautions such as self isolation


  • Cover your coughs and sneezes
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw used tissues in a lined trash can. Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or, if soap and water are not available, clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
  • Clean your hands often
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; going to the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, covering all surfaces of your hands and rubbing them together until they feel dry.
  • Soap and water are the best option if hands are visibly dirty. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoid sharing personal household items
  • You should not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, or bedding with other people or pets in your home. After using these items, they should be washed thoroughly with soap and water using gloves. Or use disposable dinnerware / chopsticks / utensils.
  • Clean all “high-touch” surfaces every day to twice a day.
  • High touch surfaces include counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, and bedside tables. Also, clean any surfaces that may have blood, stool, or body fluids on them. Use a household cleaning spray or wipe, according to the label instructions. Labels contain instructions for safe and effective use of the cleaning product including precautions you should take when applying the product, such as wearing gloves and making sure you have good ventilation during use of the product.
  • Monitor your symptoms
  • Seek prompt medical attention if your illness is worsening (e.g., difficulty breathing). Before seeking care, call your healthcare provider and tell them that you ill with FEVER/COUGH or Shortness of breath. Put on a facemask before you enter the facility. These steps will help the healthcare provider’s office to keep other people in the office or waiting room from getting infected or exposed. Ask your healthcare provider to call the local or state health department. Persons who are placed under active monitoring or facilitated self-monitoring should follow instructions provided by their local health department or occupational health professionals, as appropriate.
  • If you have a medical emergency and need to call 911, notify the dispatch personnel that you have, or are being evaluated for COVID-19. If possible, put on a facemask before emergency medical services arrive. 

Discontinuing home isolation

  • Patients with confirmed COVID-19 should remain under home isolation precautions until the risk of secondary transmission to others is thought to be low. The decision to discontinue home isolation precautions should be made on a case-by-case basis, in consultation with healthcare providers and state and local health departments. 

  • Patients sent home from school/Work as a precaution should stay home until they have been without temperature of 99 or higher for 48 hours.
  • Stay home except to get medical care.
  • People who are mildly ill with COVID-19 are able to isolate at home during their illness. You should restrict activities outside your home, except for getting medical care. Do not go to work, school, or public areas. Avoid using public transportation, ride-sharing, or taxis.
  • Separate yourself from other people and animals in your home
  • People: As much as possible, you should stay in a specific room and away from other people in your home. Also, you should use a separate bathroom, if available.
  • Animals: You should restrict contact with pets and other animals while you are sick with COVID-19, just like you would around other people. Although there have not been reports of pets or other animals becoming sick with COVID-19, it is still recommended that people sick with COVID-19 limit contact with animals until more information is known about the virus. When possible, have another member of your household care for your animals while you are sick. If you are sick with COVID-19, avoid contact with your pet, including petting, snuggling, being kissed or licked, and sharing food. If you must care for your pet or be around animals while you are sick, wash your hands before and after you interact with pets and wear a facemask. See COVID-19 and Animals for more information

If you are seen or consult with the Student Health Center

You will be asked to sign a release of Medical Information to notify the school that you are ill or being sent home under observation.  

What is the treatment for COVID-19?  
At this time there is no treatment except supportive care. Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Sudafed, Cough Syrup. Please see below on treatment for Flus and Colds.  


What testing is there for the COVID-19?  
At this time there is limited local testing. Commercial labs have started local testing. Testing is done by doing a nasal/ throat swab.  At this time, we are unable to do collection or testing at the Health Center.  


Can any doctor or urgent care order this testing?  
Not at this time. Only state/local public health departments can request this testing. All suspected cases should be reported to local or state public health departments.  


Who is being tested for COVID-19?  
At this time, only high risk exposure patients or seriously ill patients are being tested due to limited testing supplies.  
For the most updated information, please see SANTA CLARA PUBLIC HEALTH.

How to treat the flu and colds 

  • Push Fluids.  You use 30% more fluids when you have the flu. 
  • Rest. Rest.  REST. 
  • You are Infectious for 24 to 48 hours after Fever/Body aches are gone.  (5-7 Days after start getting sick)
  • Avoid contact with very young / pregnant / Elderly.
  • FEVER- Ibuprofen 600 mg every 6 to 8 hrs.  See Package for children.
  • OR- May take tylenol 500mg 4 hours after taking Ibuprofen, then alternate Ibuprofen 4 hrs after Tylenol.
  • CONGESTION- Sudafed if bothered by congestion per package insert.
  • Excess Mucus-  Take Claritin or Zyrtec may help dry up the cough.
  • Cough - Take  Robitussin or Delsym or other OTC cough medication as needed for cough.
  • Follow up 48 hrs for evaluation.
  • Follow up sooner or go to Emergency room if increasing fever, Shortness of breath, severe headache, confusion, loss of consciousness, increasing chest pain.
  • What are antibiotics used for? To help people fight infections caused by bacteria. They work by killing bacteria that are in the body. These medicines come in many different forms, including pills, ointments, and liquids that are given by injection. Antibiotics can do a lot of good. For people with serious bacterial infections, antibiotics can save lives. But people use them far too often, even when they're not needed. This is causing a very serious problem called antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance happens when bacteria that have been exposed to an antibiotic change so that the antibiotic can no longer kill them. In those bacteria, the antibiotic has no effect. Because of this problem, doctors are having a harder and harder time treating infections. Experts worry that there will soon be infections that don't respond to any antibiotics. 
  • When are antibiotics helpful?  Atibiotics can help people fight off infections caused by bacteria.  They do not work on infections caused by viruses such as the FLU. 

Instruction—Preparing for Virtual Campus for a Moderate or High-Level Response

Student Tech Hub Moves to Live Chat

chat icon

Our Virtual Student Technology Hub Zoom Room has moved to Live Chat!

Students can visit our new Student Technology Support Hub for links and details for Live Chat, Technology Needs Requests, and Technology Topic Tutorials for support with virtual classes.

Student Technology Support HuB

Instructional Continuity

Instructional Continuity may be an unfamiliar term, but it really just means keeping your class on schedule during disruptive times. Extended closures and course cancellations can occur for a variety of reasons:

  • Inclement weather
  • Widespread illness
  • Family emergencies
  • Unexpected events
  • Business travel

Foothill Online Learning has many resources to help you out.

Information. Tools & Tips

Distance Education Designation

The college is working on approval for a temporary blanket Distance Education Addendum from the state Chancellor’s Office to satisfy the requirements included in Title 5, section 55206. 

Such a request will be considered valid only for the designated time period, the designated courses,and does not replace the standard local approval process.

Academic Senate and Curriculum Committee are working on requesting this addendum.  Please refer to their websites for more update. 

Employee Rights and Responsibilities 

Sent on behalf of Dorene Novotny, Vice Chancellor of Human Resources & Equal Opportunity:

COVID-19 and Employee Guidelines 

In an effort to anticipate potential decisions that may impact employees and in consultation with union and other employee representatives, we have prepared a set of guidelines regarding employees who may be affected by disruptions to their normal work location or assignment, placed off work due to closure, or who may be called upon to serve as essential personnel during this time.

Please see below. 

Regards 
Dorene 


Find the HR Phone & Email Directory HERE

COVID-19 (coronavirus)
District Guidance for Employees

Download Guidance for Employees

Faculty Evaluations and Tenure Review

We recognize evaluations and tenure review are affected by this disruption. We are in discussion with FA and will provide guidance shortly.

 

Student Grievances and Withdrawals

The following is guidance from California Community Colleges' Chancellor's Office regarding withdrawals during this pandemic:

Colleges may refund student fees, including enrollment fees, if a student needs to withdraw due to an epidemic or other extraordinary conditions. Colleges should not record any withdrawal (W) or grade on the transcript of a student who withdraws under these circumstances. An excused withdrawal (EW) may be recorded; but in all cases, a withdrawal due to extraordinary conditions should not affect a student’s academic progress, academic probation, or ability to repeat a course.

To start this process, please fill out the PETITION FOR EXCEPTION OF REGISTRATION POLICIES FORM

Should a student need help, please contact Admissions and Records for further information.

Resources for Students — Technology Needs and Training

Virtual Student Technology Hub


Monday-Thursday 8–11 a.m., 2–5 p.m.
Friday 9a.m.–Noon
Dates: Ongoing

Online learning technology support will be available to students live through zoom. If you wish to publish the zoom link, use:
https://fhda-edu.zoom.us/j/950296669

Students  will learn how to use Zoom and Canvas, where to request help in getting needed resources, such as laptops and wifi, and tips on being prepared to go online and succeed.

Please share this information with your students!

This information is available to students on the Virtual Campus website.



Student Services Response

Admissions & Records

Beginning March 16, the Office of Admission and Records will be physically closed by operating virtually.

We will continue to provide the same services and support to students through email and video conferencing.  


Here's how you can reach us: 


Email:
admissions@foothill.edu 

You may also email us directly at:

Anthony Cervantes: cervantesanthony@fhda.edu

Asha Jossis:  jossisasha@fhda.edu

Please refer to our website for updated information.

Please direct students to use our  A&R Help Form

Thank you! 

Accommodated Testing and Placement

Considered essential staff, Testing Center staff will continue to report to work for placement and accommodated testing. Staff will work with DRC, students, and instructors to ensure they are able to take their exams remotely and receive all documented accommodations.Testing center staff will be available via email to answer any questions regarding accommodated testing and placement.

LATEST UPDATE

Due to COVID-19 and the college’s direction towards a virtual campus, all functions of the Testing and Assessment Center will be done virtually. Placement will be completed through email only. Students will continue to be placed by high school transcripts evaluation, guided self-placement, and assessment test.


All accommodated testing will be virtual. We ask instructors to please be flexible and build extra time accommodations into their virtual/online exams.

Students who are unable to access certain accommodations will need to contact the Disability Resource Center or Testing and Assessment Center for assistance.



Please refer to your student accommodation letters to verify your student’s accommodations.



If you have any questions, please email the following:


Counseling 

Starting, March 12, 2020, in an abundance of caution, Foothill College Counseling is converting all face-to-face appointments to telephone appointments.  


To continue receiving academic counseling,  schedule a virtual appointment.  


Refer to the counseling website for more information.  

Transfer Center

All transfer counseling appointments will be conducted by phone.  


If you have a scheduled appointment, please call your counselor Cleve Freeman at   650.949.7744 at your scheduled time.  

Schedule an appointment.

EOPS 

EOPS will be operating virtually starting Monday March 16. 

Please check the EOPS website for more details.  

Financial Aid

Beginning March 16, the Office of Financial Aid will be physically closed but operating virtually. We will continue to provide the same services and support to students through phone, email and video conferencing.  


Here's how you can reach us: 


Email: fhfinancialaidoffice@fhda.edu 
Phone: 650.949.7245 
Website: www.foothill.edu/financialaid


We will do our best to get back to you within 2-3 business days.  


Thank you for your understanding and flexibility as we navigate this difficult and uncertain time and work to keep our community safe with minimal interruptions of service. 

Psychological Services 

Psych services will continue to operate remotely with regular appointments and drop-in hours. The process to make an appointment is still the same.

Appointments will be conducted via Zoom or telephone.  


Make an appointment

In case of an emergency, please see who to call

Disability and Veterans Services 

DRC and VRC will be working remotely. Please call or email staff members.

Find contact information here:

Contact the DRC

Contact the VRC

Student Affairs & Activities


Beginning March 16, the Office of Student Affairs and Activities will be physically closed but operating virtually.

We will continue to provide the same services and support to students through email, phone, and video conferencing.  


Here's how you can reach us:

Email: studentaffairs@fhda.edu

Please refer to our website for updated information.

Thank you! 

Food Pantry



The Food Pantry team is doing everything we can to develop alternative solutions of support for all Food Pantry registered students, including e-cards for groceries.

Students should visit the Food Pantry website for ongoing updates on when e-cards will be made available and for a listing of local community food support.

To receive updates from our Food Pantry staff, we  encourage students to register with the Food Pantry.

For most current information, please direct students to the Food Pantry website: foothill.edu/foodpantry

Medical Services for International Students

Due to the Santa Clara County Shelter in Place order, the Student Health Center physical office will be closed until further notice, at least through spring 2020. However, students will continue to be served through TeleMedicine appointments  during regular business hours. 

Hours

Mon & Tues, 8:30 a.m.–Noon, 1–6 p.m.
Wed & Thur, 8:30 a.m.–Noon, 1–4 p.m.
Fri, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

For most current information, please direct students to the Health Services website: foothill.edu/healthservices

Academic Support Services

Library

Library 

MAIN CAMPUS

Beginning March 17 and until further notice, the library building will be closed to students; however, our reference services and our extensive collection of digital resources are available online.  



ONLINE RESOURCES


As always, our collection of online resources, including databases, success tools, and Lib Guides, are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Visit: foothill.edu/library



REFERENCE SERVICES 


All reference services will be available online only. Talk to a librarian live by phone or videoconference, or ask them a question by email, text, or our Ask a Librarian page



ONLINE REFERENCE HOURS



RESERVE MATERIALS


We are working on ways to provide digital access to Reserves materials or alternate sources. Please check back for information updates.  



SUNNYVALE CENTER


Beginning March 18 and until further notice, the Sunnyvale Center, including library services, will be closed to students. Online Reference help is still available to our Sunnyvale students. See above for details. 



RETURNING BOOKS


While the shelter-in-place order is in effect, we advise students to hold on to any library books/materials currently in your possession. All overdue fines and fees are suspended. 


If students are leaving the area and have no plans to return, even after the shelter-in-place is lifted, they can return their library materials to the book drop at the Sunnyvale Center at 1070 Innovation Way, Sunnyvale, CA 94089. 

The location of the book drop is outside the building, on the north end. Look for signage near the parking lot with the ambulance nearby.


See the Library website for most up-to-date information. 

Tutoring

Virtual Tutoring Services

STEM Center, Teaching & Learning Center, and Pass the Torch Zoom tutoring services is available for Spring 2020 starting April 13.

Other Important Information

Staff Support for Telecommuting

For a list of resources and apps for support, visit the ETS Remote Work and Instruction Support Documentation page.   Should you have additional needs, please inform your direct supervisor.

Information and Resources for Students

Sunnyvale and Off-Campus Sites

Sunnyvale Center

The Sunnyvale Center will operate under the Instructional and Student Services Continuity Plan as prescribed in this document and as applicable. Therefore, instructors and staff that work at this location should be prepared for the levels of response outlined above in the event of response.

Please refer to the Sunnyvale Center website for more details or contact Craig Gawlick, Supervisor at gawlickcraig@foothill.edu. 

Clinical Site for Students

Students will continue to go to clinics as long as a faculty member is on-call for that program and as long as the clinical site is open.   

Students or faculty exposed to COVID-19 while at their clinical sites must stay away from Foothill for 14 days from the date of the exposure.  Medical clearance will be requested before returning to Foothill. 


Apprenticeship Sites

We continue to share all updates with our apprenticeship partners as we receive them from our District Office.

They appreciate the information and it has been useful to help them work with their staff and apprentices. All of our partners will remain open and take the necessary precautions as guided by the Santa Clara County Health Department.

Any changes to face-to-face classes will only be made through the JATC boards approval at each site and each of our sites have their own internal processes for changes to their scheduled classes. They will be adhering to Santa Clara County Health Department recommendations for any future closures. 

We will continue to support all of our partners with real time communication we receive. We have extended possible zoom trainings to part-time faculty and currently in conversations to understand this need with each of our apprenticeship sites.

Dual Enrollment Sites

Foothill College is committed to supporting all our students. 

Possible Scenarios:

  1. FH goes virtual, HS remain open 
    Most dual enrollment classes will continue as normal, especially for high school instructors with minimum qualifications; Foothill instructors will continue their assignments, either in-person or online, as scheduled.
  2. FH goes virtual; HS close 
    Coordinate with HS partners to assess how to recover instructional hours; if needed, discuss extending the academic year to later in June. Work with our HS partners, our division deans, and faculty to schedule
  3. All parties close
    Coordinate with HS partners to assess how to recover instructional hours; if needed, discuss extending the academic year later in June. Investigate the possibility 

Please contact Josh Pelletier, Outreach Supervisor, for more information at pelletierjosh@foothill.edu

Guidance on Large Gatherings and Meetings

General Guidance 


Foothill College has asked that all gatherings over 100 people be cancelled. In addition, we encourage everyone to consider virtual meetings via Zoom whenever possible.

If you do convene a smaller meeting, please follow the following protocols:

  • Please hold meetings/gatherings outside whenever possible
  • Please schedule indoor meetings in larger spaces to allow for social distancing (three to six feet between people)
  • If food is served, it should be individually wrapped/boxed. Try and have just one person (wearing sanitary gloves) serve the food. 

The Foothill College administration is monitoring and reviewing guidance from federal, state and local authorities.

We are aware that some programs are canceling, or postponing, events as a precaution. We recommend checking in directly with event organizers to confirm if (<100) events will be held. 



If you are an event organizer, we encourage you to think about alternate ways to convene an event (virtually) or to postpone or cancel based on your event’s specific risk. Please review CDC guidance for hosting large gatherings.

Athletic Continuity and Travel

Response Level Actions

Lower-Level Response  


  • Sports practices and games will continue as scheduled as long as campus remains open. However, in effort to minimize COVID-19 exposures, all practices and games are now closed to spectators. Games will be closed to spectators through April 30, 2020.
  • Routinely clean frequently touched surfaces including travel vans.
  • Postpone or cancel athletic matches if the other team has been exposed to COVID-19.

Moderate-Level Response
(campus is open but we hold no classes on campus) 

  • Games closed to spectators. 
  • Routinely clean frequently touched surfaces between contests including travel vans.
  • Provide each coach with disinfectant wipes to use to clean surfaces during games, meets & matches.
  • Have disposable wipes (alcohol-based) available to athletes.
  • Cancel team practices.
  • Host games only if they are outdoors. Cancel indoor games. 


High-Level Response (campus is closed) 


  • Cancel or postpone sporting events at home.
  • Upon return to campus, disinfect frequently touched surfaces.

Critical Response (the total closure of campus)

  • Cancel or postpone sporting events at home.
  • Upon return to campus, disinfect frequently touched surfaces. 

Cancellation of Athletic Matches 


Cancellations and postponements of athletic matches will be dealt with on a case by case basis. Matches will be rescheduled if possible, all contests not rescheduled will be declared a no-contest. 


Communication About Cancellation(s) 


Communication to Students and Other Schools related to cancellation- Athletic staff will communicate as soon as possible any possible modifications to scheduled contests at the earliest opportunity, in line with current notification protocols 


Decision Making 


We will continue to rely upon the expertise of the Center for Disease Control, CDC, California-Dept of Pub Health and Santa Clara County Office of Public Health for best practices. 

Useful Contact Information

See our directory page for contact information.

Questions, Comments or Suggestions?

Please contact Teresa Ong at ongteresa@fhda.edu.

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