Cuyahoga Community CollegeApril 2020 - Student Emails
April 30 - Town Hall meeting link
April 30 - CARES Act student emergency fund
April 15 - Changes to your summer class format
April 13 - Pass/No Pass grading option
April 10 - Tri-C spring commencement announcement
April 8 - Additional cases of COVID-19
April 3 - Extension of remote operations through May 1
April 1 - Cases of COVID-19 at Tri-C
April 1 - Tune in for a Town Hall
April 30, 2020 - Town Hall meeting link
Thank you to everyone who joined us today for Dr. Johnson’s Virtual Town Hall for Students. If you missed it, or want to revisit it, watch it here.
Visit tri-c.edu/coronavirus and tri-c.edu/news for the latest updates and resources.
April 30, 2020 - CARES Act student emergency fund
Tri-C is pleased to share a new emergency funding opportunity for students who experienced a coronavirus-related disruption to their Spring 2020 studies.
Funds awarded to Tri-C through the federal CARES Act have been used to establish the CARES Act Student Emergency Fund, which will award up to $1,500 to eligible students.
Funds from this grant will be paid directly to students and can be used for emergency expenses including food, housing, course materials, technology (laptops, computer, Wi-Fi, etc.), health care, child care and other education-related expenses.
To qualify for funding, students must be eligible for Title IV (federal financial aid) and be enrolled in at least one Spring 2020 course that was converted to online or remote delivery as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. See our Cares Act Student Emergency Fund FAQ for details.
Students must connect with the Student Financial Aid and Scholarships Office to apply. The Financial Aid team can also connect you with additional resources to help you continue your Tri-C education.
Questions?
Contact the Student Financial Aid and Scholarships team:
- Tri-C FA Chat
- Call us at 216-987-6000, Option #2
- Email us at financialaid@tri-c.edu
April 17, 2020 - Town hall link
Recording of the April 16 President's Virtual Town Hall meeting is below:
Watch the town hall for students here.
Watch your inbox for information on the next town hall meeting.
April 15, 2020 - Changes to your summer class format
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, all summer session courses at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) will be offered online. This change affects one or more of the courses in which you are enrolled. You do not need to take any action; your summer courses have already been changed to online. You will see the adjustment in your class schedule.
In the next day or so, a Tri-C team member will contact you to help answer any questions you have about your summer courses. You may also contact us at 216-987-6000. We realize that this is a major change to your summer plans, and we are here to help you complete your courses successfully. As a start, we have included some important information below.
Will I be charged a fee for the courses that were changed to online?
No. Online learning fees will be waived for Summer 2020 courses.
What is it like to take an online course?
Please watch this video of a Tri-C student sharing his experience with online courses.
What technology do I need for online courses?
This video will help you determine if the technology you have at home can be used for Tri-C’s online learning environment. Not all devices are compatible with College systems, and you should not rely solely on mobile technology for completing online work. To further research and view the recommended minimum technology, click here.
What kind of support is available to help me be successful in my courses?
Tri-C has a variety of online student resources, which include the 24/7 tutoring service Smarthinking. We also offer virtual access to all of the services you would receive on campus. Please visit the Student Resources page for more information.
If you encounter technology issues, 24/7 Student Support and can be reached via email, phone or chat (see below).
- Phone: 216-987-4357
- Chat: 24/7 Help Desk Support
- Email: helpdesk@tri-c.edu
Who do I contact for assistance with my class schedule?
Please contact the Enrollment Center at 216-987-6000 or email.
- WestStudentHelp@tri-c.edu
- MetroRegistration@tri-c.edu
- WSRegistration@tri-c.edu
- EastRegistration@tri-c.edu
We appreciate your patience as we work to keep our community safe. We look forward to helping you achieve your educational goals at Tri-C.
April 13, 2020 - Summer Session
Tri-C today announced that all summer session classes will be held online this year. The summer shift to online courses reflects Tri-C’s ongoing efforts to adapt to challenges created by the COVID-19 situation while allowing students to continue progressing toward graduation. Summer session represents an opportunity to build momentum toward degrees or certificates.
The move affects all classes scheduled from May 26 through Aug. 2. Students who enrolled in face-to-face courses after summer registration opened last month will see those courses changed to online on their schedule by this Wednesday, April 15.
Tri-C is waiving the $10 per-credit-hour fee typically charged for online courses to minimize student expenses during this transition.
Online instruction offers the best option for a safe, consistent academic experience over summer given uncertainties created by COVID-19 restrictions. The College made this decision now — six weeks ahead of summer classes starting — to provide clarity for Tri-C students planning their studies.
Tri-C students can make virtual appointments with academic advisers to develop a plan to get the most out of summer session. Resources are also available to help students with the transition to online learning.
April 13, 2020 - Pass/No Pass Grading Option
Cuyahoga Community College has temporarily modified the Pass/No Pass grade option to assist students concerned about maintaining grades for the Spring 2020 semester and Summer 2020 session due to disruptions created by the COVID-19 outbreak.
Once students receive their earned semester grade(s), they will have the option to petition for conversion to Pass/No Pass grades. Earned grades of C and higher will be converted to P (pass), while grades of D and lower will be converted to NP (no pass).
Pass/No Pass grades do not factor into a student’s GPA; however, students may only apply up to 12 college-level credits of P grades to their degree requirements.
Petitions will be reviewed on a course-by-course basis for each student. Before a Pass/No Pass request is approved, a Collegewide team will look for any financial aid implications and/or transfer and program requirements that could impact students.
Some courses — including many prerequisites and those in the health career/nursing curriculum — are not eligible for Pass/No Pass grades. There may also be limits to transfer applicability to four-year institutions. It is the responsibility of the student to research and consider these restraints.
The deadline to petition for conversion to Pass/No Pass is July 17 for Spring 2020 and Oct. 5 for Summer 2020. Additional information on petitioning for conversion to Pass/No Pass will be made available before spring semester ends.
April 10, 2020 - Tri-C spring commencement announcement
Dear Class of 2020,
We all are so incredibly proud of each one of you for your energy, perseverance and dedication, especially during this final semester. I cannot imagine sending you into the next phase of your life without a proper celebration, which is why we plan to honor you twice.
Please take a moment to watch this video message regarding Spring 2020 commencement plans.
Please watch your Tri-C email for more information on both ceremonies. I wish you the best as you finish this semester, and I look forward to honoring your achievements soon.
-- Alex Johnson
April 8, 2020 - Additional cases of COVID-19
Two more members of the Tri-C family ― an Eastern Campus student and a Western Campus security officer ― have tested positive for COVID-19. Both were last on-site on Tuesday, March 10, during spring break week when no classes were scheduled.
The student visited the following areas at Eastern Campus:
- The front desk of the Business, Math and Applied Technology faculty suite in the second-floor lobby area of the Mandel Humanities Center (EMHC)
- The area outside the Eastern Campus library, which was closed
- The front entryway of the Student Services building
Tri-C has reached out to the limited number of students, faculty and staff who were or may have been in contact with this student to provide guidance on self-quarantining and monitoring for symptoms. Exposure was minimal since the College was on spring break.
The security officer was last at Western Campus 13 days prior to being exposed to the coronavirus on March 23, so there was no possibility of campus exposure. The officer is quarantined and will not return to duty until screened and cleared by medical professionals.
Our thoughts and support are with these individuals through this difficult time. Out of an abundance of caution for everyone’s safety, the College has sanitized and disinfected the campus areas visited by both individuals.
We will continue to provide you with information on confirmed cases. Our goal is to be open and transparent, which we believe is essential to stopping the spread of the virus while protecting the privacy of the diagnosed individuals. We appreciate your patience as we verify information and contact those directly affected.
Let’s continue to work together to stop the spread. Please notify Joe Amschlinger, Collegewide director of Compliance and Risk Management, at joseph.amschlinger@tri-c.edu if you have symptoms or are diagnosed.
Stay home and stay safe.
April 7, 2020 - Town hall recording
Thank you to everyone who joined us Friday for Dr. Johnson’s Virtual Town Hall. If you missed it, or want to revisit it, watch it here.
Visit this page and the Tri-C Newsroom for the latest updates and resources.
April 3, 2020 - Extension of remote operations through May 1
Given expectations that the COVID-19 outbreak will not reach its peak in Ohio for several more weeks, College leadership has been discussing the need to prolong current on-site restrictions to safeguard the Tri-C community.
In concert with Gov. Mike DeWine’s announcement to extend the state’s stay-at-home order, the College will take the following steps to help slow the spread of the virus:
College operations — with the exception of Public Safety, Plant Operations and key administrative functions — will be performed remotely through May 1. This includes the on-site student services previously suspended until April 6, as well as faculty and staff previously advised to work remotely until April 30.
- Access to Tri-C buildings will be limited to staff involved in the critical areas of operation indicated above through May 1.
- The College will continue remote delivery of classes and student services through the end of the semester and will make accommodations for labs and other hands-on learning experiences wherever possible. We expect to make an announcement regarding the summer session very soon.
We will continue to update you as events unfold. In the meantime, visit this webpage for general information about the virus, Tri-C’s ongoing response, and guidance for students, faculty and staff — particularly when it comes to finding available assistance. You can also send questions to today@tri-c.edu.
We understand the hardship this presents for some of you, but these actions are necessary to “flatten the curve” of the COVID-19 spread and return life to normal sooner rather than later.
We are Tri-C strong. Together, we will overcome this crisis.
April 1, 2020 - Cases of COVID-19 at Tri-C
Despite our many precautions and preparations, it was inevitable that the coronavirus (COVID-19) would eventually touch the Tri-C community. We recently learned that four Cuyahoga Community College students tested positive for COVID-19. These are the first confirmed cases directly related to the College. Our thoughts are with these students, as are our hopes for their full and swift recovery.
The cases are unrelated, and all students were last on campus during or before the week of March 15. Tri-C has reached out to the limited number of students, faculty and staff who were or may have been in contact with these students to provide guidance on self-quarantining and monitoring for symptoms.
The College has also taken steps to sanitize and disinfect campus areas visited by the students who tested positive. Exposure to these areas has been minimal since most in-person classes were postponed from March 16 to March 23, and access to Tri-C buildings has been limited to staff involved in critical areas of operation since March 24.
This news about the positive tests underscores the need for all of us to practice social distancing and other measures to reduce the risk of infection and spread of the virus and to follow the process for reporting a diagnosis or exposure.
The College’s COVID-19 website contains general information about the virus, Tri-C’s ongoing response and guidance for students and staff as we navigate this unprecedented situation within our community. You can also send questions to today@tri-c.edu.
While our objective is to keep you informed, we understand that today’s news may add to the concern many of you feel about the spread of COVID-19 in our community, in the United States and across the world. Projections indicate that the virus has not yet reached its peak in Ohio and that more cases within our community will follow. We will share information on these cases with those who are directly affected or as appropriate to protect the health and well-being of our Tri-C family.
As always, it is vital for our community to support each other as we work to overcome this crisis.
Thank you for your continued support and cooperation.
Stay home, and stay safe,
Jenny Febbo, APR
Vice President Integrated Communications
April 1, 2020 - Tune in for Town Hall
Join us this Friday, April 3, at 1:30 p.m. for a Virtual Town Hall. Livestream the broadcast here for:
• Updates from Tri-C President Alex Johnson
• Updates on Enrollment, Financial Aid, Support Services, Online Learning and more
• Live Q&A – Submit questions during the Town Hall
If you’d like to submit questions in advance, send them to today@tri-c.edu by 10:30 a.m. on April 3.