March Newsletter
Dear student,

We stand in solidarity with you and your beloved ones as times of health uncertainty and social distancing continue to impact the state.

We have compiled a list of resources for you and your beloved ones! We understand that the resources below maybe a lot, but please take your time on reading them carefully.

If you need help locating a resource or service near you or have any questions, please reach out to us by replying to this newsletter or emailing kmontenegro@vcccd.edu
COMMUNITY
RESOURCES & SERVICES
COVID-19 Resources for Undocumented Immigrants
MOORPARK COLLEGE
RESOURCES & SERVICES
Do you need a Laptop to complete your classes?
We understand that you may need a laptop to complete your courses and assignments and we would like to help you borrow one! If you need a laptop, please reply to this email or email kmontenegro@vcccd.edu with your full name, email, student ID number, and contact information!
Internet Tips
If you do not have access to Wi-Fi, but have a smartphone with hotspot capacity, call you cellphone company and ask if they can provide you with free to low-cost internet with hotspot.
All Moorpark College Tutoring Online!
Starting Monday, March 16: All Moorpark College Tutoring Will Occur Online!

GREAT NEWS! In an effort to provide seamless support for students, both the Math and Science Center and the Writing Center will transition immediately into Online Tutoring (employing almost 80 tutors through this time)! How will we do this?
  
1) Drop-In One-On-One Tutoring:  Students who need tutoring will “Drop-In” to our one-on-one online tutoring room anytime during our regularly scheduled hours (Mondays-Thursdays 9am-7pm, Fridays 9am-noon). Please share the link to the Drop-In One-On-One tutoring room with your students: 
 
The moderator of the room will ask the student who joins the room what subject they need help in and subsequently pair the student with a tutor of that subject area into a private breakout room within ConferZoom. We will have anywhere between 4 and 12 tutors logged in and ready to help students. Drop-In One-On-One Tutoring includes the following subjects:
  • French 
  • Spanish
  • Japanese
  • ESL
  • Psychology
  • Anatomy/physiology
  • Elementary/Intermediate Algebra
  • College Algebra
  • Trigonometry 
  • Calculus I, II, III
  • Differential Equations
  • Linear Algebra
  • Statistics
  • All Levels of Physics
  • All Levels of Chemistry
  • All levels of Engineering
  • Logic
  • Biology
  • Accounting
  • Computer Science (C++ & Java)
Students will ask,  "When do I log-in to receive tutoring in my course?"
Answer: Tutoring for all Math courses with levels up to Calculus I will be available during all hours of operation: Mondays-Thursdays 9:00am-7:00pm, Fridays 9:00 am-Noon
Tutoring for all Chemistry IA courses will be available during all hours of operation: Mondays-Thursdays 9:00am-7:00pm, Fridays 9:00 am-Noon
For tutoring in all other courses, please see the schedule which will be regularly updated as time goes on:

2) Writing Tutoring Across all Disciplines, by Appointment: Writing tutors with one-on-one appointments will hold their sessions in their own ConferZoom room. Students will receive an email invitation to the room after their appointment has been made. Appointments are secured at the Writing Center website: 

3) Course Embedded Tutors (CET) for Math M03 and M05: our CETs will continue to hold their sessions that normally would occur outside of class (without the instructor), but now they will be in the CET’s own personal ConferZoom room. CETs already have access to Canvas so they will publicize their study sessions via Canvas.

4) Peer Assisted Learning Sessions (PALS): PAL sessions for Calculus Courses, College Algebra, or Statistics are initiated by the teacher or the student. If a group of four or more students from one class would like to study together, we hire a tutor to join them. These sessions will not occur March 16-18, but will resume via ConferZoom starting March 23 in the PAL leader’s personal ConferZoom room. 
We are excited and ready to offer continued support for our students during this time!

-Teaching and Learning Center Team
Emergency Grants for Students
Moorpark College has a much needed  Emergency Grant  to provide immediate financial assistance for students who encounter temporary financial hardship due to  unforeseen  and  catastrophic  life events. We have included some FAQ’s below to provide additional information.  
 
What is the Moorpark College Emergency Fund? 
The Moorpark College Emergency Fund is intended to provide resources such as funds to purchase a laptop or funds to help cover living expenses (due to job loss or work reduction) to a currently enrolled Moorpark College student who is experiencing a specific and unforeseen financial shortfall during these unprecedented times that is temporarily jeopardizing his/her ability to remain in school. This fund is not intended to provide ongoing assistance and is subject to available resources sponsored by categorical funds.  
 
How do I refer a student to the EFG and Emergency Fund?  
Refer the student by asking them to go online to  Financial Aid Forms (Links to an external site.)
 and fill out and submit the form to each financial aid specialist by caseload as follows: 
Students with names ending in letters B or C to  aalonzo@vcccd.edu  and  MCFA@vcccd.edu  
Students with names ending in letters D, E, F, & G to  gregory_balam1@vcccd.edu  and  mcfa@vcccd.edu  
Students with names ending in letters H, I, J, K & L to  vroberts@vcccd.edu  and  mcfa@vcccd.edu  
Students with names ending in letters M, N, O & P to  rluna@vcccd.edu  and  mcfa@vcccd.edu  
Students with names ending in letters Q, R, & S to  rstofka@vcccd.edu  and  mcfa@vcccd.edu  
Students with names ending in letters T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z & A to  gsanchez@vcccd.edu  and  mcfa@vcccd.edu  
The Financial Aid Office will work with the students and determine the students’ eligibility, refer students to other resources that may help and check if they have met the criteria to award the funds. 
 
Is any student eligible for the EFG?  
Yes, any student can apply and receive funding one time. The Financial Aid Office will determine their eligibility and verify appropriate documentation. 
 
Is any student eligible for the Moorpark College Emergency Funds? 
Yes, any student with a financial aid application can apply and receive funding. If they haven’t got a current financial aid application they will be assisted to complete one. The Financial Aid Office will determine their eligibility and verify appropriate documentation. 
 
If eligible, how fast do students obtain the funds from the EFG?   
By appointment at the Student Business Office generally between 24- 48 hours  
 
Is the form online?  
 on the Moorpark College Financial Aid website and can be submitted by email to  MCFA@vcccd.edu . 
 
-Financial Aid Staff
Student Health Center Services 
MC Student Health Center Staff extends our thoughts and well wishes to all of you as we face challenges of remote classes and services, provide support to one another as we/our families face illness, and we do our best to practice shelter in place and social distancing. 
 
Update on Health Center offerings and resources:
MC Student Health Center offers Telehealth
Call 805.378.1413 to schedule an appointment.

Services available:
  • Mental Health Counseling
  • Health Care Triage with medical providers
 
Helpful resources:

Student Health Center Instagram @findingcalmish starts 3/30/2020  join us for more coping strategies, uplifting, and attempts at humor – run by your health center therapists-
 
Here is a reminder about COVID 19:  COVID 19 SHC Letter.docx
 
Wishing you all good health,
 
-Health Center Staff
Get involved on Campus: DREAMers Workgroup
LEAD THE CHANGE!

The DREAMers Workgroup is looking for students who would like to be part of discussing and organizing events and activities that support students who are undocumented on campus. If you would like to be part of this important group and initiative on campus, please contact Karla Montenegro Gonzalez at kmontenegro@vcccd.edu
Virtual Community Hours
The First Year Experience Program/Student Success Center ivite you to join them for virtual community sessions. During this community hours, students will have the chance to chat with student success coaches and peers. Many of these sessions are intended to be community builders, where you will receive a support system and know that you are not alone. 

Ruben Castro Charities Food Pantry at Moorpark College
Ruben Castro Charities is still serving groceries for the community.

Every Tuesday from 1:00pm-3:00pm and  5:00pm-7:00pm at the college behind bookstore.
 
Also, on Saturday 10-11am
Location: Moorpark Career Education Center (parking lot)

For their latest information please visit their website at https://rubencastrocharities.org/events/ . In addition, please call 805-530-5536 to listen more information about the food distribution procedure.