Dear Student,

Congratulations for making it to the final week of this challenging fall term. As you have likely heard, Contra Costa County has implemented a new Stay at Home Order beginning December 5 at 12:59 p.m. We want to reassure you that this order will have little impact, if any, for you as a Diablo Valley College student. As you know, most of our classes and support services are online. For those of you who do need to come to campus for a class or an essential support service, we are are here for you, just as we have always been.

We offer many ways to support you through your finals and most don't require a visit to campus. Your best reference for help is our Got Questions webpage where you can find links to the resources you need. Also, please be sure to read your weekly Student Success email (Monday), filled with tips and resources for getting through this final week with flying colors.

Good luck on your finals. We know it took a lot of hard work to stick with your classes despite the extra challenges this term. We also know it will pay off for you.

For more information on the county order and its impact on the college, please see the Chancellor's message below.
Dear 4CD Family,

After a review of the Governor’s Regional Stay at Home Order, a review of Contra Costa County’s implementation of the order, feedback from county health, and input from the 4CD cabinet, we will not need to make substantive changes to how we are proceeding to close out the fall semester or how we plan to move forward with the spring semester. We are already operating within the parameters of the new order and have a spring schedule that is within the parameters as well. The rule of thumb for colleges and schools under this order is to keep operating the way we have been throughout the fall semester. If we make any adjustments, the adjustments cannot equate to more time on a 4CD property. The current County Order gives guidance for colleges and schools in Section 2.G. here:  https://813dcad3-2b07-4f3f-a25e-23c48c566922.filesusr.com/ugd/84606e_c414dd9409a0478cad5a0ecf80e19eb4.pdf
 
Closing Out the Fall Semester
 
With regard to closing out the fall semester, we are starting finals week on Monday 12/7 and sliding into winter break thereafter. Final exams can proceed as planned and any support services already scheduled to support finals can remain. Individual visits to any of our six facilities should be limited as much as possible. If your physical presence on any 4CD property can be avoided, please do so. If it cannot be avoided, follow our current public health protocols (mask, social distance, hygiene, etc.). Do not visit any 4CD facility if you are presenting COVID symptoms.
 
Starting Up the Spring Semester
 
We intend to follow our plans for the spring semester with or without the Regional Stay at Home Order. The plans for the District and three colleges are very thorough and have been developed with broad constituent input. If the order is in place during the spring semester, we will need to follow the more restrictive approach described in the previous paragraph. If the order is lifted before or during the spring semester, we can continue having in-person services and instruction proportional to the needs at each of our sites, much like our Return-to-Worksites Covid-19 Operations Plan already delineates. Under all circumstances, public health protocols will need to be followed (mask, social distance, hygiene, etc.).
 
More comprehensive information on how 4CD is approaching COVID can be found at http://www.4cd.edu/covid19/default.aspx. Details regarding the Governor’s plan can be found at https://www.gov.ca.gov/2020/12/03/california-health-officials-announce-a-regional-stay-at-home-order-triggered-by-icu-capacity/. The County’s press release from today can be found at https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/.  

Dr. Reece
 
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Bryan Reece, Ph.D.
Chancellor, Contra Costa Community College District