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FROM STAFF REPORTS

HOOVER – Jefferson State Community College, as part of the Alabama Community College System, will discontinue on-campus instruction from March 17 through April 3.

ACCS announced the step for its 23 institutions meant to guard against the spread of COVID-19, or coronavirus, on Friday, March 13.

“Our students are our number one priority, and while our decision today to suspend courses is unprecedented it is a necessary precaution to ensure the health and safety of the more than 174,000 students we serve across the state,” ACCS Chancellor Jimmy H. Baker said. “Our ACCS response team continues to work closely with the Alabama Department of Public Health on this evolving issue and will continue to do everything we can to help stop the potential spread of COVID-19 in the state of Alabama.”

All events scheduled at the state’s community colleges during this time frame are also cancelled.

While classes will not be taking place on campus, ACCS colleges will continue normal operations.

Colleges with dormitories will continue to provide basic services to the students who are housed on-campus with no alternative options.

Alternative instruction plans are being developed by each ACCS college. These plans will be communicated directly to students by their respective institutions next week.

Jefferson State’s spring break is scheduled for March 23-27.

Other ACCS actions related to COVID-19 include:

All college-sponsored, supported or work-related out-of-state travel and all system office work related out-of-state travel is canceled until further notice.

If an employee tests positive for COVID-19, or the employee’s child or dependent tests positive and the employee must stay home to provide care, then that employee should stay at home for 14 days and should not be charged sick, annual or personal leave.

The Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC) has announced the suspension of all regular season competition for all teams, effective March 13 through April 3.

For continued updates and to view already issued directives to ACCS colleges visit ACCS.edu/coronavirus.

Jefferson State students with questions about travel should contact (205) 856-7704 or email help@jeffersonstate.edu. Faculty and staff should contact Human Resources at (205) 856-8598 or swilson@jeffersonstate.edu.

“While we cannot restrict individuals’ travel for personal business, Jefferson State strongly encourages students, faculty and staff to follow CDC travel watches, alerts and warnings and be aware of additional CDC and State Department updates,” read a Jefferson State notice. “The global situation is rapidly evolving, and risk of acquiring COVID-19 may change abruptly. Please be mindful of potential associated risks of disruptions to reentry to the United States, including possible quarantine.”