A Message To Students Regarding Spring Break Travel
Dear Busters,
Garden City Community College takes your health and safety very seriously. In response to the growing number of cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the U.S. and new cases in Kansas, our leadership team is continuing to monitor reports from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and is working closely with the Finney County Health Department (FCHD) to keep everyone on campus safe and informed. We are doing so daily, and we will continue to keep you updated as new information becomes available to us!
Please note, as of March 12, 2020, we are not extending Spring Break (March 16-20) or making adjustments to how your classes are scheduled or delivered. Online classes will continue to meet online, and face-to-face classes will resume as normal on March 23.
However, prior to break, you are advised to plan accordingly in the event of any changes. This could mean that classes might move to an online format or shift to additional assignments via Canvas to best serve the needs of our college. We encourage you to keep communication lines between you and your instructors, your coaches, and other professional staff open so we can notify you about any possible changes.
By the way, when you enrolled at GCCC, you were automatically enrolled in our emergency alert system for important announcements. This will be one of many methods we will use to notify you. If you need to update your contact information, visit https://www.getrave.com/login/gcccks.
We also encourage you to practice preventive measures during your travels and time at home, like avoiding close contact with people who are sick, covering your cough or sneeze, and washing your hands often and with soap. Risks of travel (domestically or overseas) could include contracting the virus, having travel restrictions imposed by local or foreign governments and health authorities, or being quarantined or physically isolated from others for extended periods of time (currently 14 days).
If you're experiencing symptoms (i.e., fever, cough, difficulty breathing), and you live in Finney County, call the local health department at 620-272-3600. This helpline is available 24 hours for any questions you may have.
You can also contact our GCCC Student Health Services at 620-276-9601 during normal business hours on March 16-18, when our campus is open. GCCC will be closed on March 19 & 20, per our normal schedule. Another resource is St. Catherine Hospital, which is available by calling 620-272-2222.
Thank you, and we wish you a safe and healthy break! In the meantime, we’re here for any questions you have!
Sincerely,
GCCC President Dr. Ryan Ruda & College Cabinet