IMPORTANT MESSAGE: Coronavirus Disease 2019 Updates (March 6 - 16, 2020)

Provided by DMC College Relations Office

Please scroll down for updates, which are date and time stamped chronologically.

Del Mar College COVID-19
Friday, March 6, 2020 ( 9:12 a.m.)

Del Mar College is committed to ensuring a healthy, safe and secure environment for our students, staff and visitors.

The latest information about the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) from the Texas Department of State Health Services is available using the following link: https://www.dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/

Use this link for updates regarding statewide information.

Del Mar College COVID-19 UPDATE
Wednesday, March 11, 2020 (4:59 p.m.)

In response to the latest developments related to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Del Mar College is committed to taking proactive measures to promote awareness and prevention. As of right now, there are NO confirmed cases of the illness in our area. Del Mar leadership continues to closely monitor the situation, following the direction of the local health department. Plans are underway and ready for implementation when and if the situation warrants. Future updates will be provided as needed. We encourage students and staff to continue practicing common, preventive measures to assist with containing the spread of all illnesses.

If you have additional questions related to COVID-19, click here to visit the Texas Department of State Health services website.

Del Mar College COVID-19 UPDATE
Thursday, March 12, 2020 (2:47 p.m.)
 

In an effort to help contain the potential spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), DMC leadership has decided to extend Spring Break by one week. Regularly scheduled, on campus and face-to-face, classes are anticipated to resume Monday, March 23, dependent upon the rapidly evolving situation. All students and staff should not report to any of the Del Mar College campuses or buildings, as they will be closed to the public during this designated time. Key staff will be notified individually if they are expected to report to work.

The intent behind extending the break is to allow staff planning time for the possible transition of traditional, face-to-face classes into online settings. Additionally, the extension will promote social distancing until we learn more about the virus and how it may specifically affect our region.

Since current online classes are isolated and do not promote public gathering, they will remain on schedule and proceed as normal.

The White Library, located on Del Mar College East Campus, is also closed to the public and is anticipated to remain closed until Monday, March 23, dependent upon the rapidly evolving situation.

JUST A REMINDER: IF YOU HAVE TRAVELED ABROAD, ARE FEELING ILL OR FEEL THAT YOU MAY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO COVID-19, PLEASE STAY HOME AND SEEK APPROPRIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION. Do not report to class or work until you have been properly released.

If you have additional questions related to COVID-19, click here to visit the Texas Department of State Health Services website. Please visit our COVID-19 web page for college-related updates.

Del Mar College COVID-19 UPDATE  
Friday, March 13, 2020 (4:45 p.m.)

Thank you for your continued patience as we move through this quickly, evolving situation related to COVID-19. Currently, the health and safety of our students, employees and visitors are the College’s top priority. In an effort to expedite communication and facilitate planning, we continue to collaborate with local and state agencies to ensure we have the most up-to-date information in a rapidly, changing environment. 

We acknowledge there are several lingering questions related to academics, class schedules and health and safety, and we are working on addressing these issues as they come forward. One of the main reasons we decided to extend the Spring Break period was to provide the College with additional time to receive valued input and to develop a thorough plan of action.  

At this time, our focus remains on ensuring campus facilities are properly cleaned and sanitized. The College has spent the past several days deep cleaning classrooms, offices, etc., with plans to continue those efforts as long as needed. Additionally, discussions related to the maintenance of academic course offerings with the least minimal impact to students will remain at the forefront of our planning efforts. You can expect that we will continue to provide timely updates as information becomes available and decisions are finalized.  

We ask for your continued patience as we work through this evolving situation with the understanding that current conditions are ever-changing as official health updates/reports are being released.  

A designated email account has been established to collect all questions, comments related to the Del Mar College COVID-19 response at covid19@delmar.edu. Additionally, please visit our COVID-19 web page where an updated listing of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) will be maintained and posted on a continual basis. 

JUST A REMINDER: IF YOU HAVE TRAVELED ABROAD, ARE FEELING ILL OR FEEL THAT YOU MAY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO COVID-19, PLEASE STAY HOME AND SEEK APPROPRIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION. Do not report to class or work until you have been properly released. 

If you have additional questions related to COVID-19, click here to visit the Texas Department of State Health Services website.

Del Mar College COVID-19 UPDATE
Monday, March 16, 2020 (10:52 a.m.)

Del Mar College continues to monitor the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation. We are working closely with state and local agencies and following guidance released by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). As we move through this quickly evolving event, we ask that all students and employees check DMC email frequently as this will remain key in our communication efforts. Communication updates will be posted daily and will be sent via email, posted to the DMC website, the VikingGO app and social media. Additionally, FAQs posted on the DMC COVID-19 page will be updated on a continual basis and comments/questions can be emailed to covid19@delmar.edu. DMC key personnel will be meeting today at 11 a.m. to continue our planning efforts. We will send out an email update following the meeting to provide the latest information.

At this time, access to all DMC campuses is restricted as the College is closed for an extended Spring Break. Online classes will resume today, as scheduled. For more information, on COVID-19 please click here to visit the Texas Department of State Health services website.

Del Mar College COVID-19 UPDATE
Monday, March 16, 2020 (5:06 p.m.)

DMC key personnel met Monday to discuss planning efforts in support of the on-going COVID-19 response. The health and safety of our students, employees and visitors are always at the forefront of our discussions. Key personnel will spend the rest of this week firming up plans and will share information as decisions are finalized. Below are updates for key topics of interest.

Campus Access

Access to all DMC campuses, including the DMC Testing Center, is restricted at this time. Students who are taking online classes and have questions related to coursework, please contact your instructor. Employees who have special circumstances or need access to perform on-going job duties, please contact your immediate supervisor. As of now, DMC remains on an extended Spring Break schedule through Sunday, March 22.

Academic Instruction

DMC key personnel have launched a college-wide needs assessment with a focus on gathering information to assist with quickly transitioning several current face-to-face courses into an online environment. Not all instruction provided at DMC fits this description, so leadership in each of the key academic areas are reviewing options for those classes that may require special consideration. Details on instructional transitional plans will be communicated to students by DMC instructors as they are finalized.

Events

All public events of 50 or more scheduled to be held on DMC campuses are cancelled through the end of April. Until further notice, no future college affiliated public events/gatherings will be scheduled.

RESOURCES

DMC library staff have created an online COVID-19 Resource Guide, which provides links to several national and state health organizations and the latest local and national news coverage. Click here to view the guide, which will be updated frequently to reflect the latest COVID-19 information. Additionally, those needing technical support with online access can contact the Viking Help Desk at 361-698-2300 or vikinghelpdesk@delmar.edu for assistance.

As a reminder, DMC public communication updates will be posted daily and will be sent via email, posted to the DMC website, the VikingGO app and social media. Additionally, FAQs posted on the DMC COVID-19 page will be updated on a continual basis and comments/questions can be emailed to covid19@delmar.edu.

Thank you for your continued patience as we move through this evolving situation with the understanding that current conditions are ever-changing as official health updates/reports are being released by local, state and federal agencies.