COVID-19 Testing Guidelines for Spring 2022
Dear Colleagues,
Last month, I sent out a document outlining the testing procedures at MJC for the
forthcoming Spring 2022 semester. We have been updating the guidelines keeping in
tune with the development of the pandemic. You can find the guidelines here. The latest version was prepared taking into consideration feedback from different
constituent groups at multiple forums. While deciding about the frequency of testing,
I relied upon established resources such as CDC and CCCAA. I am sure this document
will address some questions and give rise to few more. Please bring your questions/concerns
forward and we will address them as quickly as possible.
We have engaged an external agency to conduct testing. I have been asked several times who is going to monitor the testing status of students. While we are trying to identify buildings with heavy traffic and set up a check-in desk for validating testing status, this process is neither productive nor feasible in many circumstances. There will be situations where we will rely upon the classroom faculty or the staff providing service at the counter to validate the testing status of a student or a prospective student. This is a part of classroom management or regular interaction with a student. I have mentioned in several forums that such interaction does not need to be confrontational. If any situation becomes volatile, please call campus safety, inform your immediate management supervisor, and if needed, cancel the class for the day.
We have been running nearly 10% face to face classes this semester (Fall 2021) and we never had any unpleasant interaction regarding mask wearing or any other COVID-related issue. I firmly believe with about 20% classes on campus next semester, we can continue the trend successfully. On another note, our unduplicated headcount for Spring 2022 is 35% more than what it was last semester at this point of time! This is a significant achievement at any time! It is more important now because statewide, there is a declining enrollment trend. We have stopped the decline and gained individual students. A lot of effort from marketing has helped us enroll the large student body! Let us focus how we can retain these students, provide them with an exciting learning environment, and help them succeed. I am confident working together, we can help them continue their academic journey at MJC!
Thank you.