COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Updates and InformationCOVID-19 (Coronavirus) Updates and Information
Updated: March 24, 2020
Access to all Aims campuses is limited to critical operational personnel only until further notice. All courses will be offered online for the remainder of the 2020 semester and all College employees not deemed critical operational personnel shall work remotely until further notice.
Aims’ Incident Response Team is continuing to evaluate the situation and lead major
decision making regarding College operations. Decisions that impact College operations
depend on how many cases are confirmed locally, where the affected people live, what
containment measures can be applied and guidance from local, state and federal authorities.
It's important to us as a College to have plans for a wide variety of emergency situations.
Our emergency operations plan includes methods of continuing operations as long as
it is safe to do so. With infectious diseases, the College response measures depend
on the type of disease and the outbreak’s impact on the health and welfare of everyone
on our campuses. Response measures escalate as needs escalate.
To promote the safest possible conditions on all campuses, we are providing enhanced cleaning (hospital grade supplies) with increased attention to commonly touched surfaces.
You can support these efforts by following our previously issued preventive hygiene
guidance, including washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds,
avoiding touching your face with unwashed hands and cleaning and disinfecting shared
surfaces and objects that are touched frequently.
All in-person events and meetings are cancelled for the remainder of Spring 2020 semester. Aims encourages faculty, staff, and students to hold activities that leverage various technologies (such as Zoom) as an alternative to meeting in person.
As of March 19, 2020, we are aware of one Aims Community College affiliate who has tested positive for COVID-19. All known Aims employees and students who were in contact with the individual have been notified by the College and the Weld County Department of Health. Aims Human Resources and Safety & Security are working diligently to monitor the situation.Because this is a rapidly changing situation, we refer you to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment as the primary source for tests and tracking. It’s important to note that individuals affiliated with Aims Community College could be getting tested by their community health care providers, and we wouldn’t necessarily know about them.
Human Resources is implementing an Emergency Paid Time Off (EPTO) plan for all employees
who may be impacted by COVID-19 (coronavirus). This includes full-time, part-time
and student employees.
If you have any questions please contact Human Resources: Jenell Wild, jenell.wild@aims.edu; or Jan Cope, jan.cope@aimd.edu
With guidance from the CDC and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, we have made the decision to offer all courses online through the end of the Spring 2020 semester. Classes will begin online Monday, March 30 and continue through Tuesday, May 5. Previously scheduled online classes will resume March 30 as well. Assignments, tests, etc. originally due the week of March 23 will be extended. Look for information from instructors.
Career and Technical Education Students: We are evaluating strategies which allow students to complete their CTE skills. Specific information will be sent to students by their instructors.
Zoom is a powerful videoconferencing technology that allows people around the world to connect virtually. However, if not configured appropriately, Zoom can easily be abused by pranksters and hackers resulting in an embarrassing situation. We have compiled these tips and best use ideas for your convenience.
The outbreak of COVID-19 may be stressful for people in our community. There are many unknowns which can make people feel unsettled. Many people have different ways of coping, different resources available, and different levels of capacity for handling stress. This is a time when it is even more important than usual to be kind and understanding with each other and with ourselves.
If you find that worry is impacting your ability to concentrate on school assignments, if you are having difficulties with sleep, or you’re experiencing other effects of stress related to this issue, please contact the Dean of Students at deanofstudents@aims.edu.
If you are unable to participate in class due to illness or the need to care for someone who is ill, you are responsible for emailing your course instructor(s) as soon as possible to let them know. You are responsible for completing any work that you might miss, including assignments, quizzes, tests and exams. Students who adhere to this protocol will not be penalized according to the attendance policy for the course. Instructors will provide reasonable accommodations for students who cannot complete coursework because of illness, to help all students finish their classes with as little disruption as possible.The Aims website is the most current source of information. In addition, the CDC COVID-19 website and CO Department of Public Health and Environment website are frequently updated.
The College does not set requirements for personal travel. We strongly urge people to:
This information and guidance is subject to change as new information becomes available from the CDC and State Department. All travelers are encouraged to check the CDC’s COVID-19 travel page, State Department travel advisories, and the International Air Transport Association’s list of travel and entry restrictions for the latest information before departing.
If you have questions about reimbursement for cancelled College travel, please contact Paul Lind (paul.lind@aims.edu)
Yes, all campus events have been cancelled for the remainder of the Spring 2020 semester. Please either reschedule for a later date or consider alternative options, such as hosting remotely via Zoom or other video platforms.
For Aims-related concerns, email covid19.acc@aims.edu