This story has been updated. 03/12/20 3:55 p.m.

 

Southwestern College discontinue classes on its campuses over coronavirus concerns on March 15. There are no known cases of the virus currently on campus. SC was the first community college in San Diego to announce a closure. Faculty were asked to continue classes online.

A high-ranking college official surprised administrators with the unauthorized announcement of the closure during the March meeting of governing board. Administrators had originally planned to make the announcement at I p.m. on Friday, March 13.

Ernesto Rivera, SC’s Marketing Communications Associate, was thrust into the role of college spokesperson without warning. Within an hour he sent out a written statement that announced the plans to close the campus in an effort to engage in “social distancing” to reduce the potential spread of COVID-19.

“They are shifting to a strategy of distributed learning operations,” Rivera said. “Teaching will continue, but in an off-campus, online format.

Rivera also said administrators hope faculty will find a way to connect with students either by communicating online or sending homework packages to work on during the week of closure.

Rivera said he understands there are many subgroups in SC who have a curriculum that requires more than meeting in class, such as science labs and career education. College leaders are considering options, but have no firm plans.

Some student activities and services will carry on but others will not.

Sports and cultured events will be postponed or cancelled.

“Romeo and Juliet,” a long-anticipated bilingual student play set in an era divided by war, will no longer premiere on March 17. It is unknown whether the play will be postponed or canceled.

Nursing student clinicals will continue unless the hospital hosting SC students says otherwise.

SC’s restorative justice program will also continue unless Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility forbids visitors.

Counseling appointments will be honored, but held virtually. Students with upcoming appointments will be emailed instructions on how to follow through with the meeting.

All school trips are canceled until further notice.

Faculty will be allowed to come onto campus to retrieve material, but must work at home. SC campus police will still patrol the campus.

SC’s Wellness and Aquatic Center will also be closed until further notice.

Salaries and paychecks should not be affected, Rivera said, including student workers and tutors, who will be paid in full.

George Galan, a student and certified personal trainer at the college’s gym, said he is grateful to still be paid.

SC student Jahaziel Valencia said he understands the pressure being put on the college, but said closing the school during spring break is futile.

“It seems like more of a PR move, but I’m glad they decided to take measures to make sure students are safe even though it is mostly pointless,” he said.

Marco Figueroa, a former SC student, said he was not worried about the outbreak at first, but has grown more concerned.

“I thought it was just like any other ‘mass panic’ where it gets blown out of proportion with social media,” he said. “Hearing about schools closing down because of it has me a little more worried.”

Rivera said it is a college-wide effort to provide assistance and education for SC’s students and is confident college faculty and staff will pull through the temporary shut down.

Superintendent Dr. Kindred Murillo and her team management will assess the situation and make a determination on how to move forward by March 23. Rivera said the college will send a message to employees and students at that time.

7:48 p.m. Statement from Murillo, provided by Rivera.

Dear Southwestern College,

We have been closely monitoring the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation throughout San Diego. This is a rapidly changing situation and we appreciate everyone’s patience as college leadership works to ensure a safe and healthy learning environment for our students, employees and community.

The San Diego County Public Health Services assures us that risk to the general public is still low, but as a precautionary measure, we are taking action to slow the transmission of the virus and reduce the potential of people being infected.

Beginning Monday, March 16 through Friday, March 20, Southwestern College will move all in-person classes to online or distributed instruction. College operations will be conducted remotely and Southwestern College employees will continue to work under guidance from their department directors.

Large public events at all our campuses (Chula Vista, National City, San Ysidro, Otay Mesa and Coronado) will be canceled. Athletic events will continue as scheduled without spectators.

Students should continue to report to their classes and employees report to their regular work schedules until Monday, March 16. Students and employees experiencing COVID-19 or flu-like symptoms should continue to stay home.

Southwestern College will follow the following timeline while we continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation throughout San Diego:

  • March 16–20: Classes will be held online or through distributed instruction.
  • March 23–27: Spring break will occur as scheduled.
  • March 30: Face-to-face classes and regular college business will resume. All students and employees should report back to their respective campuses.

We understand there are still many questions and details about college operations still lingering. College leadership will meet tomorrow, Wednesday, March 10, and provide a more detailed update to the campus community in the afternoon.

We will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation in San Diego and readjust our prevention efforts as needed.