>> COVID-19 Special Appeal Form
For a student who, for a specific COVID-19-related reason, was not able to complete their class(es) for Spring 2020. (Added 4/22/2020 at 11:14 a.m.)
CURRENT STATUS
Students, for the most up-to-date information, be sure to check your student email account.
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2020 Fall Semester Information
Dear Owens Community,
The Owens Community College leadership team is diligently working on plans for a continued safe return to campus. These plans have been guided first and foremost by the health and safety of our campus community. For August, staff will continue to work with their direct supervisor to determine the work location that is most appropriate for their role. Reducing the number of staff on campus supports the health and safety of those roles that are critical to take place on our Toledo and Findlay area campuses.
Many measures have been put in place to ensure the health and safety of our campus community. We have followed the Responsible Restart Ohio guidance for Institutions of Higher Education as well as the CDC Considerations for Institutions of Higher Education. Some actions taken include:
- Requirement that all employees, students, guests and vendors will wear a face mask or facial covering at all times, except when alone in a private office or when allowable for an approved safety reason.
- Cleaning and sanitizing restrooms, classrooms and labs overnight, in addition to sanitizing tables and other high touch-points such as door handles, restroom fixtures, thermostats, etc. overnight. During normal operating hours, staff members are sanitizing restroom touch points, doorknobs, and flat surfaces in public areas, all on a regular basis.
- Installation of Dyson AirBlade hand dryers in most public restrooms on our campuses. Dyson hand dryers are quieter and more sanitary than all other hand dryers on the market. They have double sealed HEPA filters, trapping 99.97% of rest room bacteria, in comparison, a wet paper towel holds 1000x more bacteria. They are also touch free, eliminating the potential to spread germs.
- Installation of arm-pulls on restrooms doors that do not have accessible operators, so that you may exit the restroom without having to touch door handles. Installation is expected to be completed by September 2020.
- Classroom modification to include social distancing measures to ensure 6 feet between work areas.
- Oxivir disinfectant and paper towels have been, and will continue to be, provided for office suites and labs for use as needed.
- 150 additional instant hand sanitizer dispensers have been ordered and will be dispersed around campus.
- Over 100 Plastic shields have been installed at counters and other areas with a high volume of walk-up traffic.
- Creation of a new email address: COVID19@owens.edu to centralize questions, information sharing and health related updates for any COVID 19 matter. This account is monitored and responded to by a team of staff from the college to ensure timely reply and action.
- Distribution of over 600 Owens branded facial coverings to faculty, staff and students in the months of May, June and July. Additional supply of items will be at the Department of Public Safety on both campuses in early August. Each staff person is eligible to pick up one facial covering, per the May 2020 Onews notification.
- Closure of campus water fountains and bottle filling stations.
- Wide spread placement of signage at entry points to campus buildings, offices and common spaces indicating building requirements for masks, social distancing, hand washing and respiratory hygiene
- Development of individual health and safety plans for each office space, taking in to account the staff levels necessary to serve our community safely
- Continued practice of meeting virtually when possible for campus business, prohibition of non-essential work related travel, and a limit of 15 individuals for any college sponsored events in July and August
As we move closer to the start of Fall 2020 semester, on August 31, additional steps will be taken, and practices developed. Some include a new Return to Campus website with up to date information and applicable FAQ that will be live in the coming days, policies and procedures related to COVID 19 testing and quarantine/isolation for symptomatic students, faculty and staff, and a social media campaign related to ways to stay safe and healthy on campus. We will continue to share updates in Onews, Ozone and in other campus wide communications.
We want to thank each of you for your patience and resilience and we ask, given the uncertainties related to the current pandemic and the potential for state and federal guidelines to change, that you continue to remain flexible as we work to ensure your safety, as well as the academic success of our students. Please visit the class schedule for up to date class offerings for Fall semester and www.owens.edu/covid19/ for COVID 19 related updates.
Together we will emerge from this time stronger and better prepared as an institution to support each other, and our community.
Sincerely,
Denise Smith, Ph.D.
Acting President, Owens Community College
#TeamOwens #YourSuccessStartsHere #PoweredByOwens
(Updated 7/30/2020 at 9 a.m.)
Bookstores
The Owens Community College Bookstores are now online operations only. There is no physical store located on either campus of Owens.
Order your course materials, supplies and Owens logo clothing and have them shipped to your door. Ground shipping is free for all purchases. The website is located at https://www.bkstr.com/occstore/home.
(Updated 7/21/2020 at 2 p.m.)
Child Care Center on the Findlay-area Campus
The Child Care Center on the Findlay-area Campus is open under a temporary pandemic license at a limited capacity. We will inform you when this situation changes.
(Updated 3/25/2020 at 4:30 p.m.)
Classrooms
The College will be limiting the number of classrooms that will be utilized daily to ensure a thorough cleaning every night of used spaces, while unused spaces are taken offline.
(Added 7/21/2020 at 10:18 a.m.)
College-Sponsored Events
For the months of July and August, Owens Community College will not allow College-sponsored events with in-person participants greater than 15 individuals. The College leadership team will reassess in July for future months.
(Added 7/09/2020 at 10:30 a.m.)
Dining Services
Both the Toledo Fireside Grill and the Findlay Grill are currently closed.
(Updated 7/09/2020 at 10:30 a.m.)
Shuttle Schedule Change
The Owens Community College shuttle between the Downtown Learning Center and the Toledo-Area Campus will operate under an individually-scheduled service model until August 28, 2020. Rides can be scheduled Monday-Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., with the last pick up being at 4:30 p.m. to go to the downtown location.
To schedule a ride during those times, please call (567) 661-7577 and request a pick up location of either the Downtown Learning Center, College Hall or the Library. One hour notice is required to schedule a ride. Please call (567) 661-7577 with any questions or concerns.
Starting August 31, 2020 the shuttle will go back to the normal schedule, which can be found at www.owens.edu/shuttle/.
(Updated 7/21/2020 at 2 p.m.)
Student Health and Activities Center (SHAC); Findlay Fitness Center & Gym
The Toledo-area Campus SHAC is scheduled to reopen August 31 and we will continue to follow guidance and direction from the CDC and the State of Ohio.
The Findlay Fitness Center & Gym will be closed until further notice.
(Updated 7/09/2020 at 10:29 a.m.)
In Case of Emergency
If you have an emergency on-campus, contact the Department of Public Safety at (567) 661-7575.
Message From President Steve Robinson
March 30, 2020
Message from Denise Smith, Provost
March 27, 2020
Please know Owens Community College takes your health and wellness seriously. The College has brought together a cross section of various stakeholders and operating groups on campus to review and revise the college’s existing pandemic crisis plan. Much of this work involves a focus on developing proactive measures to communicate, educate, and implement pandemic information and plans to faculty, staff, and students. This work is ongoing, and as plans are developed, revised, and refined, that information will be shared with the campus community.
The College is actively monitoring the status of novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) including communicating with local and state health departments. The College will continue to provide updates to Owens Community College students, faculty, and staff in accordance with Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Ohio Department of Health, and local County Health Department guidelines.
Currently, Owens Community College stakeholder groups are regularly meeting, and communicating daily, to discuss and share federal, state, and local guidance on the evolving situation. In addition, teams of people, including Workplace Safety & Health, Human Resources, Student Services, Academics, Facilities and Operations, and the Department of Public Safety, are working day and night to ensure a clean and safe environment. In addition, the College is reviewing and updating policies, plans, and procedures to prepare for events that may change campus operations.
Effective health and wellness tips to minimize exposure and spread:
- If you are sick or have any (even mild) symptoms such as mild fever, cough, etc. please stay home. If these symptoms worsen please contact your nearest hospital or physician in advance and let them know you are coming with these symptoms.
- Avoid contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, face, mouth, and nose.
- Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds as often as possible.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces in your immediate area. Our physical plant has increased the level and strength of cleaning in all areas daily.
- An alcohol-based hand sanitizer should be seen as an extra layer of cleaning and should never be viewed as a replacement to frequent handwashing.
How to reach us
Due to social distancing guidelines and recommendations from the CDC and the Governor’s office, Owens Community College campuses will be serving our students virtually and remotely for the foreseeable future. In-person appointments will not be conducted. If you are unsure about your appointment or if you have a question, please contact the necessary department below. Thank you for your understanding.
- Admissions – admissions@owens.edu
- Advising – www.owens.edu/advising or advisor@owens.edu
- Bookstore – occtc@bkstr.com
- Career Services – www.owens.edu/career or careerservices@owens.edu
- College Credit Plus – ccp@owens.edu
- Computer Labs – The labs at both libraries remain open or College Hall 156
- Counseling – counselingservices@owens.edu or (567) 661-2107
- Dept. of Public Safety – (567) 661-7575
- Disability Resource Center – disability@owens.edu or (567) 661-7007
- Financial Aid – oserve@owens.edu
- Food Pantry – krista_kiessling@owens.edu or (419) 460-1272
- International – annette_swanson@owens.edu
- Library – libhelp@owens.edu or (567) 661-7015
- Oserve – www.owens.edu/oserve or oserve@owens.edu
- Student Activities – studentactivities@owens.edu
- Student Conduct – james_katzner@owens.edu
- Testing Center – toledo_testing_center@owens.edu
- Title IX – titleix@owens.edu
- Veterans Services – vets@owens.edu
If you do not see a department listed and you have a question, please use the online form to submit a question and we will get back to you as soon as possible.