Coronavirus - COVID-19 Health Advisory & Information

SCF Coronavirus-COVID-19 Hotline: 941-752-5015

April 3, 2020 Update:

Following the updated recommendations of the CDC, DOH, and local and state authorities to help prevent the spread of Coronavirus, effective Friday, April 3, 2020, SCF will be changing our hours of operation and extending deadlines as follows:

ALL SCF campuses will remain closed to non-essential personnel through May 2.

Effective Friday, April 3, 2020, the Academic Resource Centers (ARC) on all three campuses are closed. ARC tutoring services continue to be available virtually. Students can access tutor schedules and access information from the ARC webpage, SCF.edu/ARC

All SCF employees will now telecommute through May 2.

The State College of Florida Foundation has extended its scholarship application deadline through May 29.

SCF’s traditional 2020 Spring Commencement Ceremony is cancelled; however, we are currently planning an alternative celebration and will follow up with those details once they are finalized.

A message from SCF President Dr. Carol F. Probstfeld

SCF Summer A, B and C Term Courses Delivery Update

As a reminder, SCF summer courses for the Summer A and Summer C term begin on May 11. Please note the following updates regarding course delivery.

Summer A term courses will be delivered via online/remote learning.

Summer C term courses will begin via online/remote learning but may transition back to the normal face to face schedule at their designated days/times/locations, if allowed.

The delivery of Summer B term courses, which begin June 25, currently remain unchanged.

SCF will continue to meet regularly to assess and communicate changes.

To register for classes, please visit My.SCF.edu. For assistance with degree planning, please reach out to your advisor or visit SCF.edu/Advising. For additional assistance, please contact our Student Solution Center via text at 941-787-5561, email at StudentSolutions@SCF.edu or visit SCF.edu/StudentSolutionCenter

If you know of a student who wishes to apply and register at SCF, please have them visit SCF.edu/Apply or text 941-304-5443.

The below SCF resources continue to be available remotely to faculty, staff and students:

Registration and Admissions: 941-752-5000
Office of the Registrar: 941-752-5000
IT Help Desk: 941-752-5357
Student Food bank, by appointment only. Please call SCF Public Safety at Bradenton: 941-752-5550; Venice 941-408-1550; and Lakewood Ranch 941-363-7155.
AskALibrarian.org/SCF is available Mon. – Thurs. 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fri. 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sunday 5 – 9 p.m.

Our team will continue to meet regularly to assess and communicate recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Florida Department of Health (DOH), the Florida Department of Education (DOE), the Florida College System (FCS) and other local authorities.

Please continue to review the important information posted at SCF.edu/Coronavirus for SCF’s hours of operation, updates regarding online instruction and how to access additional resources.

For questions, concerns or additional information, please contact the Coronavirus Hotline at 941-752-5015.

Thank you and be well,

SCF

Important Information for SCF Students

Students will continue to receive communications directly from their Instructor(s) via Canvas and/or their SCF Student email regarding their class schedules and how each class will be accessed.

SCF Bookstore(s) on SCF Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch and Venice Access Information:
Physical Locations: CLOSED
24/7 Website with FREE ground shipping: www.SCFBradentonShop.com

Please check the SCF Activities and Event Status Report for a listing of additional postponed or cancelled College Event and Activities, which is being updated on a regular basis.

Please note the following important dates and information:

For the wellbeing and safety of all our faculty, staff and students as well as our community, and in alignment with the recommendations of the CDC, DOH, and local and state authorities, SCF will be implementing the following:

The remainder of SCF’s Spring Semester will be delivered via online instruction to the extent possible for all students.
Effective Monday, March 23, all SCF campuses are closed to non-essential personnel through May 2. This includes our campus Cafe's (food service) and Starbucks.
Effectively immediately, all non-essential events and activities are cancelled until further notice.
Effectively immediately, we are canceling ALL college-related travel, including in-district and out-of-state, for all faculty, staff and students until further notice.
SCF will continue to directly notify anyone who has had exposure to an individual(s) who has possibly or indirectly been exposed to or since tested presumptively positive or positive for the Coronavirus-COVID.
Following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) has cancelled the Spring athletic season and the basketball national championship tournament. This includes the cancellation of all practices, regular season, and championship play.
We continue to request all employees and students returning from travel to China, Iran, Italy, Japan, South Korea, and any cruises to self-isolate and not return to campus for 14 days after their return.
Students returning from international travel are asked to inform the Communication's office at 941-752-5320.
Employees returning from international travel are asked to inform the Human Resources office at 941-752-5506.

Following the recommendations of the CDC, SCF faculty, staff and students should adhere to the following safe practices when conducting essential meetings:

Do not host meetings or gatherings with groups larger than 10 people.
Practice social distancing if you must be around other individuals.
If possible, please conduct meetings or activities virtually or telephonically.

The personal safety of students, faculty and staff is our highest priority.

What precautionary measures is SCF taking?

In coordination with our local health departments, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Governor’s office, SCF is taking the following measures as a precaution for our College community:

Increasing the frequency of cleaning of highly touched surfaces with a disinfecting solution.
Encouraging regular, diligent hand washing and use of hand sanitizers, as well as proper preventative sneeze and cough etiquette on campus.
Encouraging and asking students, faculty and staff who exhibit signs of illness to remain off campus and seek medical evaluation.

Additional Helpful information

For reliable, up-to-date information, visit:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Manatee Health Department Health Line

The Manatee Health Department has set up the Manatee Health Line, a phone number that residents are asked to call first if they believe they may have coronavirus (COVID-19). The Manatee Health Line number is (941) 242-6649. Subject-matter experts are on duty 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday thru Friday.

Manatee residents who believe they may have COVID-19 are asked to call the Manatee Health Line before visiting health care providers.

The Department of Health runs a hotline that anyone who believes they may have coronavirus can call, as well. The number is (866) 779-6121 and operates 24 hours a day, 7 days week.

Florida COVID-19 Call Center

1-866-779-6121

Preventative actions and Common Guidelines

It is currently flu season, and the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) recommends getting a flu vaccine, taking everyday preventive actions to help stop the spread of germs, and taking flu antivirals if prescribed. We encourage you to continue to stress these common guidelines with all members of the school community, students, staff and parents:

If you are sick, stay home.
Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.
Carry and use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
Call ahead before visiting your doctor.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
Monitor your symptoms.

Please see this helpful flier from the CDC related to handwashing and the use of alcohol-based sanitizer.

Please see this helpful flier from the CDC related to stopping the spread of germs.

Previous Updates

March 20, 2020 Update: As we all adjust to this new and temporary environment, we wanted to reflect on how proud we are of our students, faculty and staff. Thank you to our resilient students who continue to exemplify what it is to be #SCFProud. You lead by example and demonstrate how grit and determination not only earns you a degree but carries you through the most trying situations. Our sincere gratitude to our faculty and staff who operationalized our institution to function virtually and transition to a 97% online learning environment within a week’s time. Your dedication to our students and their success is what makes SCF our community’s beloved state college and fulfills our vision to be the region’s first choice. Our team will continue to meet regularly to assess and communicate recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Florida Department of Health (DOH), the Florida Department of Education (DOE), the Florida College System (FCS) and other local authorities. In the interim, please practice social distancing, be well and know that we are here to support you.

March 17, 2020 Update: Our team continues to meet regularly to assess and communicate recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Florida Department of Health (DOH), the Florida Department of Education (DOE), the Florida College System (FCS) and other local authorities. Ongoing discussions regarding faculty and staff telecommuting, online instruction beyond April 3 and College events continue in the event we need to implement additional plans.

March 16, 2020 Update: We continue to prepare for the transition to an Online Learning environment, to the extent possible, effective Thursday, March 19, 2020. Please note ALL SCF Campuses are closed to students and the public today through Wednesday, March 18. Only faculty and staff should be on campus to help us prepare for this transition.

March 13, 2020 Update: For the wellbeing and safety of all our faculty, staff and students as well as our community, SCF will transition to an Online Learning environment, to the extent possible, effective Thursday, March 19, 2020.

March 11, 2020 Update: Out of an abundance of caution, and for the safety of our students, faculty and staff, we wanted to share that an individual has been excluded from College activities in accordance with the Department of Health (DOH) recommendations. Due to their possible contact with a person or items handled by a person who has since tested positive for COVID-19 (Coronavirus), the individual is self-isolating for 14 days. It is important to note that the individual is currently well. For the safety and privacy of our students, faculty and staff, SCF will not be disclosing any additional information.

Please continue to monitor all communications channels, including the College’s emergency alert system through email, telephone, text and SCF.edu/Coronavirus for updates.

Administration

Coronavirus - COVID-19 Health Advisory & Information