JALC continues to put safety first as spring semester begins

CARTERVILLE - John A. Logan College will begin spring semester classes on yesterday, with a mix of hybrid, online, and limited face to face classes. The College will continue to follow strict COVID-19 protocols for cleaning and social distancing. All College offices will be open Monday through Friday with staff working both on campus and remotely.

Entrance to the College will no longer be limited to one entry and one exit point. All entrance points to the campus will be open to traffic and building entrances will feature self-screen systems that detect the presence of a face mask and an individual's temperature.

According to interim Campus Police Chief Stan Diggs, cooperation and patience will be the key to the process.

"The screening only takes a few seconds, and staff will be in place to assist individuals as they enter the building," said Diggs. "Most locations will be staffed from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. We will also have PPE's if needed, and failed screening logs and referral sheets."

Administrators encourage all students to monitor their email accounts, the JALC website, and official social media accounts for updates and to allow for adequate time when traveling to campus.

"While we will no longer be limited to one entry point to the campus, students should still allocate enough time to complete the self-screening," said Vice President for Instruction Dr. Melanie Pecord. "We also want to encourage our students to limit access to campus by utilizing email, telephone, and video conferencing when possible."

Pecord added that individuals exposed to or that have tested positive for COVID-19 should email covid19@jalc.edu to report their status and should not return to campus until properly quarantining and testing negative.

"In addition to reporting their status to the College, students need to email their instructors and academic adviser to ensure that they do not fall behind in their classes."

College President Dr. Kirk Overstreet stated that the campus community's continued effort will be the key to moving forward.

"Our top priority is the continued safety of our students and staff. We have gotten through almost a year of this situation by working together and following the protocols," said Overstreet. "We must continue to follow these protocols to keep everyone safe so that we can continue to serve and provide our services."

For the most up-to-date information, visit the College's COVID 19 page at www.jalc.edu. Information will also be posted on the College's official social media pages, volmail, and JALCTEXT.