COVID-19 News Archive

We look forward to starting our 2022-2023 academic year. Here are a few reminders:

• Masks are not required, but they are welcomed.
• N95 masks are available to all students and employees at LBCC. If you would like an LBCC-provided N95 mask, please fill out this form.
• If you are experiencing any COVID symptoms, please do not come to campus. If you test positive for COVID-19, please notify us by submitting the COVID-19 reporting form. We need to continue sending OSHA notifications.
• Please continue to check for any updates on our LBCC COVID page and review the LBCC Rebounding Plan and appendices.
• LBCC follows the Oregon Health Authority guidelines.

LBCC's mandatory indoor mask requirements will remain until the end of winter term: March 18.

As part of a strategic alignment with Washington and California, Gov. Kate Brown announced yesterday that Oregon's statewide mask mandate will expire at midnight on March 11. However, LBCC will continue to require masking until the end of winter term, as we have previously committed to both students and staff in our Winter 2022 Education Plan.

Updated LBCC Mask Requirements:

• LBCC will lift our mandatory indoor mask requirements at the close of business on March 18.
• LBCC leadership encourages people to continue wearing masks even after our mandatory requirement is lifted. The safest way we can ensure a learning environment free from illness is by continuing to take precautions. Please support those who choose to continue masking.
• N95 masks are available to all students and employees at LBCC. If you would like an LBCC-provided N95 mask, please fill out this form. Disposable masks will continue to be available at most LBCC building entrances.

Updated LBCC Physical Distancing Requirements:

• LBCC's meeting requirements will remain in place at least through the end of the academic year (June 10). Any meeting that involves three or more people should still be held via Zoom, and any optional indoor special event will continue to be capped at ten people.
• Outdoor event restrictions will begin lifting in spring term. LBCC will allow a limited number of larger outdoor events; however, organizers will still need to obtain prior approval through Vice President Sheldon Flom.

We look forward to seeing you in the spring.

Masking Update on Campus

Due to the governor's recent announcement, these plans will be changing. Come back after Tuesday, March 1 for more information.

In response to decreasing COVID cases and hospitalizations, the Oregon Health Authority is planning to lift statewide mask requirements, no later than March 31st and possibly as early as March 20th.

Here at LBCC, we have made it our practice throughout the pandemic to base our policies on state and local guidelines concerning COVID requirements. Therefore, we will also make plans to sunset our indoor mandatory mask requirements when the rule is lifted throughout the state, though some of our physical distancing requirements will remain in place. Here is what you need to know:

Updated LBCC Mask Requirements:

• LBCC will lift our mandatory indoor mask requirements coinciding with the state’s ending date. There is one exception: if the Governor's Office and the OHA elect to lift statewide restrictions even earlier than expected, the LBCC mask requirement will still remain in place through the official end of Winter Term (March 18) -- as we have previously committed to our students and staff.

• LBCC encourages people to continue wearing masks, even after our mandatory requirement is lifted. The safest way we can ensure a learning environment free from mass illness is by continuing to take precautions. Please support those who would like to continue masking, remembering that they may have health challenges themselves or may live with immunocompromised relatives. 

• N95 masks are available to all students and employees at LBCC. If you would like an LBCC-provided N95 mask, please fill out this new and automated form. We are happy to provide them. In addition, disposable masks will continue to be available at most LBCC entrances.

Updated LBCC Physical Distancing Requirements:

• Our indoor physical distancing requirement will remain in place at least through the end of the school year (June 10th). Any meeting that involves 3 or more people should still be held via Zoom, at least through the end of the school year. In addition, any optional indoor special event will continue to be capped at 10 people or fewer. 

• Outdoor event restrictions will begin lifting Spring Term. LBCC will begin to allow a limited number of larger outdoor events beginning Spring Term, however, organizers will still need to obtain prior approval through VP Sheldon Flom / the Office of Finance and Operations.

We are glad to see some light at the end of the tunnel at last, and thankful to all in our LBCC community for continuing to be vigilant throughout this challenging time.

Updated Rebounding Plan Available

You can access the latest copy of LBCC's Rebounding Plan now. The updated plan includes policy information, responsibilities and procedures as well as updated definitions of terms.

As we prepare to observe the Thanksgiving holiday, the Executive Team would like to remind you of a few important COVID-related guidelines and resources.

Holiday travel: Currently Oregon and our local public health agencies have no travel restriction in place, including no need to quarantine after out-of-state visits. That said, if your holiday plans include travel, please be extra vigilant about taking precautionary measures to keep yourself, and those around you, healthy.

Department gatherings: We know this is traditionally a time to get together with colleagues and share some cheer as we wrap up the calendar year -- but please remember that our current guideline involving employee gatherings is still in place. Work meetings of more than two people must be held virtually; and in-person special events (outside of the classroom or sports) must be no more than 10 people. This includes college events held off-campus.

Vaccination news: Though we do expect an Oregon public employee vaccination mandate to be forthcoming this winter, we do not yet have a date. In the meantime, as you may know, the vaccine booster has now been approved by the CDC for all people over the age of 18. To receive a booster, or, if you have not yet gotten vaccinated, please reach out to your local health provider.

What to do if someone you are in close contact with gets COVID: If you learn you have been in close contact with someone who has a confirmed case of COVID-19, there is no need to quarantine if you are fully vaccinated and are symptom-free. If you are not vaccinated, and/or do have symptoms, you will need to quarantine for up to 14 days. Your quarantine may involve remote work, or if none is available, require use of your sick leave. Please contact Sheldon Flom, VP of Finance and Operations, and Human Resources, if this is the case.

What to do if YOU get COVID: Please contact Sheldon Flom, VP of Finance and Operations, and Deana Culbertson in Human Resources by filling out the COVID reporting form. Your information will be kept confidential, and will assist in fulfilling required reporting and contact tracing. Staff will also be able to answer questions regarding your work options. 

Finally, we are looking forward to sharing the Winter Education Plan with you soon -- look for it to be distributed by Dec. 1st. In the meantime, you can anticipate that no major changes to work or classroom plans will be included.

We are excited to share a new efficient process of reporting a COVID-19 case. Please use this new COVID-19 reporting form to streamline the communication requirements for the VP of Finance and Operations office.

LBCC is now offering N95 masks to employees by request. To clarify, OR OSHA is NOT including N95s as a recommendation for those who are working with students or the public at this time. We are offering them as an option for those who may be seeking added protection. The use of N95s requires additional procedures for each individual. We have developed a new form and processes required by OR OSHA to make this option accessible to LBCC employees.

You may submit your N95 mask request here. 

As announced previously, LBCC will offer N95 masks to employees by request -- but we want to clarify that OR OSHA is NOT including N95s as a recommendation for those who are working with students or the public at this time and that we are offering them as a courtesy option for those who may be seeking added protection. The use of N95s also requires additional procedures for each individual. We are developing the forms and processes required by OR OSHA to make this option accessible to LBCC employees, and hope to have them completed next week.

Thank you for your patience.

Dear Staff and Students of the LBCC Community,

We ar​e delighted to celebrate the beginning of fall term on Monday, and to welcome new and returning students to ​LBCC for the academic year! Before the term begins officially, we'd like to take a moment to summarize our current coronavirus-related requirements and policies, and tell you about some NEW resources available to everyone. We hope this message can serve as a handy reference tool to give you a strong start! Thank you for taking a moment to familiarize yourself with these college-wide updates concerning virus management:

VACCINATIONS

Though LBCC strongly encourages all members of our learning community to get vaccinated, proof of vaccination status is not currently required. That said, community colleges around the state are working with our Governor's Office to determine what the Biden Administration's recent mandate means for higher education in Oregon -- and we do anticipate that employee vaccination requirements, and a list of corresponding exemptions, will be applied to our colleges, most likely beginning early next year. We will keep our community informed of resources in order to prepare for this announcement when the time comes so that we are in compliance with all local, state and federal laws. In the meantime, we have worked with local health authorities to make sure we put other safety measures in place -- including being able to offer free vaccinations and testing at LBCC locations this term! (See below for details). 

​FREE VACCINATION CLINIC​ ON CAMPUS

​Have you not yet had the opportunity to get vaccinated? On Monday, Sept. 27, we are pleased to kick off the term with a FREE vaccination clinic on the Albany Campus! The clinic will be located in front of Takena Hall, near the bus stop. ALL are welcome to drop in and participants will be able to choose from the Johnson & Johnson single dose, or the Pfizer or Moderna double dose vaccination courses. 

MASK REQUIREMENTS

To comply with Oregon state law,​ masks are required at all times whenever an individual is in a public indoor space at LBCC -- this includes cubicles or other spaces where walls do not go up to the ceiling and/or open doorways. Masks must fully cover the nose and mouth; mesh masks and masks with breathing valves are not permissible. Face shields are allowed only if also worn with a mask that covers the nose and mouth. In addition, masks are required outside whenever physical distancing is not observed.

​AVAILABILITY OF DISPOSABLE MASKS, N95 MASKS, CLEANING SUPPLIES, ETC.

If you've accidentally forgotten your mask, LBCC will have supplies available through​out our campus locations and high-traffic areas. In addition, if you would like to request an N95 mask, the college will have a limited supply available and we will do our best to accommodate you. Cleaning supplies will also be made available for staff who request them. Please visit the Facilities Office for special supply requests, or visit one of these locations where general supplies will be available. 

PHYSICAL DISTANCING ACCOMMODATIONS

The CDC and our local health authorities do not limit class sizes or require physical distancing for those classes being held in person. However, if you would like to request a physical-distancing accommodation, the office of Center for Disability Resources can help. Contact CFAR at 541-917-4789 or cfar@linnbenton.edu for more information.

EXTRA CLEANING AND HVAC MAINTENANCE

​LBCC staff have worked hard to prepare our campus spaces to be as safe as possible for fall term learning. These efforts have included deep cleaning offices, classrooms and common areas. During the day we will have staff cleaning high touch areas to help keep our campus safe. We really appreciate our facilities crews!

WHERE TO REPORT A POSITIVE CASE OF COVID AND HOW TO KNOW IF YOU NEED TO QUARANTINE

In the event of a positive diagnosis of coronavirus, we appreciate your support in reporting ​it to our Office of Finance and Operations by contacting floms@linnbenton.edu. College administration will then work with local health authorities ​to begin contact tracing, ​and others who may have been exposed will be notified. The identity of the individual or individuals infected will be kept confidential, but you will be informed if a quarantine is necessary. If you are not informed about a close contact, you do not need to quarantine. 

WHERE TO VIEW LBCC'S SUMMARY OF COVID-RELATED REQUIREMENTS AND ACTION STEPS

All guidelines and policies concerning COVID and LBCC's requirements can be found by visiting our college's COVID website. We also appreciate your understanding that information will change depending on state requirements, so please refer back for the latest LBCC news.

Everyone, we are delighted you are a part of our Roadrunner family! We know that despite all of the challenges posed by the pandemic, together we can ensure a safe and strong academic year. Best wishes for a wonderful fall term!

Yesterday’s paper shared a story describing the critical situation that has now arisen in our local hospitals due to increasing COVID cases. Likewise, our executive leadership team is working closely with our local health authorities as this situation continues to evolve in our community. 

As we all have experienced, the guidelines around personal vs. public vs. organizational authority and decision-making are complex, changing... and sometimes frustrating. Our college is committed to doing its best to follow the orders of our health authorities and governing bodies in order to keep us all safe -- and we are also working with our sister colleges to make the right decisions for our communities when the call is up to us. It's really challenging, and we want to thank you for bearing with all the changes and new parameters that we must communicate regularly.

Which brings us to this fall: We are staying the course when it comes to offering more in-person learning opportunities than we have in the last year and a half and are very excited to welcome people back to the classroom whenever possible! But in order to ensure those educational opportunities are protected, we have also made the difficult decision to cancel or modify other events that might pose controllable risks. Therefore for fall term, all in-person college special events outside of the classroom that gather more than 10 people together will be either postponed or moved to a remote format. Division and department meetings will need to be held remotely as well. Our one exception is Welcome Day, which is our traditional event to greet new students and help them find their way around LBCC as a critical first step in their college journeys -- however, this event is being greatly modified to stagger crowds, eliminate eating and drinking, and reduce contact. 

Colleagues, we know this is hard. We can only say thank you for your continued vigilance and understanding. It is likely that more restrictions / modifications might be coming, so we also thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate this changing new world.

We have received a number of questions about the use of face shields versus masks. After communications with the Linn County Health Department, we have confirmed that face shields are not recommended by OSHA or CDC because they are not considered effective in preventing the spread of COVID. Therefore at LBCC, we have made the decision that if face shields are used, face coverings must also be worn. Thank you very much for your understanding and assistance with this.

* Exception: If face shields are needed for special accommodation, please contact CFAR at cfar@linnbenton.edu to receive designation.

Today Governor Brown announced new mask requirements in order to stop the spread of the Delta variant of coronavirus, and to stem a sudden record of new hospitalizations now occurring throughout the state. Beginning this Friday, August 27, masks will be required in all public outdoor settings where physical distancing is not possible, regardless of vaccination status.

At LBCC, in addition to wearing masks indoors, we ask that employees now model wearing masks at large outdoor group events this fall, especially as students return and participate in our Welcome Day event, athletic events and more, and consider how this figures into your planning. Over the next few days, we will also be updating the LBCC Rebounding Plan and Temporary ARs accordingly -- including a new Executive Summary that will serve as a quick guide.

Colleagues, thank you for continuing to help protect our campus environment. We deeply appreciate your commitment.

On August 11, 2021, Governor Kate Brown announced a reinstatement of face covering requirements in all public indoor spaces throughout the state of Oregon, effective on Friday, August 13.

The Administrative Rules 5095-06 and 5095-07, and the Fall 2021 Rebounding Plan has been updated to align with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance for Institutions of Higher Education (IHE), and the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) OAR 333-019-1025, and Governor’s mandate. Please click on the link below to review the updated information. 

Fall 2021 Rebounding Plan

Temporary AR 5095-06 - Novel Coronavirus/COVID-19 Physical Distancing Guidelines

Temporary AR 5095-07 - Novel Coronavirus/COVID-19 Use of Face Coverings

Consistent with these guidelines, all LBCC staff and students will be required to wear a mask when indoors and around other people, regardless of vaccination status. To help those who have forgotten a mask, we will have plenty available throughout LBCC campuses.

We appreciate your continued support and commitment to protecting our learning community.

As you have likely learned, today Governor Kate Brown announced a reinstatement of face covering requirements in all public indoor spaces throughout the state of Oregon, due to a sudden surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations. The new mandate goes into effect on this Friday, August 13.

Consistent with these requirements, starting on Friday, all LBCC staff and students will be required to wear a mask when indoors and around other people, regardless of vaccination status. (The updated Temporary AR and Rebounding Plan will be posted in the next few days to reflect this rule.) To help people who may have forgotten a mask, we will have plenty available throughout LBCC locations when fall term begins. We know mask-wearing is inconvenient, but it is a simple and effective way to keep from inadvertently infecting others and possibly causing a campus closure. We all want our students to be able to come back to the classroom. 

In addition, the college is taking extra precautions when it comes to cleaning and disinfecting before employees return to the office on Sept. 7. Using federal COVID relief funding, Facilities will work with a third-party vendor on our Albany Campus to clean and disinfect high touch surfaces within office spaces including light switches, doors, door frames, door handles, window ledges, keyboards, mice, desk surfaces, window ledges, table surfaces and other horizontal surfaces. Ceilings and floors will also be HEPA-vacuumed for debris and cobwebs. (Please note: personal items and furniture will not be moved.) Facilities crews will lead similar cleaning at all of our centers. This pre-cleaning will be completed by Labor Day -- watch for further notifications about cleaning times and dates. College personnel are cleaning classrooms and common areas to prepare them for fall term and will continue to do so throughout the term.

Colleagues, we so appreciate your continued support and commitment to protecting our learning community. If you have not yet been vaccinated, please strongly consider it as the very best defense we have against serious COVID-related illness, and take steps to protect yourself and your family. 

If you have any questions, please reach out to me by email. Thank you in advance for your assistance in helping our community as we continue to try to keep ourselves and each other safe and healthy.

As fall term nears, our college is looking forward to continuing to teach, study, share ideas, solve problems, and create more opportunities for supporting our wider community -- all with more face-to-face engagement than we've been able to offer in 18 months. We are also committed to protecting the health of our learning environment. This message shares a framework for safely reopening many aspects of campus life. We hope this guidance allows you to make plans for the upcoming term.

• Face Coverings and OHA Recommendations 
  As was announced yesterday, the Oregon Health Authority has issued new guidelines that strongly recommend all people -- vaccinated and unvaccinated -- wear face coverings when in indoor public settings. This comes as a result of a spike in COVID-19 cases stemming from the Delta variant, which is currently accounting for 80% of cases in Oregon and is much more contagious. (You can read the official announcement here.) LBCC fully supports these recommendations, and urges all on campus to take protective measures. Masks will be readily available throughout LBCC campus locations as we return this fall. 
• Vaccinations
  Our college community thrives in an environment where we can feel safe. Therefore, LBCC encourages every person to please consider getting vaccinated. Please note that we will not be mandating vaccinations or asking for verification of vaccines, so if you need accommodation to continue physically distancing in classrooms or office spaces, our CFAR office is ready to assist you. Do not come to work if you are sick, and please continue to be vigilant about washing your hands and observing respiratory etiquette. If you do receive a positive COVID diagnosis, please continue to let the Office of Finance and Operations and Human Resources know so we can assist local authorities with contract tracing, and direct you to resources. (For complete guidelines, visit the college's Rebounding Plan here.)
• Returning to Work on Campus
  Our official return-to-work date for employees is September 7th and we are looking forward to seeing one another in person once again. That said, the past 18 months have allowed the college to accommodate working styles that may thrive more in a remote environment, and in certain cases, we may be able to continue that option. A temporary AR is in place regarding remote work, eligibility, and what elements must be in place for a remote work agreement. Employees who would like to continue a partial remote work schedule should contact their supervisor to discuss the possibility. Please note that decisions about remote work will be made on a case by case basis -- they will depend completely on the needs of the individual job and what is in the best interest of student success.
• Travel
  Employees and students may opt to travel for conferences, trainings, events, etc., beginning this fall -- however, they must adhere to local travel standards. The CDC specifies that unvaccinated individuals get tested for COVID before and after a trip, and to quarantine upon return before resuming face-to-face activities. All individuals regardless of vaccination status are encouraged to wear a face covering. It's important to note that COVID guidelines could change any time when it comes to travel -- so please consider purchasing travel insurance to limit any LBCC liability should your trip need to be canceled.
• Spectators at Sports and Performances
  We are pleased to announce that spectators may once again be welcomed to our fields, courts, performance spaces and more! We do encourage groups to provide physical distancing accommodations and to encourage face coverings.
• Outside Groups -- Rentals and Trainings
  LBCC spaces may now be rented or reserved for outside groups visiting campus, however please let the Office of Finance and Operations know at least 3 weeks in advance so extra cleaning can be arranged after the group departs. Please also advise outside groups that restrictions may change at any point, so plan accordingly. LBCC also encourages staff to provide remote options whenever possible.
• Food Service
  Food Service will reopen this fall term at a reduced scale, and the Commons area will reopen to indoor dining. The Courtyard Café will also be open. At this time, we are still working through decisions regarding the Santiam Room and Roastrunners, so please watch for a future announcement to confirm those specifics.

Colleagues, thank you for your continued bravery and flexibility during these times. We hope that this framework signals new hope for a brighter future -- and appreciate everyone for working together to ensure LBCC can continue to bring our best service to students and the community.

Important news regarding COVID restrictions and safety measures at LBCC

Along with other guidelines around the state, as of tomorrow, June 30, the Governor is lifting her executive order concerning higher education institutions in Oregon -- meaning that face coverings and physical distancing will no longer be required for those who are fully vaccinated at LBCC. This is a big moment for us as a learning community, and we are grateful to everyone for supporting all the safety adherence we have asked of people these past many months, in order to safely reach this milestone together. 

That said, LBCC is continuing to work under the CDC - Institute of Higher Education (IHE) guidelines to keep us all safe, and we ask that you keep in mind / adhere to the following: 

• The lifting of these restrictions applies to those who are vaccinated. Those who are not vaccinated must continue to wear a face covering and observe physical distancing rules.
• Respect those who choose to continue to wear a mask, regardless of vaccination status. Some people might continue to make the personal choice of added face-covering protection. We ask that we continue to respect the privacy and individual choices of all those who take this option.
• We will not be asking for verification of vaccinations. Lifting these restrictions will be on the honor system. If you do need accommodation to continue physically distancing in our classrooms or office spaces, please work with our CFAR office who may be able to assist you.
• Please continue to self-monitor your health. Do not come to work if you are sick, and please continue to be vigilant about washing your hands and observing respiratory etiquette. 
• Please report any positive COVID cases. Please continue to let the Office of Finance and Operations (VP Sheldon Flom), and Human Resources know if a positive case of COVID arises. LBCC will privately work with local health authorities to assist in contact tracing and we appreciate your help.

Our official return-to-campus date for employees will remain September 7th, however the easing of these restrictions means that employees may choose to come back to campus for work earlier, if they follow the guidelines listed above and work with their supervisors to establish a regular schedule.

***Please note: a regular schedule of on-campus activity is very important to communicate so our cleaning and maintenance staff groups can be sure to know which spaces need heightened attention. We will also begin the process of opening our campus to outside partners and groups at this time, with approval. 

Please be encouraged that to help support us as we transition back to some normalcy, LBCC is committed to remaining hyper-vigilant in supporting improvements to our HVAC systems and to maintaining extra cleaning levels in high-touch areas. We ask that you remain vigilant too, and appreciate all that you have done to continue to keep us safe.

LBCC plans to offer flexible options for both in-person and remote classes for fall term 2021. These options, called "The Fall Educational Plan," will be posted to this website no later than Friday, May 14 — following the guidance of state and local health authorities.

Stay tuned as details will be posted here in the future.

Today all Oregonians age 16 and older become eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. LBCC faculty and staff were already eligible to access vaccinations under the "frontline workers" provision, which included community college employees, and which became available on April 5th. Vaccines are now open to all Oregonian adults. Please do everything possible to ensure that the family members, community members, and students in your life are aware of this eligibility.

For those seeking a way to get vaccinated, create an account through the Get Vaccinated Oregon tool to confirm eligibility and to find a vaccination provider.

Following up on the announcement that community college employees will be eligible for vaccinations beginning Monday, April 5th, please find a new set of important FAQs pertaining to LBCC employees. 

With Spring Break starting next week, please keep the following in mind while making travel plans: The Governor's Travel Advisory has been updated, and Linn-Benton Community College is observing this advisory.

Specifically:

1. Faculty, staff, or students who travel out of state are asked to: self-quarantine for 14 days upon return; limit interactions to their immediate households; and not come to campus.
2. The 14-day quarantine is the safest option for preventing the spread of COVID-19 to others. LBCC faculty, staff, or students may end quarantine early if they have had no symptoms after 10 days without testing or they may end quarantine after seven days if they have received a negative COVID test conducted within 48 hours of end of the seven-day period.
3. Individuals need not quarantine if they have received the second or final dose of the vaccine, and it has been more than two weeks since receiving the final dose.

As Oregonians continue to cope with the pandemic, we have received a bit of good news at Linn-Benton Community College. Thanks to adherence to safety protocols and our communities working together to make smart choices, Linn County has improved to be placed in the "High Risk" category beginning February 12th. Benton County remains in the "Extreme Risk" category. View a complete list of counties and their associated risk levels. 

While we are glad for every small step forward toward community health, it is important to acknowledge that we still have a ways to go.

LBCC experienced a rise in the number of close contacts and cases of COVID at the start of winter term, and we are now seeing a second increase.

Please stay vigilant: wear your face coverings, keep social distancing, and let's continue to do whatever we can to keep our learning community safe and on track. Additionally, please note that the Governor's Travel Advisory is still in effect: if you choose to travel out of state, you will need to isolate for 14 days upon your return, should you need to come to campus.

At this time, higher education is not included in the initial round of vaccines, but our state associations continue to push for this access. While we will not require a vaccine from our employees, we do encourage you to find out if you are eligible to receive it in the meantime. 

Finally, more financial help for our students is also on its way in the form of federal CRRSAA funding. A task force is working on an initial distribution plan and students will receive award checks soon to help with hardships experienced as a result of the pandemic. There is also a portion of CRRSAA that is aimed at assisting the institution itself; we are still reviewing guidelines to determine how we are allowed/able to best make use of these funds.

As more information emerges, we will be sure to share it with our college community.

Thank you for all that you do.

To help us all be empowered to take action in case of a positive COVID diagnosis, here are some FAQs to reference:

In the case of a future positive COVID diagnosis:

Q: Employees will be contacted by Linn County Health Services if they were in close contact with a person who tested positively. What does "close contact" mean?

A: "Close contact" means you were in the presence of the person, standing six feet apart, and wearing a mask, for more than 15 minutes. If you were not wearing a mask, any length of time is considered "close contact."

Q: If "close contact" includes people who were wearing a mask but were within 6 feet of the individual for more than 15 minutes, why is it important to wear a mask?

A: Besides protecting yourself and others from getting sick (and complying with LBCC's strict guidelines), this is important because our classroom desks are placed 6 feet apart. That means if everyone in the classroom is wearing a mask at all times, there is a much greater chance that we won't have to quarantine everyone in the classroom and can continue operating the class.

Q: If I was determined to be within close contact of an individual who tested positively for the virus, when can I expect to be contacted by Linn County Health Services (LCHS)?

A: LCHS will attempt to contact you within 48 hours after learning of the positive diagnosis.

Q: What should I do if a student I know tests positive for Coronavirus?

1. Do two things:
   Contact the Office of Finance and Operations at sparksc@linnbenton.edu, or call 541-917-4330 right away. Timeliness is important: as soon as you know for certain, please reach out so we can get information to the LCHS.
2. Encourage the student to reach out to the Center for Accessibility Resources (CFAR) to explore options for continuing their studies while quarantining. 

Q: What should I do if I, or an employee I work with, tests positive for Coronavirus?

Do two things:

1. Contact the Office of Finance and Operations at sparksc@linnbenton.edu, or call 541-917-4330 right away. Complete confidentiality will be maintained, and timeliness is important: as soon as you know for certain, please reach out so we can get information to the LCHS.
2. Affected employees are encouraged to reach out to HR Manager, Deana Culbertson Human Resources to explore options related to continuing work while quarantining, or assessing Family Medical Leave.

If you have further questions, contact Jennifer Boehmer privately. Jennifer will work with the Executive Team to respond to your questions, and to add further information to these FAQs.

• Rebound Plan Approved for Fall – The LBCC Board of Education has officially approved the college's Rebound Plan. You can read the plan in full (PDF), also available for download and summarized on our website. Many thanks to the Rebound Task Force, and to VPs Sheldon Flom and Ann Buchele, for their leadership in developing safe learning and working environment protocols that will allow us to continue to serve our community well this fall. 

• Educational Plan In Place for Incoming Students – Additionally, the college has developed a thoughtful and smart approach to fall course delivery, following the guidelines of state and local authorities. The Fall Education Plan is ready for download (PDF). The web page is structured to include a number of accessible approaches for users to quickly find out about delivery methods for programs, lectures, labs, student services and more.

• Message for New Students: 'Your Future is Within Reach Now' – During this difficult time, it is more important than ever to let all students know LBCC is ready for them and committed to offering safe, smart ways to stay on track. In support of enrollment, on our homepage, you will notice a link to a new landing page called "LB Now." This page, supported by a full range of community marketing and outreach, will help new students discover our plan for fall and make the choice to enroll. Additionally, current students will be contacted directly with all fall plan information, and an overview has been sent to local media.
• COVID-19 Site will Continue to Serve as a Resource – All information related to the pandemic will continue to be linked from the COVID website, accessed from the college's homepage. Thank you for helping us maintain a single-point-of-contact for our students and community.

• Face-to-Face classes = 14%
• Online and/or Virtual classes = 71%
• Hybrid classes = 15%
• In addition, the vast majority of our core student services (such as the Library, Learning Center, First Resort, New Student Center) will be delivered remotely.

Governor's new Executive Order
Responding to new state guidelines issued by the Governor this week, LBCC will now require that all faculty, staff, students and visitors across all LBCC locations use face coverings when in public and common areas, and in areas where physical distancing can't be easily maintained, unless an exception is pre-arranged. The goal is to join in efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19, and to do everything we can to ensure a healthy learning and working environment. LBCC is staying the course with our current guidelines remaining in place, continuing to only allow essential staff to work regularly on campus.

Policy Information on COVID Site
A set of new temporary ARs further describing the face covering and physical distancing policy details has been posted on the college's COVID-19 website.

Back-to-Campus Planning Continues
The Reopening Task Force is working hard to develop the college's back-to-campus plan. Once the draft is completed and approved, I will be sure to share our guidelines. The plan addresses circumstances for when and how work and learning may take place on campus, cleaning, personal responsibilities, communication and much more. We anticipate completion this month, in coordination with state and local health authorities. In the meantime, I will continue to send updates regarding LBCC's responses to changing state guidelines.

Responding to changing state guidelines
Though the Executive Order concerning colleges in Oregon expired on June 13th, the Governor has issued new guidance that requires each college put forth an individual plan for reopening within their specific learning environment. LBCC is working on that plan now within the Reopening Task Force committee. It is a detailed, comprehensive process...until it is completed and receives official approval, LBCC is staying the course with our current guidelines remaining in place, continuing to only allow essential staff to work regularly on campus. I will certainly share the approved plan as soon as it is available. If you have questions or concerns, I invite you to reach out to me or any member of the Task Force committee.

Update for those on campus
For those essential staff working on campus, you will see new signage. Our facilities crew has been hard at work placing physical distance spacing guidelines around campus, including limiting adjacent bathroom sinks and stalls, and blocking off spaces where higher traffic traditionally occurs.

Anticipating fall term
As registration for fall gets under way, we are letting students know that everyone on campus -- students and employees -- may be required to wear a face covering. If that is the case, the college will recognize some exceptions as needed/allowed, and people will be asked to make those in advance. (More guidelines concerning fall will be released as soon as they are approved.)

As we prepare for fall term, we are making plans to resume some classes in person.

Each academic department is currently working to determine which courses and programs will remain online, and which courses and programs can safely be offered face-to-face for students. When students register for fall term, there will be a mix of both delivery methods at LBCC, according to each particular course and/or program. With new guidance from Governor Kate Brown, LBCC is now switching from state-wide coordination to developing a focused plan with our local health authorities. This provides more flexibility to offer a schedule that both protects the health and safety of our students and instructors, and keeps students on track toward their educational goals.

As decisions about individual fall term courses and programs are made, we will reflect those changes in the schedule, so students can choose their paths accordingly. We will also provide updates about when students can be allowed back on campus, and under what circumstances and safety guidelines.

We ask that students reach out to their advisors for assistance.

Linn and Benton Counties have been approved for Phase I Reopening beginning Friday, May 15th. Please refer to Page 17 in the Governor's presentation for more detailed information about what this means.

Please note: The reopening of educational facilities is dictated by a separate Executive Order and all LBCC buildings remain closed to the public until further notice. However, this information is indicative of ways that LBCC might be given permission to update guidelines in the near future.

Linn-Benton Community College was provided with funds from the CARES Act to distribute to our students to help manage some of the disruption created by the current COVID-19 pandemic. We have worked diligently to make these distributions fair and equitable to all students who are eligible based on the CARES Act guidelines.

Disbursement of these funds will begin May 13, 2020.

LBCC is in the process of finalizing the distribution of the emergency funds to students who qualify under the federal CARES Act. Notices of awards will be sent to students as early as possible, with an anticipated distribution process taking place May 14 through May 22. More information regarding specific requirements, amounts distributed, and alternatives for students who don't qualify, will be posted shortly. Please check back for updates.

LBCC is in the process of finalizing the distribution of the emergency funds to students who qualify under the federal CARES Act. Notices of awards will be sent to students as early as possible, with an anticipated distribution process taking place May 14 through May 22. More information regarding specific requirements, amounts distributed, and alternatives for students who don't qualify, will be posted shortly. Please check back for updates.

This morning Oregon Governor Kate Brown issued a new Executive Order (EO) directing everyone to stay at home to the maximum extent possible and adding to the list of businesses that will be temporarily closed to stem the spread of the virus in Oregon.

Thanks to the cooperation of staff, faculty, students, and all those in the LBCC community, our college is already on track to do what we need to be doing as a college by having announced the move of Spring Term classes to online formats and public closure of our buildings (please see detailed information about this change in our March 17th update). This EO will help broaden measures so that general citizens and other businesses will have the guidance needed to make similar decisions... If LBCC needs to make further decisions in the days ahead about our college's response, we will post information and contact people directly just as soon as possible. Thanks for continuing to check this page for updates.

As new guidelines for dealing with COVID-19 continue to be issued, we would like to thank our college community for showing such tremendous flexibility, understanding, compassion and responsibility, and for rolling with changes to ensure that LBCC remains a safe learning environment for everyone.

Today, we are announcing a set of important new decisions for LBCC:

1. LBCC Buildings: As of Wednesday, March 18, all LBCC buildings will no longer be open to the public or general student body. (There are a few in-person finals which are the only exceptions.) Most instruction will continue by going online or delivered through other alternative means. Please visit our Student FAQ page for important information that addresses specific questions.
2. Spring Term: We are announcing that Spring Term classes will now begin one week later: April 6th. The term will still end on time, as planned (June 12th). This adjusted class start date will allow college faculty and staff to fully put remote and alternative plans into place so we can best support our students and their success. LBCC is joining most other Oregon community colleges in announcing this change at this time. Please also see our information about Extended Learning classes and training. 
3. Communication: We are striving to keep our entire community of learners and workers well-informed of updates. College leaders are working directly with the Oregon Health Authority and the Higher Education Coordinating Commission to convey health information and to receive important and evolving guidance on a more-than-daily basis. All updates about LBCC are being posted here, to the LBCC Coronavirus Information page, as quickly as we can make changes. We will continue to add information to our Student FAQ section as more questions emerge. We will also continue to email and text students directly, place announcements on social media, alert the press when appropriate, and are in the process of placing physical signs on building exteriors.

Additionally, here are helpful contact resources regarding Coronavirus-related changes you can use and share:

• At any time, including evenings and weekends, you can send an email to the following address: contact@linnbenton.edu
• During the hours of 8:30am to 5:00pm, Monday through Friday, you can call our Campus Help Line and get questions routed to the appropriate administrator: 541-917-4222.

(For all other regular, ongoing college business like Financial Aid, Library, Book Store, Admissions, etc., please contact departments by phone or email directly. Again, please check the Student FAQ page for helpful specific information.)

This is an unprecedented, changing situation. Once again, thank you most sincerely for working together to support solutions -- both for the short-term need, and for the long-term health and vitality of our college and the entire LBCC community.

With gratitude,
The LBCC Executive Team 

We know that the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) throughout Oregon is of growing concern to our students, staff and community. LBCC is committed to providing a safe and healthy educational environment, but recognizes the way we provide service will need to shift for a time in response to recommendations from the Governor, Oregon Health Authority, public health officials, Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) and the CDC to help slow the rate of exposure and potential illness.

As of Monday, March 16th, LBCC has made the official decision to do the following:

• Again following the recommendations of the Governor's Office, the Oregon Health Authority, and the Higher Education Coordinating Commission, all LBCC locations and facilities will remain open, with further precautionary measures described below.
• Winter term finals week exam and activities will be delivered remotely where possible.
• Where remote testing is not possible, maximum “social distancing” measures will be utilized. ("Social distancing" refers to the practice of maintaining a distance of at least 3 feet from others.)
• For exams that must be held in-person, LBCC will seek to relocate final exams to locations where room capacity is three times the number of people registered to take that test.
• Where appropriate, faculty will have discretion to cancel finals or provide an alternative exercise.
• Faculty will be reaching out to their students to explain specific course plans for finals.
• Until at least April 10th, all non-essential LBCC-sponsored (employees and students) travel will be suspended.
• Until at least April 10th, no LBCC events, or events hosted by other organizations that are scheduled to take place on our properties, will be permitted if they involve an attendance of more than 50 people. All events with fewer than 50 attendees will be held with maximum social distancing. Please check the link to the left for your event status. Please note: some events will be rescheduled, so we will update this page as information becomes available.
• We will continue to monitor recommendations by state authorities, and share what approach will be taken with events taking place after April 10th as we get closer to that date.

The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, continues to make headlines in the U.S. and around the world. We are closely monitoring the situation and working closely with local, state and national health agencies on prevention and management in the event of an outbreak in our community. 

This is an evolving situation. Our primary concern is to continue to ensure LBCC is a safe learning and working environment for students, faculty, staff and guests.

We are working directly with the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), the Oregon Department of Education and the Higher Education Coordinating Commission to follow guidance, best practices and decision-making concerning coronavirus in Oregon.

The Oregon Health Authority is explicitly not recommending school closures at this time. Health officials continue to emphasize the importance of education in efforts to prevent the spread of the virus. 

Check back here for regular status updates.

LBCC is working very closely with the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and the Higher Education Coordinating Commission and is following the recommendations they have issued for all Oregon colleges and universities.

At this time, the guidance is against closing schools and campuses where no cases of COVID-19 are present. It also recommends that schools, colleges and universities consider all alternatives before closing a school, college or university in the event that a COVID-19 case is detected among students or staff. Our sister community colleges have all agreed to follow this recommendation until external health agencies instruct us to do otherwise. We are grateful LBCC has no indications of an outbreak at this time.

We are carefully monitoring this situation and creating contingency plans if we need them. We are also increasing and changing our cleaning products and practices, in alignment with the Centers for Disease and Control (CDC).

It is important that we all practice personal wellness. Follow these guidelines:

• Stay home when you are sick. Particularly if you have a fever, you should stay home until you have been fever-free for 72 hours without medication.
•  Increase hand washing. Wash your hands for 20 seconds or more with soapy warm water or use a hand sanitizer that is at least 60% alcohol if you are unable to wash.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes with your elbow.
• Students: If you are worried about missing class, please reach out to your instructors. We will work with you to make up lost instruction time so you can be successful.

We will post regular status updates in this section of the website. Our TOP priority is to provide you with a safe learning and working environment so that you can be successful -- this is the principle that guides all of our decisions. 

Thank you for committing to staying safe and practicing wellness.