03.26.2020 – NOC Buildings Closed to the Public with Modified Services Beginning Monday, March 30

Because the well-being and safety of our campus community is of the utmost priority, Northern Oklahoma College is committed to doing our part as a college to reduce the spread of COVID-19 with a daily review of the evolving situation. NOC will reopen with modified services Monday, March 30. NOC instruction, for the remainder of the semester, will be conducted in a distance learning environment. Students and employees should regularly check their NOC email and Blackboard accounts for ongoing updates. 

Many college services will continue to be available by alternative methods. In response to the questions regarding COVID-19, we will continue to share responses to some of the most frequently asked questions on our website 
www.noc.edu/emergency. 

All Campus Buildings Closing

To further support social distancing and to comply with Governor Kevin Stitt’s executive order on March 24 for all non-essential businesses to close, we are closing all buildings on-campus through April 15 to the public while retaining essential services and functions with modified access. We will continue to monitor and evaluate our operations for April 16 and beyond. Our dedicated staff and faculty will continue to provide services – for some, on-campus work to support essential and mission-critical functions, some through safety-controlled environments on campus, some with staggered shifts to align with guidelines for social distancing, and some with telecommuting when the nature of the work allows. Students, faculty, and staff should be the only ones accessing campus, on an as-needed basis. If you need access to a building during this time, please contact your advisor, department head/supervisor or appropriate campus vice president.

For the NOC Employees

The 21-day executive order requires most faculty and staff to transition to full-time telework while still providing services virtually during your normally assigned working hours per week. Faculty will maintain office hours through virtual tools. Employees should make arrangements to pick up your necessary equipment, files and office supplies needed to conduct business remotely beginning Monday. Connect with your supervisor for further details. In efforts to support essential and mission-critical functions, the following areas are defined as essential employees:

• Essential employees who will have a combination of telecommuting and some on-campus presence include – Executive Council, IT, HR, Financial Aid, Financial Affairs, Scholarships, Enrollment Management, and Academic Affairs.
• Limited number of essential employees who will have an on-campus presence through safety-controlled environments and staggered shifts to align with guidelines for social distancing – Library/computer lab, Campus Security, Student Affairs, Development and Community Relations, Physical Plant, and Testing.

We understand that there will be a need for employees to come to campus every now and then to sign documents, pick up work or transfer work to another employee. However, we do not want employees spending lengthy amounts of time on campus. We must do our part to mitigate the spread of this virus.  Social distancing will also be practiced at all times, and no more than ten individuals will be allowed in any area at any given time. All common areas and break rooms will be closed. All employees when representing NOC during this transition time are encouraged to be in “Northern Pride” attire. Effective immediately, NOC has implemented a freeze on purchases and hiring without prior administrative approval. 

For the Vulnerable NOC Employees

For our staff and faculty members over the age of 65 or individuals with serious underlying medical conditions, options for telecommuting will be prioritized for these individuals; however, if there are no options for telecommuting, please know that you will be provided administrative leave, as well as leave provided under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act once enacted. For staff and faculty who are unable to telecommute and are not in an on-campus essential/mission-critical position, administrative leave will be provided until campus is accessible again. Shannon Cranford with HR will contact employees who fall within the age request with further communication. For HR questions or to self-report your serious underlying medical condition, please email shannon.cranford@noc.edu. This information will remain confidential. 

For the NOC Students

Services required for student educational operations will still be available virtually or only when necessary by appointment on campus.Classroom instruction will transition to alternative delivery methods beginning March 30. Faculty will reach out through Blackboard to their students on the next steps. Students should also regularly check their NOC email for instructions.Some student workers will be able to continue working virtually with supervisor approval. Please check with your individual supervisor. We are still exploring alternatives for celebrating commencement, nurse’s pinnings and academic achievements for our graduating students. We will communicate our plans at a later date when we can better assess the date of campuses reopening.

Student Move-Out (Tonkawa/Enid Residence Halls)

College housing will remain open in a limited capacity for those with no other alternatives. Residents will be contacted by housing staff on next steps, including check out and prorated refund processes. For specific questions regarding housing, contact the Office of Student Affairs at 580.628.6240 (Tonkawa) or 580.548.2227 (Enid). Thank you for your patience, flexibility and support of one another during this time. As the Northern Family, we will continue to persevere and get through this together. 

Students and employees should reference our online directory at 
www.noc.edu/directory. Please refer to this contact list below to leave a voicemail or email: