Dear Northern Oklahoma College community,
Across the country, the COVID-19 pandemic has had devastating effects. Although we have stayed connected and endured these challenges together, COVID-19 has greatly disrupted the usual way of teaching from our faculty and learning for our students. It has also disrupted our usual way to provide student support services from our staff. It has forced us all to adapt in ways we probably never anticipated.
Throughout this pandemic, we have implemented numerous measures to ensure the health and safety of Northern Oklahoma College students and to continue our academic progress. To reduce the risk of being infected with the Delta variant and possibly spreading it to others, and in keeping with recently updated CDC guidance, NOC strongly encourages the use of masks indoors in public, especially in situations in which social distancing is not possible and for activities with close contact with others.
Masking is recommended by the CDC even if you are fully vaccinated. We strongly recommend that you wear a mask regardless of the level of transmission if you have a weakened immune system or if, because of your age or an underlying medical condition, you are at increased risk for severe disease, or if a member of your household has a weakened immune system, is at increased risk for severe disease, or is unvaccinated.
At this time under Oklahoma law (EO 2021-16 and 70 O.S. 1210.189), we are not permitted to require the use of masks on campus.
To continue campus safety, all NOC students, employees, and visitors are strongly encouraged to practice physical (social) distancing, frequent handwashing, and continued cleaning and disinfecting routines.
While NOC is not requiring vaccinations for our students and employees, we do highly recommend vaccinations for those who are able. Exceptions: vaccinations may be required for those participating in allied health, nursing or global education programs.
We encourage all NOC students and employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Getting vaccinated offers an added layer of protection against COVID-19 that could also protect your family, friends, and community. All COVID-19 vaccines available in the United States greatly reduce the likelihood of contracting the virus or having serious reactions if exposed. Stopping this pandemic requires using all the tools we have available.
Your health and safety continue to be our priority. To ensure convenient access to vaccination, we will have vaccines available next week.
NOC Tonkawa – COVID vaccinations clinic (Moderna, Pfizer or Janssen/Johnson and Johnson) is scheduled for all NOC students, employees as well as open to the public on August 18 and 19 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the Memorial Student Union.
NOC Enid – COVID vaccinations clinic (Moderna, Pfizer or Janssen/Johnson and Johnson) is scheduled for all NOC students, employees as well as open to the public on August 18 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. in Montgomery Hall/Gantz Student Center.
Oklahoma State University Health Services – COVID vaccinations (Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson) are now available upon request. Please call 405-744-7665 to schedule your appointment that works with your schedule. They are open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Vaccine Given: Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for ages 16 and up. This is a 2-dose series given 3 weeks apart. Your follow-up appointment date and time will be identified before you leave the building.
Many retail pharmacy locations and mass vaccination sites are near campus. Visit vaccines.gov to find a location convenient to you. If you have questions about how to get vaccinated, please contact:
- Enid Campus: Jeremy Hise, Vice President for NOC Enid, 580.548.2393, jeremy.hise@noc.edu
- Stillwater Campus: Diana Watkins, Vice President for NOC Stillwater, 580.628.6905, diana.watkins@noc.edu
- Tonkawa Campus: Jason Johnson, Vice President for Student Affairs, 580.628.6272, jason.johnson@noc.edu
- Human Resources: Shannon Cranford, Director of HR, 580.628.6229, shannon.cranford@noc.edu
If you want to know more about COVID-19 vaccines, visit www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/vaccines.
The health and safety of all NOC students, faculty and staff are critical to the college. College leadership is constantly monitoring the research, and the CDC, Oklahoma and local guidance. As changes occur we will update the NOC website. If the college leadership determines that changes to protocol are required you will be informed by email.
We have stood together this past year, and we need to follow best practices as we stand together again, as a Northern Oklahoma College community, to help stop this virus. COVID-19 vaccination is a safe and effective means to help us do that. It takes all of us. Please take care of yourself and we will continue to inform you as plans are updated for the fall semester.
Sincerely,
Clark Harris, Ph.D.
Northern Oklahoma College President
