COVID-19 Updates from KCTCS Leadership | BCTC

Covid-19

COVID-19 Updates from KCTCS Leadership

 

KCTCS Extends Remote Learning and Working

Published 3/26/2020

Versailles, Ky. - The 16 colleges of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) are committed to maintaining the health and safety of their students, faculty and staff. That's why all colleges will continue to offer online/remote classes through the last day of instruction, which is May 2, and will use online/remote assessment during the regular final exam week of May 4 - 10.

Additionally, employees will continue to work remotely through at least April 17 in accordance with Gov. Beshear's recommendation. Because of the fluidity of this unprecedented health event, this date could change.

KCTCS leadership, which includes the presidents of the 16 colleges, has decided to postpone spring commencement. Dates for each college's commencement will be announced in the coming weeks.

"We understand the need to delay commencement is disappointing to our students who have worked hard and made personal sacrifices to successfully complete their college programs," KCTCS President Jay K. Box said. "I ask for their patience and understanding as we work through these challenging times."

KCTCS will continue to assess when each college can fully reopen its facilities to students and the public and return to normal operations.  The 16 colleges will follow the guidance from the Governor's Office and the Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) in any systemwide decision.

For the most current information on how KCTCS is responding to COVID-19, visit https://kctcs.edu/covid-19/.

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KCTCS Moving to Online Instruction

Published 3/18/2020

Versailles, Ky. - The Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) is moving to online instruction beginning today through March 27. All lab classes have been postponed until then as well. Labs will resume near the end of the term.

The majority of personnel will work remotely during this time. However, all colleges are open with limited staff and limited access to certain areas. Three colleges are on spring break this week and will begin online classes and telework when they return.

Other processes colleges are following include:

  • Nursing and allied health clinicals will be at the discretion of the college and their partners.
  • Student services will be offered virtually or in a limited fashion on campus with limited staffing.
  • All travel has been halted for staff members, including visits to other KCTCS colleges and the Versailles office.

The health and safety of our students, faculty and staff are our top priorities during this unprecedented health event. KCTCS leadership will continue to monitor the fast-changing situation related to COVID-19 and follow guidance from local, state and national leaders. Before March 27, leadership will determine if it is safe to return to regular instruction with staff on campus or to continue online coursework and telework for staff.

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Update from KCTCS College Presidents

Sent 3/16/2020

Dear KCTCS Students, Faculty, Staff, and Community,

The Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) includes a centralized System Office located in Versailles and 16 Colleges with campus locations across the Commonwealth.  KCTCS understands the disruption in your everyday lives caused by COVID-19, the coronavirus.  As the leaders of KCTCS, we are united in our goal to provide access to classes and student support even while regular campus activities are restricted.  Of utmost importance are the health and safety concerns of students, faculty, and staff.  To guide us in our decision making, we are carefully monitoring information and directives from the Centers for Disease Control, the Governor's Office, and the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education-the state coordinating agency for higher education.

All College faculty and staff are hard at work to quickly ensure that coursework continues remotely. Depending on the course, this could include online, email, video communication, and other means to keep students engaged and successful. While this is new to many students, support is available, including access to limited technical and computer labs on campuses, drive-up wifi availability in some parking lots, full online library resources, and support through the KCTCS Mobile App. Students will use this new way of taking classes in concert with support from their faculty members.

Virtual student services are also available on campuses-see each College's website for information. Students may call the 24-hour KCTCS Call Center at (855) 465-2827 for assistance but should refer to College websites for College-specific information.

Most of our colleges have recently completed spring break.  Bluegrass Community and Technical College and Jefferson Community and Technical College have spring break this week. To keep you better informed about the latest changes to classes, all KCTCS College students, faculty and staff should keep close watch on College email, websites, social media, and other information sites.  Each College president will be sharing information pertinent to their College's offerings, staffing, and location information.

Protecting the health of College employees is also important. Many employees are working remotely while essential staff are keeping College services open and following appropriate social distancing and cleaning guidelines.

We will continue to be flexible and adaptable as the COVID-19 pandemic national and state responses evolve. We believe this continued access to higher education will create better lives for a better Kentucky and we will work with students, faculty and staff to ensure continued support for student success.

  • Dr. Jay Box, President, KCTCS
  • Dr. Larry Ferguson, President of Ashland Community and Technical College
  • Dr. Sherry Zylka, President of Big Sandy Community and Technical College
  • Dr. Koffi Akakpo, President of Bluegrass Community and Technical College
  • Dr. Juston Pate, President of Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
  • Dr. Fernando Figueroa, President of Gateway Community and Technical College
  • Dr. Jennifer Lindon, President of Hazard Community and Technical College
  • Dr. Jason Warren, President of Henderson Community College
  • Dr. Alissa Young, President of Hopkinsville Community College
  • Dr. Ty Handy, President of Jefferson Community and Technical College
  • Dr. Cynthia Kelley, President of Madisonville Community College
  • Dr. Steve Vacik, President of Maysville Community and Technical College
  • Dr. Scott Williams, President of Owensboro Community and Technical College
  • Dr. Carey Castle, President of Somerset Community College
  • Dr. Phil Neal, President of Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College
  • Dr. Vic Adams, President of Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College
  • Dr. Anton Reece, President of West Kentucky Community and Technical College

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KCTCS Board of Regents Updated on COVID-19 Plans

March 13, 2020

Versailles, Ky. – Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) Chancellor Kris Williams provided an update on the system’s response to the COVID-19 virus to the KCTCS Board of Regents during their quarterly board meeting.

Williams announced that all colleges within the system can move to online learning for two-three weeks beginning Monday. This decision was based on the request from Gov. Beshear and the Interim Commissioner of Education to public school systems across the state to move to online/remote learning at this time. Two KCTCS colleges, Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC) and Gateway Community and Technical College (GCTC), have already announced their plans.  BCTC will move to online classes March 22-April 4 and GCTC will be transitioning to online delivery starting March 18.

The KCTCS System Office in Versailles is also allowing employees to work from home, if needed. Many are impacted by local school closures, so beginning Monday, the System Office will allow individuals to work from home for two weeks with support from their supervisor.  

“KCTCS colleges have been developing plans for several weeks to address the COVID-19 crisis and are well prepared to continue providing students with their educational needs while meeting community health concerns,” KCTCS Board Chair Gail R. Henson said.  “The health and safety of our students is our number one priority and we believe the move to online learning will allow us to continue serving our students in the current environment.”

KCTCS has created a web page on all college websites for COVID-19 announcements and updates.  Additionally, students, faculty and staff are being communicated to on a regular basis via the website, email, social media and other internal communication channels.

In other business, the board:

  • Appointed KCTCS Vice President Paul Czarapata as interim KCTCS president beginning July 1 for a minimum of three months until a new KCTCS president is on board. 
  • Ratified 20 certificate programs.
  • Approved two Associate in Applied Science programs for Madisonville Community College - Associate in Applied Science in Fixed Wing Flight Training and Helicopter Flight Training
  • Approved 8,180 academic credential requests between April 11, 2019 – July 17, 2019 (associate degrees, diplomas and certificates).  These credentials include:
    • 4,741 candidates for certificates;
    • 612 candidates for diplomas; and
    • 2,827 candidates for associate degrees.

The next meeting of the KCTCS Board of Regents is scheduled for June 12, 2020 at the KCTCS System Office, Versailles, Kentucky.