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RCCD Trustees Mandate COVID Vaccinations
At a special board meeting on August 10, the Riverside Community College District Board of Trustees voted to approve a new resolution (No. 02 - 21/22) to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for students (returning and incoming), personnel and other individuals who plan on accessing District property, including campuses and educational centers.
To meet the needs of all potential students, vaccinated and not vaccinated, District leadership has also approved an increase in course offerings in online and hybrid formats.
Trustee President Mary Figueroa said that the “intention of the board is to establish policies that ensure the safety and well-being of students, employees and the communities served by the District and its colleges.
She added, “we need to stick together, we need to remain calm . . . we need to maintain the protection of all of the students, of all of the faculty, of all of the staff, of anybody who steps foot on our campuses. That is our responsibility."
Trustee Vice President Bill Hedrick said that in approving a previous vaccination resolution in June the board anticipated that COVID-19 vaccinations would transition from emergency to full approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) by the beginning of the fall semester.
The decision to now mandate vaccinations for those who study, work and visit District facilities and college campuses was made after lengthy discussions with faculty union membership, District and college leadership, classified professionals and student representatives.
RCCD Chancellor, Wolde-Ab Isaac, Ph.D., observed, “The rapid changes brought about by the emergence of various virus mutations, and the changing guidelines for the containment of the spread of the disease, have made planning for and returning to a safe instructional environment difficult. The board resolution has been carefully crafted to ensure access to all students vaccinated and unvaccinated, to allow equitable access to services for students in need of face-to-face classes while adhering to the highest safety standards." The Chancellor acknowledged the enormous amount of work that must be done in a short time to fully implement the board resolution and he called on all members of the District, including faculty, classified professionals, managers and students to “work in a collaborative way to serve our students and communities during this challenging time."
While there have been indications that full FDA approval of the Pfizer vaccine may be forthcoming (NYTimes, Bloomberg), the new mandate by the RCCD board will accept vaccinations that have received FDA Emergency Use Authorization (U.S. FDA COVID-19 Vaccines Authorized for Emergency Use).
Concerns about the confusion of changing messages and requirements for students and employees were voiced by Jack Harris, RCCD student trustee. He and the faculty representatives eventually concurred that the mandate to vaccinate before coming back to campus is the best course of action, especially with the increased threat of new COVID-19 variants across the US.
Interim Vice Chancellor of Educational Services and Strategic Planning, Jeanie Kim, Ph.D., stated, “We want the students to be able to take classes in whatever mode serves them best. A selection of courses is available in each discipline. If you've been fully or partially vaccinated, you can take classes on-site, in hybrid mode and/or online. Students choosing to not be vaccinated may take courses online."
Kim added, “We are here to serve everyone."
Additional information regarding the RCCD colleges' preparations for the fall semester is available on the District's Safe Return website. Several courses that were originally scheduled for on-site instruction at Moreno Valley College, Norco College and Riverside City College will now be offered online. The additional sections of online and hybrid courses are being added to the fall semester class schedules. New and returning students can start checking for additional class offerings next week.
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On-Campus Vaccination Clinics
At a special board meeting on August 10, the Riverside Community College District Board of Trustees voted to approve a new resolution ( No. 02 - 21/22) to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for students, employees, and other individuals who plan on accessing District property, including campuses and educational centers. To meet the needs of employees and students, the District will partner with Costco Pharmacy to offer Pfizer vaccine during the following onsite vaccination clinics:
Moreno Valley College - August 17 and August 24 from 9 am – 5 pm
Location: Administration Annex
Address: 16130 Lasselle St, Moreno Valley, CA 92551
Parking: Park in Lot B (no parking permit required)
MVC Appointment link: https://book-costcopharmacy.appointment-plus.com/d5q70hb0/
Norco College - August 18 and August 25 from 9 am – 5 pm
Location: Norco College Library
Address: 2001 Third St, Norco, CA 92860
Parking: Park in Lot D (no parking permit required)
Norco appointment link: https://book-costcopharmacy.appointment-plus.com/d5q5lm8e/
Riverside City College - August 19 and August 26 from 10 am – 5 pm.
Location: Riverside City College Digital Library Auditorium and Breezeway
Address: 4800 Magnolia Avenue, Riverside, CA 92507
Parking: Park in the Parking Structure off Magnolia/Terracina (no parking permit required)
RCC appointment link: https://book-costcopharmacy.appointment-plus.com/d4pkv8pg/
An appointment is preferred but not required. Walk-ins are welcome. |
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Experts Agree, COVID Vaccinations are Safe and Effective
PUBLIC HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS - The District’s position on vaccinations is consistent with direction from the World Health Organization, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and California Dept. of Public Health. These organizations advise individuals 12 years of age and older to be vaccinated. The Johnson & Johnson, Modera and Pfizer vaccines have all received FDA Emergency Use Authorization, and have been proven safe and effective.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS - Johns Hopkins Medicine views the three available COVID-19 vaccines as safe and effective in preventing severe COVID-19 infection, hospitalization and death. The American Medical Association conducted a survey of US physicians and found that 96 percent of the doctors have been fully vaccinated.
IN-THE-NEWS - Riverside County is seeing an increase in the positivity rate, mostly among unvaccinated individuals. People who have received the vaccines are still susceptible to breakthrough infections, but “Vaccinated people are nearly guaranteed not to be hospitalized or killed by Covid” according to a recent article in the New York Times.
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Notes From Taskforce Workgroups
Instruction
The latest draft of the Safe Return Plan for Fall 2021 (Plan B+) was prepared and collaboratively modified to shift some in-person course sections to online or hybrid formats. This was done in order to meet student need, preserve enrollment, and ensure safety. In consultation with faculty leadership, to increase access for students, and promote scheduling flexibility, RCCD is implementing Distance Education Emergency Courses for the fall 2021 term.
Specific course section conversions and changes will occur based on consultation with department chairs, discipline faculty, and deans of instruction. The District and Colleges will remain focused on minimizing any disruptions caused to students and personnel based on these changes and responding quickly to emerging conditions.
Student Services
Due to safety concerns and recommendations from health officials regarding reducing the spread of COVID-19, all three colleges are exercising caution in hosting in-person events and activities. We continue to provide the majority of services through online platforms to our students. The colleges are preparing to officially welcome back students for the fall 2021 semester beginning the week of August 16th. All Welcome Day events and activities will be conducted virtually to ensure safety for our students and employees. The launch dates for each college are as follows:
Moreno Valley College: August 16th
Norco College: August 18th
Riverside City College: August 21st
Additional information can be found on each college’s website.
Both Norco and Riverside City Colleges have partnered with campus stakeholders to continue planning for their respective 2021-22 seasons while dealing with the ever-changing circumstances of intercollegiate athletics. Both colleges will conduct daily screening and monitoring of student-athletes and athletics personnel with District-sponsored Rave Guardian app and COVID-19 symptom checker, while providing weekly PCR testing which follows the District’s standards. While traveling, everyone will wear masks and continue to be monitored daily. The District has supplied PPE and other disinfecting and sanitizing materials to support the department’s safety needs. All coaches and athletics personnel will receive education regarding COVID-19 best practices. Both colleges continue to work with stakeholders to evaluate and review its policies and procedures to ensure that they are following CCCAA, District, and college protocols.
Communications and Engagement
Communications to Students, faculty and staff are archived on the Safe Return website. The most recent messages were sent on August 11 regarding the Board of Trustees resolution requiring vaccines of individuals who will be accessing District locations and college campuses in the fall.
Message to Students
Message to Faculty and Staff
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