November 23, 2024

In Wake of KS COVID-19 Cases, GCCC Proactively Working to Maintain Healthy & Safe Campus

GCCC

[Garden City, KS] March 12, 2020 – Garden City Community College takes the health and safety of our campus community very seriously.

In response to the growing number of cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the U.S. and new cases reported today in Kansas, GCCC’s leadership team is continuing to monitor reports from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and is working in tandem with the Finney County Health Department (FCHD) to keep everyone on our campus and in our community safe and informed.

As of today, March 12, GCCC has not extended its Spring Break (scheduled for March 16-20) or adjusted its class schedules or delivery of instruction. Our leadership team is, however, proactively meeting with faculty and staff to work on contingency plans, including academics, in the event further action becomes necessary.

In addition, measures to continue keeping our campus facilities clean and safe for everyone on campus are being revisited and reviewed. Per a Kansas Jayhawk Conference Community College ruling announced earlier today, all regular season competition for all teams has been suspended effective March 13 through April 1. GCCC will abide by these terms. We are hopeful suspension of out-of-state travel for our student athletes will aid in keeping our community and other communities safer. 

Currently, we are advising students who are traveling home or out of state during Spring Break to take preventive measures to stay healthy and to seek immediate care in their communities if they fall ill. Students are also being advised to keep communication lines between their instructors and coaches open during break in the event changes occur in our classroom schedules or delivery.

Students who live in Finney County are being directed to contact the FCHD at 620-272-3600, which is providing a 24-hour hotline for health-related questions. Students and staff can also contact our GCCC Student Health Services at 620-276-9601 during normal business hours March 16-18, or they can contact St. Catherina Hospital at 620-272-2222.

No classes will be in session for the duration of the Spring Break week, and the campus will be closed March 19 and 20, per our regular academic schedule.  

As new information becomes available daily from local, state, and national health officials, GCCC will continue to monitor the situation and take any steps necessary to maintain a healthy and safe campus. We plan to keep the media and public well informed with any changes in schedules, classes, or other on-campus events, if and when these changes occur. Please visit our website for further updates and messages: https://www.gcccks.edu/news/covid19.aspx.

Garden City Community College exists to produce positive contributors to the economic and social well-being of society.