GCCC Announces COVID-19 Mitigation Measures

[Garden City, KS] August 11, 2021 — Garden City Community College has announced new measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, including requiring masks in certain areas and offering a vaccine incentive to students and employees.

Beginning August 12th, masks will be required for all in classrooms and learning environments and student life programming events held indoors. Masks are appreciated elsewhere indoors on campus.

The decision to move to Phase 2 of the multi-tiered Healthy and Safe Campus Plan was not made lightly. With Finney County being listed as an area of “high transmission” according to the CDC and an increasing positivity rate in the community, the decision to require masks was made in the interest of securing a safe and healthy campus environment.

The GCCC COVID Committee will continue to monitor and assess new information and data to determine the operation phase weekly.
GCCC encourages all employees and students to get vaccinated and will provide a $500 financial incentive for on-campus students, faculty, and staff who submit an immunization card showing they’re fully vaccinated. Students and employees will be sent instructions on uploading their vaccination record for verification.
Employees and students who work on campus and/or have at least one class physically on campus are eligible. Employees and students who were vaccinated prior to this August are also eligible.
Employees and students must be fully vaccinated by the end of October to be eligible. Assuming two shots, the second shot would need to be received on or before October 15th. The incentive will be applied to student accounts and employee payroll in November.
GCCC will host a vaccine clinic monthly on campus in coordination with the Finney County Health Department (FCHD). Vaccines are also available for free through the FCHD (https://finney-county-coronavirus-response-finneycountygis.hub.arcgis.com/) and many local providers (https://www.vaccines.gov/search/).
The top priority of Garden City Community Colleges is the safety and health of students, staff, and the community. GCCC asks that you continue to be vigilant and help decrease the spread of COVID-19 by washing hands, social distancing, wearing a face mask in public places, and staying home if you are not feeling well.