COVID ON CAMPUS How HutchCC handled a worldwide pandemic Sydney Henke

College During Covid

How HutchCC handled a worldwide pandemic

Sydney Henke, Reporter & Designer

Having a mask everywhere you go, social distancing, smaller gatherings, and much more. The coronavirus has changed a lot of things and the regulations have become a new normal for everyone.

On March 12, Governor Laura Kelly declared a state of emergency in Kansas. Three days later, Hutchinson Community College students received an email that spring break would start a week early. On March 16, face-to-face classes were suspended and moved to remote instruction. This was due to Covid-19 and how uncertain this virus was, the world was in a panic and no one knew what calls to make.

“The coronavirus pandemic was something truly novel for us. We have never had to shut down our campus for a pandemic, nor would we have ever dreamed of this scenario. So the sheer unexpected nature of this, coupled with the fact, that there is no playbook on how to handle this, we were building the plane while it was in the air,” Dana Hinshaw, Director of Residence Life and Student Activities, said.

HutchCC had big choices to make in order to protect their students and faculty. Students officially returned to campus on Aug. 12 for face-to-face classes at the beginning of the fall semester. A lot of changes were made including socially-distanced classrooms and required masks in all campus buildings. Rather than having finals before Christmas break they will be done after Thanksgiving, meaning the fall semester ends on Nov. 30.

In a student survey, 47 percent of

◄ Photo by Sydney Henke ◄

The blue X’s mark where students cannot sit due to social distancing guidlines in the Justice Theater classroom in Shears Technlogy Center. Dan Naccarato, Business Management/Entrepreneurship Prof..

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students said Covid-19 changed their plans for the fall 2020 semester.

“Covid-19 affected my fall semester by not having the opportunity to make as many friends,” Liz Florence, Council Grove, said.

Student life has definitely changed. Students living on campus aren’t allowed to have anyone that is not a dorm student inside the building. This is upsetting to a lot of students.

HutchCC is still trying to give their students the full college experience. The annual activities fair could not be in person and instead a virtual activities fair was created for students to stay involved and find their squad.

“There was no ‘playbook’ for this event,” HutchCC President Carter File said.

In order to continue with in-person classes it is very important that students and faculty continue following all of the rules and guidelines. HutchCC is rewarding students for following the rules and guidelines rather than punishing those who don’t.

“We actually instituted a program, where we check the camera system each morning during the week, from the night or weekend prior and give a free wash and dry in our laundry or a free Bogey’s shake coupon to four students each day that we catch with a mask on. We don’t want to be using a stick, we would rather use a carrot to encourage safe protocols for our students,” Hinshaw said.

HutchCC expects the spring 2021 semester to be much like the fall semester. They hope to lighten restrictions and requirements and continue to be hopeful that they will have Blue Dragon athletics in the spring, fine art events and that the Dillon Lecture series will return. The HutchCC board of trustees approved a new spring calendar that removed spring break and moved graduation to Apr. 30.

“I think that if fall 2020 has shown us anything it has shown that with grit and determination of our faculty, staff, and students, and by working together we can make a difficult situation work,” said File.

A new normal is not something HutchCC was looking to create in 2020 but even in the uncertain time they are continuing to provide students with the college experience.

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◄ Photo by Sydney Henke ◄

Lylia Fernandez, Newton. Works on her homework at Rimmer Learning Resoruce Center. Computers in the library were spread out to follow social distancing guidlines.

Signs posted around campus to inform students and visitors

what kind of masks do hutchcc students prefer wearing? 4% 25% 66% 5% 0%

▼ Photo by Sydney Henke ▼

Liz Florence, Council Grove. Walks through campus following guidlines wearing her mask.

Signs posted around campus to inform students and visitors

A Thank you from President File

I want to thank the students and laboration during this event. They parents who put their trust in the did an outstanding job in extremely HutchCC to deliver face-to-face difficult circumstances. Finally, I classes and showed confidence that want everyone - student, faculty, and we would do so in a safe and appro- staff -- to thank our Board of Trustpriate manner. I also want to thank ees and the leadership they showed the students for being willing to throughout this challenging time. wear a mask, socially distance, and They have always kept the well being otherwise be disrupted in the day and safety of our students as their to day college experience. Faculty guiding principle, but they also have deserve a great deal of thanks and done an outstanding job of keeping appreciation for being here to the best interests of Hutchinson Comdeliver these classes face-to-face munity College the organization in and for the outstanding work they mind as they make difficult decisions. did in Spring 2020 when everything Carter File changed. They worked together College President to help one another get classes ready for distributed delivery and they worked with students to make sure your learning experience was complete and comprehensive. The faculty deserve credit and thanks for their efforts. Staff has also done an outstanding job keeping the campus safe and open during these very challenging times. There was no “playbook” for this event. We had to adapt and improvise and HutchCC staff did this very effectively. I want to thank senior leadership staff for all of their support, ideas, and col-

▲ Photo by Hannah Brummer ▲

Enjoying a pronto pup and a gourmet grilled cheese at the Food Truck Night are Cody Flax, Culver, and Jacob Younger, Hutchinson. Students also had outdoor games available to them.

▼ Photo by Hannah Brummer ▼

Progress to the new cafeteria continued prior to the Oct. 1 opening. The cafeteria had been under construction since Jan. 2019.

HutchCC eagerly waited for the newly renovated cafeteria to be completed.

Hannah Brummer, Reporter & Designer

Construction causes inconveniences, especially when it affects plans to eat every day.

Renovations to the Parker Student Union cafeteria have been underway since January of 2019. On Oct. 1, students, staff and faculty sat in the new space eating their first meal.

“We have renovated 12,000 square feet of the cafeteria and added around 4,500 square feet of commercial kitchen. We are also renovating another 12,000 square feet downstairs,” said Julie Blanton, Vice President of Finance and Operations.

While the cafeteria was still being renovated, the students on the meal plan had to adjust to a temporary cafeteria location.

“As of the beginning of the school year, the students are being fed out of the northeast end [of the] Sports Arena. There are tables set up where students can stay and eat if they choose to,” said Dana Hinshaw, Director of Residence Life and Student Activities. “The cafeteria staff serves the food into styrofoam containers so students can take their food with them or sit and eat in the gym.”

The unfinished cafeteria at the beginning of the school year brought up quite a few challenges for the students. “It is a lot further away from the dorms so there are students who drive there to get their food, especially for the eve ning meal. They also do not have as many choices of food as they usually do for their meals,” said Hinshaw.

Students living in the dorms and college apartments get something new along with their meal plans called Dragon Dollars. The Dragon Dollars can be used at the new grab n’ go kiosk in the renovated cafeteria or at Papa Johns located just north of campus. Students on the meal plans will receive 150 Dragon Dollars each

▼ Photo by Hannah Brummer ▼

Waiting in line at Val’s Berry Bowls is a group of HutchCC students. There were six different food trucks for students to choose from.

semester. They are able to use all of them in one semester or they can save them and they will transfer over to the next semester.

“Some of the additions to the cafeteria remodel consist of a traditional lunch line, fast food grill, salad bar, pizza and pasta station, deli bar, display cooking area, and a grab n’go kiosk,” said Jack Kipp, Great Western Dining Food Service Director.

The estimated completion date of the cafeteria was originally scheduled for Aug. 1. Due to setbacks such as the 2019-2020 school year being cut short, the cafeteria was not able to be opened to the students and faculty until the first of October.

“Our original estimate for the cost of the renovation was between 4.5 million to 5 million. It is probably going to be closer to 5.6 million dollars. HutchCC also received a grant of $350,000 from the Sunderland Foundation,” said Blanton.

The Campus Activity Board hosted a food truck night the evening before the newly renovated cafeteria opened. This allowed the cafeteria staff to get everything moved in and ready to serve food the next day.

“It was nice because the food was on campus and close and it was a bunch of really good local food,” Jacob Younger, Hutchinson, said about the food truck night.

With the cafeteria officially up and running, students are enjoying every part of it. From the pizza station to the grab n’go kiosk, every new addition is being put to good use.

“I really like the new look of it with all the different kinds of tables and booths. It looks very modern and put together. It feels homier overall with it not being so wide open like before,” said Shonsee Loewen, Montezuma. “I also like that all the food is in one place now with all the different stations because before you had to choose and there were always really long lines downstairs and a lot of waiting time. So if you were in a hurry you wouldn’t have time. I like the workers’ new uniforms. They look a lot more professional. It’s just a lot more convenient and looks super nice.”

▲ Photo by Hannah Brummer ▲

Student Government Association President Zachary Shanline, Pratt, chooses his breakfast in the newly renovated cafeteria. Shanline was the first student to go through the line.

▼ Photo by Hannah Brummer ▼ Former HutchCC student and president, Dr. Ed Berger is the first person to go through the new cafeteria line. When Berger was a student in 1963, he was the third student to go through the line in the new cafeteria.