Welcoming Students Back to Campus

FEATURE Connors State College Welcomes Students Back to Campus

Connors State College was eager to welcome students back to campus during move in week August 10-14, 2020. Typically, students have one day to move in and visit multiple stations in the AD Stone Student Union to check into their dorm rooms, and make sure all their paperwork is good to begin school. This year, due to COVID-19, the move in process was expanded into a move in week.

“Because of the virus, CSC had a move-in week rather than the traditional move-in day,” said Mike Jackson, Dean of Students. “With the help and assistance of students

and staff, we experienced very few problems. This may very well become the standard we will use going forward.”

Students were asked upon move in to only bring two family members with them to help move in, and were told beforehand masks were required upon entering buildings on campus. Students who did not have a mask with them were provided one made from the Warner First Baptist Church. Before entering Gatlin Hall, where the move in process took place, students were asked to go to Millers Crossing Clubhouse to complete a screening and get a checklist.

“Connors can have classes and activities this fall and next spring without major adjustments as long as students and staff social distance, wear masks, and wash their hands,” said Jackson. “It is not hard, it just has to be done, and we trust everyone will do these 3 simple things.” “We expect better times going forward due to everyone coming together,” said Jackson.

CSC has established procedures and protocols to support current and future needs in line with the CDC, NJCAA, the Oklahoma

FEATURE

Department of Public Health, the Oklahoma Board of Regents, and the Muskogee County Health Department, as well as continuing efforts to mitigate the transmission of COVID-19 within athletics, programs and the CSC campuses.

Student common areas have had increased sanitation efforts, while requiring students to wear masks in said areas. C&W Services, CSC’s partner janitorial and maintenance service, have doubled sanitation efforts in all student dorm areas, common areas, and classrooms.

“My number one take away from our time on campus since the students have been back is we have seen the vast majority of students do their part as we all try to navigate through these extraordinary times we are facing,” said Jonathan Rowe, Coordinator of Residential Life and Special Events.

“With government guidelines changing almost daily, we are required to adjust mid-stream. Our staff and students have been very flexible with these changes, which makes implementing new procedures much easier on everyone,” said Rowe.

Rowe said with continued support such as this, we hope to be the safest and healthiest campus around.

CSC and C&W’s Services partnership has been longstanding and built on reliability towards one another. Site Manager Keri Lawson explained that C&W protocols for this specific situation forced them to go into level two (out of three levels) cleaning and sanitation in March 2020.

“C&W’s first objective is the safety of the students, visitors, faculty, and staff at Connors State College,” said Lawson.

Due to a level two ranking of cleaning and sanitation, extra staff was hired to accomplish it.

“We are sanitizing in between classes and sanitizing touchpoints throughout buildings all day long,” said Lawson. “We want all of the students to enjoy their time at Connors, and if we can do extra cleaning to help keep them safe and comfortable, so that experience is not interrupted, then we will do all the extra cleaning it takes.”

C&W Janitorial staff clean student showers, toilets, sinks, door handles and common areas in all dorm rooms every Friday to maintain a level of cleanliness to keep the students safe and comfortable.

While students are getting used to the new “normal”, they are choosing to make the best of it. During meal times, staff and Sedexo have rearranged the cafeteria in order for students to remain socially distanced while they are enjoying meals.

“This year is a bit different compared to last year due to COVID19, and everyone wearing masks and social distancing,” said Kylee McCorkle, CSC sophomore and PLC member.

“All of the staff and students worked together to make it a safe but enjoyable experience. This semester may be different than others, but I know we will make the best of it here at Connors State College.”

While preparing for classes to begin, students had five different class redesign delivery options for the Fall 2020 semester. CSC offered