Face��coverings will no��longer��be required on Central Lakes College campuses, as of��Friday, March 4.

The move follows recently updated CDC guidance. The CDC updated the metrics used to inform their mitigation recommendations, including masks. The levels are based on a mix of case rates, total new COVID-19 admissions over 7 days, and the 7-day average of percent of staffed inpatient beds occupied. This has allowed MDH and Minnesota State to make changes in its pandemic mitigation strategies.

“Although the masking requirement is being lifted, it’s important to remember that employees, students and community members may choose to continue wearing face coverings,”��said 91�Թ��� President Hara Charlier. “Masks will no longer be required, but they are certainly welcome.”

In addition, the updated CDC guidance recommends that individuals who are immunocompromised or at a high risk for severe disease should talk to their healthcare provider about whether masks or other precautions are warranted.

The CDC has not updated its masking guidance for healthcare and clinical settings. As a result, campus clinical settings, such as student health centers and dental clinics will remain subject to indoor masking requirements.

The college will continue other precautions, for the time being, such as limiting��group events with 50 percent capacity limits to allow for social distancing.

91�Թ��� will continue to monitor data and reassess after spring break to determine if further adjustments are warranted.

“We are cautiously optimistic that this is the beginning of a trend toward a sense of relief and normalcy,”��Charlier said. “We also know that some level of uncertainty will continue to be part of this pandemic. As always, we’ll approach this carefully with a deep commitment to keeping people safe and being exciting to help students ‘build their futures.’”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Dear 91�Թ��� Students,

As we welcome you to the 2022 spring semester, we’re mindful of the increasing prevalence of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 and wanted to update you on 91�Թ���’s plan to ensure an excellent student experience and uphold our��Culture of Caring.��We will begin the semester��as planned, including classes with the originally scheduled delivery method, while enforcing COVID-19 safety protocols based on guidance from��the Centers for Disease Control, Minnesota Department of Health, and the Minnesota State system.

We are asking for everyone’s help to ensure that 91�Թ��� can continue to offer a robust experience for students, including in-person classes and activities, to both keep all members of the 91�Թ��� community safe and to help our students be successful. We are taking additional measures this semester but need cooperation and assistance from 91�Թ��� employees and students.

We recognize that this conversation can be difficult in the absence of a state-wide mask mandate, but 91�Թ��� joins medical facilities, performing arts organizations, and some local schools and businesses by considering face coverings an important part of the safety plan. We have a responsibility to comply with the State of Minnesota/Minnesota State directives on masking, vaccination, and testing.

Additionally, despite our efforts, COVID-19 transmission has occurred on our campuses, and our positive case counts are trending higher than some of our Minnesota State peer institutions. For all of these reasons, it’s critical that we work together to keep everyone safe and students learning.

For Spring semester, we have implemented the following��additional precautions:

• Limiting access to the campus through the following staffed doors to assist with mask compliance:
  • Brainerd Door #1, Door #4, and #26 (Door #6 for Wednesday afternoon for testing clinic) Door #25 for Dental Clinic only
  • Staples Door #1, #4
  • Staples West Campus-TBD with February start

• Hiring temporary staff to assist with door monitoring and mask compliance on campus and for events/activities.

• Strongly encourage employees and students, even those that are vaccinated and boosted, to get tested before returning to campus or upon return to campus. Options include visiting WeAre on 91�Թ���’s campuses, various community testing sites or home testing options as noted below.
• Safely offering community testing on the Brainerd campus once per week. This is in addition to the 91�Թ���-specific hours on our campuses. Community testing is part of our strategy to support the communities, and health care facilities and staff, that we live in.

Academic precautions:

• Partner with faculty to make masking a priority in the classrooms, shops, labs, and common spaces so 91�Թ��� can continue to offer in-person classes and activities throughout the semester.
• Encourage social distancing, if space allows, in classrooms, shops, and labs.
• Continue the practice of assigned seating charts and having the same lab partners throughout the semester.

For Spring Semester, we will��continue to:

• Require masking indoors on campus while Crow Wing, Todd and Wadena counties are in a state of High or Substantial transmission. Encourage everyone to upgrade their masks if needed.
• Require that employees and students not come to campus/class if they are feeling ill or have symptoms of COVID-19.
• Require that employees and student workers who are not fully vaccinated test at least weekly for COVID-19, as long as this requirement continues for State of Minnesota/Minnesota State College and University employees.
• Offer testing opportunities on campus and provide resources to assist employees and students in getting vaccinated or getting a booster shot.
• Encourage employees and students to get vaccinated–and to get a booster shot if vaccinated, as vaccination is one of the best ways to help protect yourself and others from infection and serious illness.
• Recommend that students and employees stay at least 3, and ideally 6 feet apart in common areas and whenever possible.
• Continue to closely monitor case numbers and be ready to pivot to respond to any changes if necessary.��Continue to review these assumptions as we progress through spring semester.

Reminder of Contact Tracing/Reporting of Potential Exposure to Covid-19 or Positive Test Results:

If you become aware of a potential Covid-19 exposure, or a positive test result, report this information as follows:

• Students should report their possible exposure or positive results to one of their faculty members. ����

Important updates/reminders about COVID-19 vaccination and testing:��

Strongly encourage employees and students, even those that are vaccinated and boosted, to get tested before returning to campus or upon return to campus. Options include visiting WeAre on 91�Թ���’s campuses, various community testing sites or home testing options as noted below.

We will continue to partner with WeAre for on-campus testing as follows:

Effective Monday, January 10, 2022:

Monday:����������������10:00 am – Noon���� ��������91�Թ��� Brainerd Campus: C103

12:30 – 5:00 pm����������������WeAre 615 Oak St, Brainerd

Tuesday:�� �� ��������10:00 am-11:30 am����91�Թ��� Staples Main Campus

Noon – 12:30��pm������ ������91�Թ��� Staples West Campus

12:30 – 5:00 pm����������������WeAre 615 Oak St, Brainerd

Wednesday:�� 10:00 am-11:30 am����91�Թ��� Brainerd Campus: C103 (Athletic testing)

Noon – 4:00 pm���������� ����Community Testing-B&I Center E204 (Door #6)

Thursday: ������������12:30 – 5:00 pm����������������WeAre 615 Oak St, Brainerd (testing/vaccination)

For testing in the community, options include��ordering a take home test or find a testing site via this link:��

Specifically, MDH recommends the following people get tested for COVID:

• Anyone who has any symptoms.
• Anyone who has had close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19.
• Anyone traveling or returning from travel.
• Anyone who has attended a high-risk event.
• Anyone who is not fully vaccinated and works in close contact with a lot of people.
• Anyone who is not fully vaccinated and participates in in-person childcare, school, extracurricular activities, or sporting activities.
• People with immunocompromising conditions, even if fully vaccinated.
• Anyone who has been asked or referred to get tested by their health care provider or state, tribal, local, or territorial health department.

Campus vaccination clinics:
In addition to testing before returning to campus, consider getting vaccinated or��a booster. ��Vaccinations and boosters are available through WeAre on Thursdays at their Oak Street location or can be scheduled in advance at the Staples or Brainerd Campus by contacting WeAre. We will continue to partner to make vaccinations, boosters, and testing, at the Staples and Brainerd locations, throughout the semester as needed.

Other vaccination options:
To get vaccinated at other locations, check out this link from MDH:����and click on where to get vaccinated.

91�Թ���’s goal is to��protect��the health and safety of��our students, faculty, and staff while supporting our students to realize their educational goals.�� With the college community’s collective help of��getting vaccinated or��a booster shot, staying home if you’re feeling ill, and testing if you meet the MDH testing recommendations, we can provide a safe and regular schedule of classes and activities for our students.��

We will continue to monitor the situation and provide you with updates. Have a great semester, and as always, reach out with questions/concerns: covid19@clcmn.edu

The post Spring Forward, Finish Strong! appeared first on Central Lakes College.

This semester is going to be great – full of in-person campus activities and opportunities, as well as student life, cultural and performing arts events.

Your education, health and well-being are paramount to our path moving forward. As we approach the start of this academic year, we would like to update you on our COVID-19 mitigation strategies.

Masking and Door Entries
Following the newly released guidance by the CDC, and at the direction of the Minnesota State System, Central Lakes College will reinstate its requirement that all students, staff, faculty and visitors wear face coverings while inside any 91�Թ��� campus building regardless of vaccination status.

All 91�Թ��� doors are open and there is updated signage, hand sanitizer and disposable masks at all door entries. There is no health screening protocol in place at this time.

Make sure to grab your free 91�Թ��� branded mask at the Welcome Center during the first week of school.

Requests for accommodations to the face covering requirement should be directed to Accessibility Services.��Students requesting face shields should contact the Welcome Center or Accessibility Services.

Vaccination and Testing
Central Lakes College strongly encourages COVID vaccinations for students and employees.

While students are not currently required to be vaccinated (with exceptions for some specific groups, including some healthcare programs), we are strongly encouraging all students to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

Starting the first week of fall semester, weekly vaccination and testing will be available:

Brainerd campus:��Monday through Thursday from 10 am to 2 pm in the south hallway.
Staples campus: Wednesdays from 10am-12 pm in the Commons

Testing
Free Rapid Testing is also available through WeAre.

Brainerd: Located in C103- WeAre Office
Staples: Located in the Commons

Get vaccinated and win
All fully vaccinated students will receive a FREE Nike Raider hoodie and will be entered into a drawing for multiple PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X game systems!

How to enter: Starting the first week of school, pick up your free hoodie at your campus Welcome Center and enter to win a game system! (Must show your vaccination card)

Contact Tracing/Reporting of Potential Exposure to Covid-19 or Positive Test Result
If you become aware of a potential Covid-19 exposure, or a positive test result, report this information to one of your instructors.

If you test positive for Covid-19, or have had a potential Covid-19 exposure, there are updated guidelines based on your vaccination status. Our contact tracing team will work with you on quarantine and/or isolation guidelines depending on your specific circumstances.

Cleaning/Disinfecting
91�Թ��� maintenance staff has been working to ensure all high touch surfaces are routinely and repeatedly sanitized and disinfected, following all Department of Health guidelines.

Food Service
Each of our food service providers have developed plans to safely serve you. They will have increased grab and go options.

Academic Facilities/Covid-19 Capacities
All classrooms have been put back to their original classroom capacities from pre-Covid-19 times, and class sizes have returned to pre-Covid-19 times.����Class schedules will be posted on the doors as has been done each semester.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

The post Fall Semester 2021 – Important Information for Students appeared first on Central Lakes College.

In just a few weeks, you will be joining us for New Student Orientation Day on Friday, August 20, and for the first day of fall semester on Monday, August 23.��Like you, we are expecting great things for our fall semester, with all the education choices,��including face-to-face classes��and campus activities, you have come to expect from 91�Թ���.

Your education, health and well-being are paramount to our path moving forward. As we approach the start of this academic year, I would like to update you on our COVID-19 mitigation strategies.��Increasing case numbers in Minnesota, along with the rise of the highly transmitted Covid Delta variant remind us that this pandemic is not over. Further, 91�Թ��� is in a part of the state with substantial levels of transmission.

Following the newly released guidance by the CDC, and at the direction of��the Minnesota State��System, Central Lakes College will reinstate its requirement that all students, staff, faculty and visitors wear face coverings while inside any 91�Թ��� campus building, beginning Monday, August 9.��At this time, there are no requirements for masking outdoors.

The new protocol requires employees, students, and visitors, including contractors and vendors, to wear a face covering in public indoor settings at Central Lakes College, regardless of vaccination status.

91�Թ��� will continue to closely monitor the situation and��continue our enhanced cleaning practices throughout each of our campuses.

What can you do?

Get vaccinated! Vaccination is a direct route to getting out of the pandemic as quickly as possible. Vaccinations are also highly effective against the Delta variant.

91�Թ��� will hold vaccination clinics throughout the year on campus, but we encourage you to get vaccinated before the semester starts. Every 91�Թ��� student who is��fully��vaccinated (and can show a vaccination card) will receive a free Nike brand 91�Թ��� Raider hoodie and will also be entered into a chance to win an Xbox Series X and a PlayStation 5.

The State of Minnesota is also offering a $100 Visa gift card for Minnesotans 12 and older who received their first dose of the vaccine before Sunday, August 15.

Our staff and faculty are dedicated to offering you a fun, engaging and robust educational experience on both of our campuses this year.��Stick with us! It’s worth it!

Together, we are #91�Թ���strong.

Sincerely,

Dr. Hara Charlier

President, Central Lakes College��[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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91�Թ��� will be better than ever this fall

Central Lakes College is excited to be returning this fall to the rich array of experiences for which 91�Թ��� is known, including in-person learning, athletics an many other on-campus student activities.

“While we will always prioritize the health and safety of the college community, we are confident in our decision to return to a better than normal fall semester,” said Dr. Hara Charlier, President of Central Lakes College. “We have been safely learning in-person throughout the entire pandemic. We understand that our students need not only a vibrant, in-person college experience, but also the flexibility of virtual access to manage their busy lives. This fall, students will have both.”

91�Թ��� will offer extensive in-person courses and opportunities to engage, while retaining the flexibility that virtual course and services offer. Students will continue to choose how they want to learn, whether it be fully in-person, online, and anywhere in between.

Additionally, students will continue to have access to in-person services, food service on campuses, student life activities, athletics, cultural and performing arts events. Those who wish to engage virtually will continue to have access to these and the many other activities that are part of the 91�Թ��� experience.

Returning to an improved normal will look similar to our pre-pandemic state, with added flexibility and all health and safety measures recommended by public health experts.

“You will receive a vibrant college experience this fall,” Charlier said. “We look forward to seeing you on our campuses!”

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February 1st Update

Greetings students,

We hope that your semester is off to a good start. While we know things continue to be challenging, we want to remind you that we are here to help and are happy to announce new ways to connect with 91�Թ��� staff. COVID-19 cases continue to trend down on our campuses, as well as throughout our area counties and state. Because of this downward trend, we are expanding service hours and activities. Still, we need to continue to be vigilant in hand washing, social distancing and wearing a face covering.

The following changes are effective Monday, February 1 through March 5

To ensure we are available when you need us, departments will be open with in-person staffing, Monday through Thursday, 8 am – 4:30 pm.

Services will be virtual on Fridays from 8 am – 4:30 pm.

You may access contact information for our staff who are available virtually Monday through Friday 8:00 am – 4:30 pm at the following link:

91�Թ��� events continue to be important to all of us. Cultural Arts, Cultural Thursdays, Rosenmeier Forums, and Verse Like Water will continue to be available virtually throughout the semester. For more information, visit��

We are excited to welcome 91�Թ��� Raider Baseball and Softball back to the field, following Covid protocols.

We know connections are important and are happy to share that Student Senate and student clubs can begin meeting in person, following the Covid-19 room capacity limits, social distancing and masking requirements.

Traveling/Spring Break

Please remember to take extra precautions while traveling and during the upcoming Spring Break. Remember, if you plan to travel out-of-state, 91�Թ��� strongly recommends a 14-day quarantine following your return.

Beyond Spring Break

As we look beyond spring break, we know there are questions about many traditional end-of-year events activities and performances. Of course, these include commencement! While we do not yet have the information necessary to make decisions about these important events and we appreciate your patience. We will continue to monitor Covid data and statewide guidance and will share more information soon.

Please reach out if you have any questions/concerns at covid19@clcmn.edu.

Thank you for doing your part in keeping Central Lakes College safe![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Updates for Spring Semester 2021

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