Dear students of GHC and fellow Chargers,
First, I want to thank you for remaining calm and level-headed in these difficult times. Your health and safety remain a high priority to the administration and state agencies working to guide us through the COVID-19 outbreak.
Per the USG instructions, classes were suspended effective March 16 for two weeks. Be advised that all classes and assignment due dates are postponed until after the suspension is over. Students should not return to campus until they receive permission from their institution. Students should wait for GHC to contact them about returning to the campus via their student email, D2L, Navigate, or the GHC Notify system.
At this time, GHC is planning and intends to convert all classes to remote delivery on March 30.
I know a lot of you are stressed about classes being moved to remote delivery online, but keep in mind that professors are working diligently to make this a smooth transition for you. Let’s stay focused on achieving our academic goals and getting to graduation. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to your professors or Deans.
If you are concerned about having a reliable internet connection for the move to online classes, there are a number of free or reduced cost internet plans currently being offered by a number of providers. Charter/Spectrum Broadband, Comcast Xfinity, Cox Connect2Compete are all offering free services for a limited time to assist students that need home access to the internet. While neither the institution, the USG, nor your SGA can directly endorse or recommend any of these services directly, I encourage you to research these options and be sure to read the fine print and conditions before signing up. We are lucky several of these providers have agreed to waive fees in order to get you the internet access you need to complete your spring classes.
Regarding the change of the scheduled Spring Break from April 6-12 to March 23-29, be reassured that professors will do their best to work with you around any travel plans, work schedules, or other occurrences that would have happened during this time. Faculty and staff have your best interests in mind and are willing to work with you however possible through online and other remote means of assistance, such as telephone, text, email, etc. This is all being done with your health and safety in mind as well as ensuring the semester finishes on time to allow Maymester and summer courses to continue.
In regards to any student organization/club activitiesor Student Life programs, all club meetings are postponed until further noticeand all in-person programs, events, and activities have been cancelled. All club budget reports and spending deadlines will be rescheduled to a later date. SGA and the Department of Student Lifeare working together to look for a way to host online student engagement activities, and to ensure that you have access to similar programs online that we had in-person. Again, check your GHC email regularly for updates.
Please also visit GHC’s dedicated page for Frequently Asked Questions herefor information as it relates specifically to GHC. GHC’s information and resource page and FAQs page will be reviewed and updated frequently.
Remember to stay safe and limit your exposure to others.Social distancing is recommended as the optimal method of reducing chance of exposure and contagion, so please stay home if you aren’t required to go out in public.
Thank you for your continued support and cooperation as we all navigate this difficult time.
Best wishes,
Tristen Tolbert
SGA President
ttolber5@student.highlands.edu