Message from UA-PTC Chancellor Margaret Ellibee

Dear UA-PTC students:

The Faculty, Staff, and Chancellor’s office welcomes you to the University of Arkansas – Pulaski Technical College. Student health and safety are of utmost importance to us, and we want you to feel comfortable, safe, and aware of safety practices when you visit campus.

ACADEMIC CALENDAR AND CLASS FORMATS:

We offer a range of course options, including in-person, hybrid (in-person with a Zoom/Teams component), and totally online. These options are offered to meet needs or concerns you may have as UA-PTC is operating while the country and state are affected by COVID-19.

It is extremely important that as a UA-PTC student, you check your student email on a daily basis. Your instructors, student services, and other on-campus teams will be sending out important information regarding classes and campus health updates through the end of the semester. Please know, that you can and should contact your academic advisor or instructors with any questions about your course schedule.

COVID-19 TESTING, CONTACT TRACING AND FACE COVERING (PPE) REQUIREMENTS:

In partnership with UAMS and the Arkansas Department of Health, UA-PTC has developed a protocol that will help students determine “safe steps” if they feel they have contracted COVID-19 or have indeed tested positive.

The College will direct students for COVID testing through your own primary care provider. Students should not come to class if they are awaiting COVID-19 test results or have tested positive.

All classes are being designed to support hybrid/remote learning to ensure that students can continue their studies while in quarantine or isolation if they physically are able.

UA-PTC’s steps that students should take if they need to get tested, or if they receive a positive COVID-19 diagnosis is important to review and follow. This process is posted at: www.uaptc.edu/publichealth/students

UA-PTC will provide all students with a UA-PTC-branded face covering, hand sanitizer, and a thermometer. In addition, students will also be able to use a new online daily health self-assessment that lets you check for COVID symptoms before coming to campus. Students, as well as faculty, staff, and visitors are required to wear a cloth face covering over the nose and mouth in all indoor areas of any facility on UA-PTC property including, but not limited to: elevators, classrooms, labs, lobbies, hallways, restrooms, waiting areas, cafeterias, kitchens, theaters, and stairwells. Cloth face coverings shall also be required in all outdoor settings where there is exposure to non-household members, unless there exists ample space of six (6) feet or more to practice physical distancing (social distancing).

Please bring your mask to campus and wear your mask on campus. That mask and everyone’s awareness to keep a 6-foot social distancing space between you and others are key to minimizing virus spread. It’s pretty simple for all of us here on campus: I protect you. You protect me. We protect each other.

Please know that the UA-PTC cleaning team are cleaning all community spaces including restrooms and lobbies, on a daily basis and are focusing on wiping down all touch points. Please avail yourselves of hand sanitizer dispensers, located in all buildings, or bring your own! To help support our goal of having clean surroundings, we will be asking students that when they leave class to wipe down their desk/learning space. Wipes will be supplied in each classroom for this courtesy.

VULNERABLE POPULATIONS:

Our top priority will always be safeguarding the health of our entire campus community. If you are a part of a vulnerable population, or has someone at home who is vulnerable, decisions about the fall semester should be guided by what you feel is best for your unique situation. Students who feel like they should take exclusively online classes should contact their advisor or department chair to see what options are available. Students who do not know who their advisor is should contact the UA-PTC advising office at: advising@uaptc.edu.

WHAT’S NEXT:

We will continue to communicate frequently with students, faculty, and staff regarding our plans. Please take note of student-focused social media posts, the Monday “Sparkle” newsletter, and other helpful instructional media, including our Student Guide, available here: www.uaptc.edu/tools.  
Please know that we are working daily to ensure that all UA-PTC students have a rich, fulfilling academic and campus life experience in a safe environment.

Thank you for being a UA-PTC student. We’re glad you’re here!

Sincerely,

Margaret A. Ellibee, Ph.D.
Chancellor
University of Arkansas – Pulaski Technical College