Information and Updated Resources from RRCC and Minnesota State

Please read all information below and check back regularly for updates.

** Also check your RRCC email for important updates and information **

Classes Suspended March 16-27 | Resuming March 30

FAQ's and Resources for Students

As we continue to receive updates from the Minnesota State system office and other government and healthcare partners, we will continue to share updated information with you via your RRCC email, this website https://www.rainyriver.edu/college-services/campus..., and through other official communication channels including RRCC's official social media.

This situation is evolving rapidly and information is changing quickly. The most up-to-date information can also be found through the Minnesota Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Latest Updates

UPDATED Monday, March 30 @ 3PM

NHED PANDEMIC PLAN

UPDATED Monday, March 30 @ 10AM

Our apologies for this late notice.

Last evening we received a directive from the Executive Branch that holding in-person instruction, even as we had planned with social distancing and CDC cleaning standards, should be delayed for at least two weeks. This is a change in their guidance from earlier this week.

About 90% of instruction and student services throughout the Minnesota State system have been moved online, thanks to a lot of creativity and hard work by faculty and staff. These classes will continue as planned. However, given last night’s change in guidance, face-to-face classes have been suspended.

I ask that faculty reach out to students as soon as possible to communicate directly regarding specific classes and if course plans have changed for the week.

I sincerely apologize for the late timing of this message and the inconvenience it causes, and I thank everyone for your patience as we navigate through this ever-changing situation.

Thanks so much for all you are doing!

UPDATED Monday, March 30 @ 8AM

STAKEHOLDER ANNOUNCEMENT: USDA Rural Development Launches COVID-19 Resource Webpage

WASHINGTON, March 27, 2020 – USDA Rural Development has launched a COVID-19 resource page to keep our customers, partners, and stakeholders continuously updated on actions taken by the Agency to help rural residents, businesses, and communities impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak.

Visit www.rd.usda.gov/coronavirus for information on Rural Development loan payment assistance, application deadline extensions, and more.

View the full Stakeholder Announcement

UPDATED Tuesday, March 26 @ 9 AM

NEWS RELEASE - Rainy River Community College responds to Governor Tim Walz’s “Stay at Home” Order

UPDATED Wednesday, March 25 @ 3 PM

March 25, 2020 Chancellor Letter to Students re: Governor's "Stay At Home" Order

March 25, 2020 Chancellor Letter to Faculty and Staff re: Governor's "Stay At Home" Order

UPDATED Tuesday, March 24 @ 12 PM

The Minnesota Department of Health has slightly evolved their guidance for people who live in the same household as someone who thinks they have COVID-19. Their new guidance is as follows (the highlighted areas is what is new):

If you feel you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, The Minnesota Department of Health recommends:

1.Stay at home for at least 7 days, and for 3 days with no fever and improvement of respiratory symptoms – whichever is longer. (Your fever should be gone for 3 days without using fever-reducing medicine).

2.Use the CDC website on how to Care For Yourself at Home with COVID-19.

3.If your household contacts were exposed to you while you had symptoms, they should try to stay home as much as possible for 14 days.

a. They should closely monitor their health, and if symptoms occur, they must isolate themselves. More guidance on this can be found here: MDH COVID-19 Basics

b.Use the CDC website for How to Minimize Spread.

UPDATED Friday, March 20 @ 11 AM

NEWS RELEASE - Rainy River Community College Faculty and Staff remain committed to serve students during COVID-19 Outbreak

UPDATED Friday, March 20 @ 10 AM

Rainy River Students, Faculty, Staff and Partners,

As you all know with the event of the COVID -19 virus the college has had to make some adjustments to the way we do business. This includes the way we deliver classes, the way we advise, support, and recruit students and the way we go about our daily work. So many things have happened over the past week that I felt it was important to capture at least some of them here. Let me start by saying thank you to all members of the RRCC community for pulling together to effectively and efficiently make the changes necessary to keep everyone safe!

First and foremost, our primary concern continues to be the safety of our students, employees, and the public.

To that end please note the following:

  • Classes will resume on Monday, March 30th. All RRCC courses will transition to a virtual or online format for the remainder of the spring semester. The decision was made to cancel two classes that were scheduled to begin on March 16 due to the required face to face component – Trained Medication Aide and Phlebotomy.
  • Effective immediately all aspects of spring sports have been canceled and the athletic facilities will be closed until further notice
  • Commencement - Minnesota State announced this week that in-person graduation ceremonies at all colleges will not be held.

Click here for more details.

UPDATED Monday, March 16, 2020 @ 3 PM

Minnesota State and our colleges and universities are closely monitoring the developing situation related to COVID-19 and are committed to taking steps necessary to protect the health and safety of our faculty, our staff, and our students.

All faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to heed the guidance of the Minnesota Department of Health, and in particular, staying home when sick, covering your cough, and practicing good hand hygiene.

ACADEMIC UPDATE

  • Classes have been suspended through March 27.
  • Classes will resume on Monday, March 30 using alternative modes of delivery such as online. There will be no face-to-face classes through the end of the semester.
  • Students will be contacted by their instructors and/or advisors for specific details on course delivery methods before classes resume.
  • Rainy River Community College will also explore alternative/expanded means to deliver student services.
  • Registration for summer and fall classes is ongoing and can be done online. Advisors are here to assist you - please call 218.285.7722 for assistance or see contact information below.

STUDENT HOUSING UPDATE

Rainy Hall is still open, but RRCC is encouraging students to:

  • Stay home if you are already home. Please do not return to campus at this time.
  • Return home if you are staying in our halls and please take your essential belongings.
  • If you are experiencing a housing hardship, you may remain in Rainy Hall.

ATHLETIC UPDATE

The spring sports season has been cancelled by the NJCAA. For Rainy River, this includes softball and baseball.

FACILITY UPDATE

  • Limited staff will be available on campus. We are NOT closed but ask that you come to campus only when absolutely necessary!!! The library will be open during regular business hours but not staffed. This will be primarily available for students who need internet access.
  • Change in hours of operation – the campus will be open Monday through Friday, from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.
  • Only two doors will be open on campus – door 1 (the main rotunda door) and door 5 (the CareerForce door). If you have a key, be sure you close the door behind you when you leave.The cleanliness of our campuses is a key element in keeping our faculty, staff, and students healthy.The facilities and maintenance teams at the college are adhering to updated guidance from the CDC to ensure comfortable and safe campuses within which to learn.

MINNESOTA STATE TRAVEL

Minnesota State suspended all school and business-related international travel effective February 28.

In addition, all out-of-state business travel for students, faculty, and staff has been suspended effective March 16. For in-state travel or other events, please carefully assess, along with supervisors, the conditions of destination communities to carefully consider the potential risks to yourself, participants, fellow students, families, and friends. Event hosts and coordinators should also be engaged in this assessment. If you choose to travel, ensure you have essential items you might need if you are not able to return immediately, such as medications, laptops, or other items needed to continue your studies.

MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Should a case of COVID-19 occur on a campus, the Minnesota Department of Health will confirm the case and lead efforts to identify all those who were in contact with the ill person and give further instructions.If you are concerned that you have been exposed, please self-quarantine and contact your doctor, your campus’s student services to alert them, as well as your faculty to ensure you are able to keep up with class assignments.

The diversity of our student body and employees is one of our greatest strengths. As such, we are committed to ensuring welcoming and supportive campus environments for all of our students, faculty, and staff. It is vitally important we work together, follow the practices recommended by public health officials, and proceed with preparedness, calm, and understanding.

Please continue to watch this page for daily updates about Rainy River's status and plans.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated their Novel Coronavirus Travel Information where most countries in Europe have now been designated along with China, Iran, and South Korea at Level 3 (Warning, Avoid Nonessential Travel) and the rest of the world, including the United States, has now been designated at Level 2 (Practice Enhanced Precautions) as a Global Outbreak Notice.

Effective immediately:

All travelers that are returning from a Level 3 country must stay home for 14 days after returning from travel, monitor their health, and practice social distancing. The full guidance from the CDC is located at https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/warning/coronavirus-europe

Travelers returning from other countries or from domestic travel need to monitor their health and limit interactions with others for 14 days after returning from travel. Travelers that are sick with fever, cough, or have trouble breathing should stay home and call ahead before seeking medical care. The full guidance from the CDC is located at

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/alert/coronavirus-global

If you are faculty or staff member that needs to self-quarantine or stay home to monitor your health after traveling, please notify Dr. Roxanne Kelly, Roxanne.kelly@rainyriver.edu

If you are a student that needs to needs to self-quarantine, stay home to monitor your health, or needs accommodations to self-quarantine, please notify Brad Krasaway, brad.krasaway@rainyriver.edu .

If you have questions regarding exposure as a result of travel, Minnesota Department of Health asks you to call 651-201-5414 or 877-676-5414 for guidance.

Rainy River Community College and the Minnesota State colleges and universities are committed to protecting the health of all students, faculty, and staff. Therefore, all classes at Rainy River Community College have been suspended for the week of March 16-20. Classes are scheduled to resume on March 23.

Students and employees should check their campus email and this webpage for more information.

General Guidance

What do I need to know about the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have provided this Fact Sheet on COVID-19: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/2019-ncov-factsheet.pdf

What should I do if I am sick and diagnosed with COVID-19 or suspect I am infected with the virus that causes COVID-19?

The CDC has provided this Fact Sheet outlining steps to help prevent the disease from spreading to people: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/sick-with-2019-nCoV-fact-sheet.pdf

What can students, faculty and staff do to protect themselves and each other?

We encourage students, faculty and staff to practice respiratory (coughing and sneezing) etiquette and hand hygiene. Those who feel sick are recommended to stay home until they are free of fever, signs of a fever, and any other symptoms for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing or other symptom-altering medicines (e.g. cough suppressants). Employees should notify their supervisor and stay home if they are sick and seek medical attention depending on the severity of their symptoms.


For specific questions or concerns at RRCC, contact:

To support Minnesota State faculty and staff with their academic continuity planning, the system office has alternate technologies available at no additional cost (D2L Brightspace, Kaltura MediaSpace, Zoom, Office 365).

For quick start guides, or to schedule drop-in sessions or one-on-one sessions, visit https://asanewsletter.org/events/..

Check back often for updates...