Chevalier dissents saying  the risk for persons like him is too great to attend in-person meeting; 90% chance he would die if he gets Covid-19 and participation by him alone on zoom places him at a disadvantage

The Yavapai Community College Governing Board spent fifteen minutes discussing the merits of holding a hybrid meeting in January 2021 rather than continue as it has for several months with all members on zoom.  Third District Representative Paul Chevalier argued that with Covid cases increasing, the risk of transmission was too great if the Board held a face-to-face meeting.    Moreover, according to him, the benefits of a face-to-face  meeting could not outweigh the danger of the older members of the Board being infected. He said in arguing that the meetings remain all zoom that “in fairness to everyone and to help save my life, … if [I get Covid] there’s a 90 percent chance that . . .  [I] will die.”

Governing Board Chair Deb McCasland led the arguments for holding the meeting face-to-face with a zoom option for those who considered  a face-to-face meeting too risky. She was joined in a 3-1 vote to hold a hybrid meeting in January by Board members Ray Sigafoos and Mitch Padilla.  Dr. Pat McCarver, whose spouse is a local physician, said little during the discussion and abstained from the final vote.

You may view the fifteen minute discussion where members asserted the pros and cons of such a meeting on the video clip below.

College notes that  results of positive tests in Yavapai County  for Covid have risen above ten percent threshold, which is point where the CDC recommends schools consider operating in full on-line capacity

Yavapai College  implemented a five-phase plan to deal with Covid-19 for the fall 2020 semester, which began  August 17. The plan has as its goal to protect  the health and safety of students, faculty, staff, and the college community. Since its implementation, the plan has been at the second highest level, which is orange.

On Wednesday, November 18 Dr. Rhine reported that Yavapai County has risen above the ten percent threshold where the Center for Disease Control recommends that schools consider operating in a full on-line capacity.  She indicated that she had no plans to  immediately raise the Community College plan to red but would begin weekly reviews of the situation starting November 24.

You may view Dr. Rhine’s entire report below. It contains additional information. 

Protocol includes masks, social distancing, wellness test, Clear App, and temperature taken on campus; no problems with protocol for first 6 weeks

Yavapai Community College President Dr. Lisa Rhine has reminded all visitors that they should follow the Covid-19 protocol established by the College.  This includes wearing a mask, social distancing, downloading, download and using the Clear App, and taking you temperature at one of the College’s kiosks. 

Dr. Rhine says that during the first six weeks of the fall semester the employees, staff, faculty and visitors have collectively done a good job at following the College’s health and safety protocols.

You may view her short comment about the protocol in the video clip below that was made in her September 23 update.

Plan allows college to move forward or backward depending on COVID-19 perceived risks

Dr. Lisa Rhine

Yavapai Community College’s return to campus plan for August 17 features a set of five phases.  The phases allows the college to move forward and backward depending on the risk presented by Covid-19.

President Lisa Rhine says that “The goal of this plan is to help keep our students, faculty, staff, and visitors as safe as possible by mitigating the spread of COVID-19. “I believe that this plan will not only help keep everyone safe but also allows our students to continue to receive high-quality educational opportunities in all of our programs.”

The College will implement the plan August 3 and begin with the orange phase.

 In the orange phase, most credit classes and all lectures will be taught in a virtual environment.

There will be in-person classes held for programs requiring hands-on learning opportunities, such as lab-based or experiential the classes.  However, these classes are limited to groups of 10 people. 

The in-person groups must  adhere to all safety protocols established by the department and College.

Additional  details regarding the orange phase can be found online on the Yavapai College website.

Student Food Pantry has also provided 318 students with 3,804 meals

Yavapai Community College has provided over $70,000 in cash and gift cards to its students since March 13.  This was according to a report by President Lisa Rhine given to the College District Governing Board at its May 12 meeting.

Dr. Rhine reported that from March 13 to May 12, the College has provided gifts, emergency grants, and funds from Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES)  of more than  $70,000  to students seeking assistance.  In addition, she reported that the Student Food Pantry project had fed 318 students 3,804 meals during this same time period.

The Food Pantry project distributed $3,555 in gift cards to students and the College Foundation provided $8,198 to the student  emergency grant fund for additional help. As a part of the Federal CARE Act, the College placed  $200,000 in an emergency fund to help needy  students.  In the two weeks leading up to the Board meeting, the College had distributed  $59,400 of the $200,000 to students. 

You may view Dr. Rhine’s report to the Governing Board below. 

Safe curbside service created by library staff at Prescott and Verde Valley Campuses

The Yavapai Community College library staff has created a safe curbside book and DVD pickup.  Go online, select your book or DVD, drive by either location, call the College, and the book is delivered to your car.  Below is the notice the College has posted about this service.