A Presidential Emergency Order has been issued at Mesalands Community College in response to the highly contagious Omicron variant. The beginning of the semester has been postponed at least to January 31, 2022. The president collaborated with his executive staff, and the executive leadership for Staff and Faculty. The Mission of Mesalands Community College is to provide success and access to students through the best means possible in a healthy and safe environment.
The emergency order has been discussed with the board who will decide on its contents, to provide a happy, healthy, and safe campus, January 18, 2022.
In issuing the order Dr. Busch stated, “The most important thing here at Mesalands Community College is for students to be successful by providing access to their education. This delay will not impact your courses of study but provide more opportunities and better ways to access your path to success in order to secure an education as you lead the way in your chosen field.”
Kim Enriquez, Staff Senate President responded, “This delayed return to campus for students will assist in steps taken to reduce the spread of COVID in the campus’ efforts to respond to the unique circumstances facing our students, faculty and staff.” Joel Kiser, Faculty Senate President agreed by saying, “I have responded to concerns of the faculty by collaborating with executive leadership and the staff senate to resolve the crisis at hand regarding student success and access for the Spring 2022 semester. This will allow us to maintain our teaching and provide multiple modes of delivery in the way that best satisfies students’ goals. Above all, the delay gives Mesalands’ students ample time to register and consider the best option to continue classes in the delivery method that works best for them. Most importantly, this decision best serves our students by allowing them to have different access choices to achieve success this semester.”
This new start date will add an additional week to the end of the semester, while still allowing students, faculty, and staff the traditional spring break. Final’s week will be May 9-12, 2022, with commencement on May 13th.
There will be a new calendar taken to the Board of Trustees on January 18th with dates that will align with the new semester. The Executive staff will release more details on COVID expectations soon. These deadline dates will change in accordance with the new semester dates. Further information will be forthcoming.
Faculty and staff will continue to be on campus registering students and collaborating on the most effective methods to serve our students in these pandemic times.
