COVID-19 Updates

All,

Some changes have occurred since the last update in September. We are now almost at mid term time and while we continue to be remote and the campuses are closed to the public, there have been a few changes to note. The Green Bean has opened for lunch on the Portsmouth campus between 10:30 and 1:00. Orders must be placed on line and payment made on line. Orders can then be picked up at a designated spot in the main lobby for students and staff inside, or at a designated spot curbside for anyone from an off campus location. And, printers have been set up in the lobby area so that students who have classes on campus can access them to support their class assignments. At this time, however, it is not possible to allow this access to students who are NOT taking a class that meets on campus.

Planning for spring semester has commenced and the decision has been made to continue remote operations primarily. However, more classes are being scheduled to meet on campus, and a few additional staff may be returning. The final class schedule will be available prior to the registration time period beginning on November 6. If the pandemic situation improves substantially during spring semester, we are considering ways to gradually bring most classes back to campus.

Everyone at Great Bay continues to be creative and resourceful and dedicated to our mission. Students have been very cooperative and attentive, accepting some of the “inconveniences” of this current state without complaint. We have not had any COVID related illness reach the campus, thanks to that cooperation. All of us hope and plan for a brighter future, knowing even so that we will be stronger as a community when it finally gets here.

Cathryn Addy, Ph.D.
Interim President
Great Bay Community College

Fall semester has begun and there is now more activity on our campuses, even though both remain closed to the public. There are eighteen classes that must meet on the Pease campus and four on the Rochester campus throughout the week, with all students being screened before they are allowed to proceed to their labs or classrooms. We recognize that it is somewhat inconvenient, but thus far all have been most cooperative, for which we are grateful.

All student services remain remote and the cafeteria is not open but is looking into a plan for curbside pick up for some limited food orders. More will be shared when that plan is completed. Student clubs are encouraged to start meeting remotely, and an esports program is being launched to provide additional opportunities for students to interact outside of their academic format.

We are hopeful that the educational experience will be as rich as possible for all students and stand ready to support everyone while we continue to operate in this evolving environment. There is still scholarship money available for qualified students who wish to apply via the Financial Aid office—we are trying to make sure that of all the challenges students are facing right now, the cost of attending is not at the top of the list.

More information will be shared about the plan for the spring semester or any changes that will impact fall semester operations. All Great Bay students and employees are to be commended for their patience, perseverance, and dedication to our mission.

Dear Students:

With the start of the Fall 2020 semester less than two weeks away, I am writing to share some important information regarding our planning for the increased academic activity when fall classes begin and resources available to support your academic success.

As a student at Great Bay, there are some important measures and guidance that you should become familiar with:

1. Students attending one of the few courses offered in-person, on-campus will receive a copy of the GBCC College Plan 2020. This will serve as our Guiding Principles as some of us return to campus this fall. Please be sure to review this plan prior to the start of fall classes.
2. The COVID-19 Student Social Compact – As members of this campus community, students, will be responsible for conducting themselves in accordance with the COVID-19 Student Social Compact.

I am excited to share with you that tuition assistance through the Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery (GOFERR) has been made available to Great Bay students. If you or someone in your household have experienced a financial loss or increased expenses due to COVID-19, you may be eligible for assistance to cover the cost of tuition and fees, in part or whole. Impacted students should complete the GOFERR Application as soon as possible.

As a reminder all but a select few classes will be offered in a remote format for Fall semester and access to the Portsmouth and Rochester campuses is very limited. Below is an explanation of the course delivery methods in place:

Face to Face: Courses that will meet at Great Bay, or partner satellite location, in person.

Online 100%: For courses that do not physically meet during the semester. All instruction takes place in a non-scheduled online environment.

Online REMOTE: For these courses you must be online at scheduled times and days(s).

Hybrid (3 Types):

1. Traditional- course meets partially on campus and work is also done online at a non-scheduled time.
2. Scheduled- course meets partially on campus and meets partially Online Remote at a scheduled time.
3. Full Remote– course meets at a scheduled time Online Remote, and work is done online (non-scheduled).

You should purchase textbooks and course materials prior to the start of classes online or you may make arrangements with the bookstore for curbside pick-up by calling 603-427-0891 or emailing greatbay@bkstr.com. When purchasing books, please make note of shipping timeframes and consider curbside pick-up to ensure that you have the materials for the start of classes.

All student support services will continue to be offered remotely, CAPS and Library services are being provided on line: Guide to Remote/Virtual Student Support Services.

While we know that things look a little different this Fall and most of you will study remotely, our faculty and staff look forward “seeing” and welcoming our new and returning students. As always, if you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask.

Best,

Tina A. Favara, M.Ed.

Vice President of Student Success & Enrollment Management

Great Bay Community College

320 Corporate Drive
Portsmouth, NH 03801
Phone: 603-427- 7631

Email:  tfavara@ccsnh.edu

Great Bay has been planning carefully for the increased academic activity that will be apparent when fall classes begin. A decision was made by the end of spring semester that we would continue to operate remotely through the summer and fall. As a result of that decision we have had time to plan and prepare. 

Thus, all but a select few classes will be offered in a remote format for Fall semester and access to the Portsmouth and Rochester campuses is very limited. All student support services are also being offered remotely, CAPS and library services are being provided on line, and there is no cafeteria service. The bookstore will provide curbside pick up for books.

As the situation continues to evolve, we will regularly update you on our operational plans. Please make sure to check your student email and this page regularly for updates. The safety and health of Great Bay students and employees will be at the center of all decisions.

Cathryn Addy, Ph.D.
Interim President
Great Bay Community College

Dear Great Bay Community,

As a result of COVID 19, Great Bay Community College will be offering courses with various methods of delivery. We are writing to explain the different ways in which Fall 2020 classes will be conducted. Below is an explanation of the course delivery methods in place:

Face to Face: Courses that will meet at Great Bay, or partner satellite location, in person.

Online 100%: For courses that do not physically meet during the semester. All instruction takes place in a
non-scheduled online environment.

Online REMOTE: For these courses you must be online at scheduled times and days(s).

Hybrid (3 Types):

1. Traditional- course meets partially on campus and work is also done online at a non-scheduled time.
2. Scheduled- course meets partially on campus and meets partially Online Remote at a scheduled time.
3. Full Remote– course meets at a scheduled time Online Remote, and work is done online (non-scheduled).

Many of you have asked about how we will charge tuition. All classes that are on-campus, in part or whole, will be charged the normal rate of tuition, based on residency (in-state, regional, out of state/international) and Day/Evening. All other classes (which are remote/online) will be charged the lower in-state/online rate (regardless of residency and/or day/evening).

For students who live in neighboring states, we have implemented a 50-mile radius tuition policy. If you live within this radius you will be charged in-state tuition rates across the board effective Fall 2020.

We hope that this information is helpful. For specific course information, please log on to the Student Information System (SIS). Soon we will also have a PDF version of the fall schedule on our website (greatbay.edu) as well.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel welcome to contact us.

Sincerely,

Deanna Friedman, MS
Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs
Interim Business Affairs Officer
Great Bay Community College
Email: dfriedman@ccsnh.edu

Dear Students,

I write in the hopes that you and your families are managing under these difficult circumstances and to provide a brief update. You are probably wondering what will happen this Fall semester at Great Bay Community College. Rather than wait to see what the Summer brings relative to COVID-19, we are making the decision now to have a large portion of learning be remote this Fall. There will be a small number of courses held on campus where we believe it is both imperative and feasible to do so. More specific information regarding your Fall coursework is forthcoming as you will be receiving an email from the College Registrar in the coming weeks.

While more details are to come, academic and student support services will continue to be provided remotely.  We have already been providing many services to ensure that students have the necessary support. For instance, you can meet with an advisor to register for fall classes using Zoom or phone appointments (contact greatbayadvising@ccsnh.edu). Tutoring is also available remotely, as well as other services provided by the Center for Academic Planning and Support (greatbaycaps@ccsnh.edu). We will have a full list of how to access everything you need forthcoming.

We realize that this may come as a disappointment as we, too, would like to be back on campus. We are diligently planning for when we can fully return. For those who do have on campus courses scheduled for fall, rest assured we are taking the necessary precautions  so we can ensure the safest learning environment possible. 

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Tina A. Favara, M.Ed.

Vice President of Student Success & Enrollment Management

Great Bay Community College

320 Corporate Drive
Portsmouth, NH 03801
Phone: 603-427- 7631

Email:  tfavara@ccsnh.edu   

Dear Students – I write in the hopes that you and your families are managing under these difficult circumstances and to provide some important updates.

Registration: Registration for Summer and Fall courses will open this Monday April 6, 2020. Please register early to ensure that you get the schedule that best fits your needs. Please contact your advisor or the Advising and Transfer Center at greatbayadvising@ccsnh.edu or 603-731-5208. The great news about summer is that all courses will be either online or Zoom and tuition for all summer courses will be at the in-state tuition rate!

• Tuition: For courses originally on campus this semester (Spring 2020), we will be retaining the existing tuition rates even as those courses have migrated to a remote learning environment. GBCC is committed to ensuring the course outcomes are met in the online classroom and offer the same academic experience in a distance modality.
• Financial Holds: Students who are continuing to work with the GBCC Business Office due to an outstanding balance for Spring, will still be allowed to register for summer and fall.
• Payment Flexibility:
  • Existing Payment Plans: The business office will work with students experiencing financial difficulties due to a job loss or other impacts from COVID-19, on a case by case basis.
  • New Payment Plans: The cost of the Payment Plan Enrollment Fee of $30 per semester will absorbed by the College for Summer Courses.
•  Financial Aid: Most students are eligible for some form of financial aid and we encourage all students to apply for aid, even if you think you may not be eligible. It is not too late to apply for Financial Aid for the Spring term and students should proactively apply for aid for the 2020-2021 Academic Year.

GBCC understands that the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected students and families’ incomes with reductions and job losses. We will be diligently working with ALL students to determine best options for them during these challenging times. As we make these decisions, we encourage you to share your family’s experience and communicate any special circumstances impacting your ability to contribute to your education to the Financial Aid Office, so that we can ensure that you’re getting the assistance that you need to be successful. If you struggling to meet the basic needs of yourself and your family, please reach out to Allyson Grochmal, Director of Student Life, at agrochmal@ccsnh.edu as we may be able to help you directly or through community resources and referrals.

Our GBCC community and the world are facing an unprecedented time, and we greatly appreciate your understanding and flexibility as the situation continually changes. We know your plans have been altered and have come with some difficulty and unforeseen challenges.

Tina A. Favara, M.Ed.

Vice President of Student Success & Enrollment Management

Great Bay Community College

Campus Resources:

Admissions – gbadmissions@ccsnh.edu

Academic Advising – greatbayadvising@ccsnh.edu

Financial Aid – GBFINAID@ccsnh.edu

CAPS – greatbaycaps@ccsnh.edu

All other questions – askgreatbay@ccsnh.edu

The Governor announced today that he was implementing a “Stay at Home” advisory to all New Hampshire residents. Great Bay Community College is already in full compliance and will continue its remote operation through the remainder of the semester. Students and faculty will complete their academic work remotely, and staff will continue to work remotely until at least May 4, or until such time as the Governor determines that more normal operations can resume. Meanwhile, even though we are fully operational, the campus will remain closed to the public, and to students and staff.

Cathryn Addy, Ph.D.
Interim President
Great Bay Community College

To Great Bay Students:

Please remember that ALL classes until the end of the semester will be delivered remotely/online. In addition, services that you are used to finding on campus will ALSO be remote/online because we at Great Bay believe that this will be the best alternative we have as we work with you on successfully completing this spring semester and preparing for what might lie ahead. Specifically:

• You should be in constant contact with your instructor(s) to make sure that you are connected to the class(es) you are taking. You should also be in touch with your academic advisor just to make sure you are getting all of the information you need.
• Please do not come to campus. The college is fully operational, but the campus itself remains open only to a very few employees.
• Anything you would have accessed on campus you will be able to access online. Check the web site for email addresses of the office or person you wish to contact.
• Registration for fall semester has been postponed until April 6.
• The bookstore’s physical location is going to be closed while the campus is unavailable. If you need to purchase books you may do so online. The bookstore has extended free shipping to all students.
• The gym and fitness center are also not available, and the Green Bean has suspended operations.
• No decisions have been made yet about Commencement ceremonies that are currently scheduled for May 16. We will inform you as soon as we have a definite plan.

Thank you so much for taking the time you need to understand the current circumstances in which we find ourselves. This is not easy for any of us! We are genuinely concerned first for your health and safety but also for your academic progress and will do our best to help you achieve your goals. It seems that circumstances change on a daily basis, but we will keep you informed with the latest and most accurate information that we have. Thank you for being a Great Bay student!

Cathryn Addy, Ph.D.
Interim President
Great Bay Community College

To allow students to adjust to any changes they may be experiencing as a result of COVID-19, Registration for Summer and Fall courses will now open on Monday April 6, 2020. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact the Advising and Transfer Center at greatbayadvising@ccsnh.edu.

Thank you,

Deanna Deanna Friedman, MS
Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs
Great Bay Community College
dfriedman@ccsnh.edu

To all students:

As we continue to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances, a decision has been made to convert all instruction to an on line/remote format for the remainder of the spring semester. While most classes will be offered via Canvas, individual instructors may have additional methods they wish to use. Therefore, it is imperative that you read all emails, RAVE messages, and posts on the web site from the College but especially from your instructors so that you know what is expected of you.

Not only will all courses be offered remotely, College services will also be offered remotely. Advising and registration for next fall will be able to be done on line, for example. The IT help desk will be available remotely as well. There will be no need to come to campus as access is closed to the public and very limited for everyone but essential personnel.

We are not certain at this time how long we will need to remain in this “remote” mode and all of us prefer to interact in person. However, the safety and health of the Great Bay community is more important right now, which is why we must get used to this new way of interacting with each other. Thank you for your attention and your support in this unusual situation we are in right now. Let’s do our best to be patient with each other and remain committed to a less stressful future!

Cathryn Addy, Ph.D.,
Interim President

COVID-19 Update

The health and safety of each and every Great Bay community member is our highest priority. Great Bay continues to monitor this rapidly evolving situation and we would like to communicate some important information regarding campus operations during Spring Break. 

The staff and faculty at Great Bay will utilize Spring Break, March 16 -20, to prepare for Remote Teaching and Learning and the possibility for remote operations. While staff and faculty will report to work as normally scheduled, students should refrain from coming to campus during Spring Break. Access to the Portsmouth Campus will be limited to the main entrance. 

As Great Bay prepares for a possible scenarios involving COVID-19 in our communities and on our campus, it is essential that everyone stays informed. We will continue to provide GBCC COVID-19 information online, via email, GBCC Alerts and other forms of communication as it develops and changes.

On behalf of the college administration, faculty, and staff, thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation. Your wellness is paramount, and we continue work together to keep our campus safe. We hope that you all enjoy your break and take care to remain safe and healthy.

Best,
Tina

Tina A. Favara, M.Ed.
Vice President of Student Success & Enrollment Management
Great Bay Community College
320 Corporate Drive
Portsmouth, NH 03801
Phone: 603-427- 7631
Email:  tfavara@ccsnh.edu 

As the New Hampshire community colleges prepare for possible scenarios involving COVID-19 in our communities and on our campuses, it is essential that everyone stays informed. This is a rapidly evolving situation, and we will continue to provide information as it develops and changes. Please check back regularly for updates.