Dear Students,

I hope that you had a restful holiday break and I look forward to welcoming you back to our campus next week. While many of you will be attending remotely, for those of you that are attending an in-person, on-campus course, I write to you to remind you of some important policies around travel that may impact your studies. As members of this campus community, students, will be responsible for conducting themselves in accordance with the COVID-19 Student Social Compact and we now know that travel greatly increases the risk of catching and spreading COVID-19.

When it comes to travel, here’s what you need to know:

• Students who travel internationally, by cruise ship, or domestically outside of New England are prohibited from in-person studies and shall be required to self-quarantine for 10 days from the last day of travel. 
• If you have traveled or plan to travel during the Spring semester, you are required to notify the College by email to gbcovid19@ccsnh.edu and communicate with your instructors in advance.
• Required quarantine due to elective travel does not constitute an excused absence and such considerations are at the sole discretion of your instructor.

As you look forward to returning to campus next week, please consider whether you have traveled over the holiday break and be sure to adhere to the required protocols above before returning to our campus. Furthermore, think about the semester ahead, if you plan to travel, you should consider the impact on your coursework by the required quarantine.

On behalf of every member of our campus community, I thank you for doing your part and for demonstrating such care for our community of learners. I know that I speak for all faculty and staff at GBCC in expressing tremendous gratitude for your patience and your steadfast commitment to keeping one another safe.

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   

All;

I am sure we were all hoping that by this time, the COVID accommodations we have had to make would begin to be in our rearview mirror and we could anticipate returning to campus more and more. The opposite has happened, however, and we find ourselves in a difficult position.

Even though there have been relatively few COVID cases at Great Bay, the number of students and staff who are exposed to positive cases through no fault of their own has continued to rise almost exponentially. Therefore, a decision was made to adjust campus access for the period from November 30 to December 13. As you will note in other areas of this website, the campus will be closed and ALL instruction will be offered remotely for that two week period. The situation will be evaluated at that time and if the semester can conclude with campus access, then we will revert to our current model. If, however, nothing has improved or has gotten worse with regard to community transmission, then Great Bay will continue to operate only remotely. Not only will faculty and students be expected to stay off-campus, but also the majority of staff will be expected to work from home until further notice.

We are doing all we can to keep everyone informed on a timely basis, but if there are questions or additional concerns, I encourage you to contact us and share any insights that you might have. Meanwhile, I trust that everyone will do their best to mask, sanitize, and stay apart!

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

Dear Students,

I write to you today with an important update regarding the status of our campus and in-person learning following the Thanksgiving Break. Some regions in the U.S. (including much of the state of New Hampshire) are seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases. Toward that end, slowing the spread of the virus within our campus and our surrounding communities has been and continues to be a major priority and has guided our decision-making. 

Therefore, as a result of the increase in the number of new cases in the community and their potential impact to our campus, the College has made the decision for all course work, except offsite clinicals or internships, to be delivered remotely, including all labs, for a period of two weeks. During this time, the college administration will closely monitor the COVID-19 levels and make a determination on whether we will return to in-person learning or remain remote through the end of the Fall semester.  This two week period of remote learning begins on November 30^th and goes through December 13^th. However, it is at the sole discretion of instructors if they wish to move particular courses to remote sooner than this date if they are able. Please follow the guidance provided by your instructor.

It is imperative that you keep an open line of communication with your instructors and that you regularly log into Canvas for each of your Fall courses. As a reminder, we know that the single largest factor in our success to date has been the widespread adoption of healthy behaviors — wearing a mask, practicing physical distancing, washing hands frequently, and staying home if you’re sick. On behalf of every member of our campus community, I thank you for continuing to do your part and for demonstrating such care for our community of learners. I know that I speak for all faculty and staff at GBCC in expressing tremendous gratitude for your patience and your steadfast commitment in keeping one another safe.

Stay Safe and Well,

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 to you today with an important reminder regarding COVID-19 safety protocols, particularly as it relates to the Thanksgiving holiday. As we now know, travel greatly increases the risk of catching and spreading COVID-19. Health experts are already urging people not to travel for the holidays.

To ensure that we do not need to interrupt learning for our on-campus students following the Thanksgiving Break, we need your help.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Thanksgiving break is from Thursday, 11/26 through Friday, 11/27  — No classes and offices closed.
• Any member of the GBCC community who chooses to travel outside of New England will be required to quarantine for 14 full days from the date of return to New England.
• If you are traveling you should communicate with your instructors in advance.  Required quarantine due to elective travel does not constitute an excused absence and such considerations are at the sole discretion of your instructor.
• We want you to enjoy Thanksgiving activities AND take steps to protect yourself from getting or spreading COVID-19.
• Please try to avoid large gatherings with people outside of one’s household and practice the guidance shared by the CDC for the holidays.
• Know when you are required to report information to GBCC:
  • You feel feverish, have a fever of 100.4+, or develops respiratory illness (a cough, sore throat, runny nose or shortness of breath), mild flu-like illness (fatigue, chills, or muscle aches), loss of taste or smell, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.  OR
  • You test positive for COVID-19 OR
  • You knowingly come in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 (primary contact) OR
  • Someone residing in your home tests positive for COVID-19 (primary contact) OR
  • You have had significant contact with, as defined by the DHHS, someone who has knowingly come in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 (10 minutes of cumulative contact (over the course of the infectious period, within six feet, even if PPE is present) OR
  • You elect to travel outside of New England for any length of time, including day visits.
  • All reports should be sent to GBCOVID19@ccsnh.edu

Like many of you, I wish for a return to normalcy for our community, yet this virus continues to demand vigilance, patience, and perseverance. The single largest factor in our success to date has been the widespread adoption of healthy behaviors — wearing a mask, practicing physical distancing, washing hands frequently, and staying home if you’re sick. On behalf of every member of our campus community, I thank you for doing your part and for demonstrating such care for our community of learners. I know that I speak for all faculty and staff at GBCC in expressing tremendous gratitude for your patience and your steadfast commitment to keeping one another safe.

Stay Safe and Well,

Tina A. Favara

Vice President of Student Success & Enrollment Management

Great Bay Community College

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.