New Mexico Junior College

Students:

NMJC received permission from the Higher Education Department to continue in-person classes the week of November 16. There will be no classes the week of November 23.  NMJC classes will shift to online after Thanksgiving. Your work and FINAL EXAMS will be online this semester after the holiday. Please be sure to get the details of this shift from your instructors and ask questions if you do not understand what is expected of you. Please do not assume you know what is happening. Be sure to get details from your instructors so that you can finish your classes successfully. Each class might be different so be sure to talk to all your instructors, not just one or two.

Thank you for your commitment to our safe campus this semester. Because of your safe practices, we were able to offer you in-person classes. Remember, registration for spring is now open. NMJC is again offering a full range of classes so you can pick what works best for you.

This public health order is in effect until November 13, 2020.

A MESSAGE REGARDING THANKSGIVING BREAK

I want to tell everyone THANK YOU!  I am extremely proud of our NMJC family of students, faculty and staff, for your diligence in keeping our campus safe.  It has not been easy. This Fall semester has been a learning curve for everyone, as we have navigated education with new safety protocols. But when I walk through hallways, I am gratified to see everyone wearing a mask and keeping a physical distance of safety. It makes me realize that we all want to be as normal as possible, in a very abnormal world. I am so proud of all of you.

Our face-to-face classes have proven that with everyone working together, we can continue classes in a safe environment. We have had very few positive cases of Covid-19 on campus by either a student or staff member; and have immediately sanitized that area, and had that person quarantined. For transparency sake, you can see the updated positives cases and other information about our safety protocols on our website.

However, with the upcoming Thanksgiving break, we made the difficult decision to finish classes online after the holiday, to keep our students, staff, and the community safe. This is not a choice we wanted to make. But realizing that many people will be traveling, and there is only one week left of classes before finals, we feel this is the best way for students to complete the semester safely.

During the last week of classes and during finals, the library will remain open for students, with the same protocols we have had in place all semester. Free tutoring will continue, both online or in-person. 

We know many of our international and out-of-state students will remain on campus in student housing over the holiday. Accommodations are being made for them, as we have done in the past, for those who cannot travel. For those students in on-campus housing who choose to travel for Thanksgiving, they will not be allowed to return to housing until the Spring Semester.

We are planning for in-person classes again for Spring, along with online choices. With the same safety protocols as we have had for Fall, we will hopefully continue to be a safe environment for students and staff. 

Thank you again.  I wish you a safe and Happy Thanksgiving.  

Dr. Kelvin Sharp
President
New Mexico Junior College

This public health order is in effect until November 13, 2020.

This FAQ on the public health order is easy to ready, and may give you more information.

October 7, 2020

First, thank you all for your work on behalf of our students these past weeks. I know the virus has presented a range of challenges for everyone. Your hard work and attention to personal safety have helped keep the campus safe for us and our students. Thank you!

Yesterday we announced that we will shift to online classes after the Thanksgiving Break. Classes will continue as normal up to Thanksgiving but after the holiday, all classes will shift online for completion.

This decision affects only how we offer classes. All other campus operations will continue as usual and the campus will remain open for students, faculty, and staff. If you have any questions about this decision or how it might affect you, please reach out to your supervisor for more information.

Thank you again for helping to make NMJC a safe campus for our students.

Dr. Larry Sanderson

October 6, 2020
Total Employees tested positive: 5
    Employees Current Active Case: 1
    Employees Recovered/Returned: 4
Total Students tested positive: 8
    Students Current Active Case: 1
    Students Recovered/Returned: 7

September 25, 2020  
 Total Employees tested positive: 4
   Employees Current Active Case: 1
   Employees Recovered/Returned: 3
 Total Students tested positive: 7
   Students Current Active Case: 0
   Students Recovered/Returned: 7

September 11, 2020   
 Total Employees tested positive: 3
        Employees Current Active Case: 0
        Employees recovered/returned: 3
 Total Students tested positive: 7
        Students Current Active Case: 2
        Students recovered/returned: 5

September 10, 2020

See the live chat to answer questions about NMJC and Covid-19.

September 4, 2020

We are wrapping up week 3 and heading into the Labor Day weekend.

Thank you so much for your work these 3 weeks.  I know the community and the students appreciate some sense of normalcy.

I have to say how nice it is to have our students back on campus with us.

We have pushed along with our fingers crossed, hoping our actions are enough to continue the semester.

Well, we’ve made it this far.  The credit goes to the faculty and staff who followed the protocols and modeled the successful behaviors which have helped us get this far.

Thanks to our students as well who have met our protocol expectations and cooperated with our requests.

Please be safe this weekend and enjoy the time off.

Thanks again for all you do and for helping our students,

Kelvin Sharp

Issued August 28, 2020

Revised Public Order

August 26, 2020

See the article in the Hobbs News Sun.

August 17, 2020

At New Mexico Junior College, we are following CDC guidelines to try to keep our students, faculty and staff safe. As you may have seen in the paper today, Lea County last week had the highest rate  of COVID-19 cases per population for all counties in New   Mexico.

MASKS are the first line of defense on campus to protect you and others from the spray of droplets (along with social distancing and washing  hands).

We’ve seen several types of masks on campus; and, therefore, consulted the CDC website about the best types of masks to wear. Recommendations are layered cloth masks, or masks with filters. Face shields, vented shields, and crochet masks do not  work.

Please help us protect YOU! Wear a mask when you are inside, or standing outside within 6 feet of others. Do not congregate in groups. Wash your hands frequently, and use the hand sanitizer found throughout each of our  buildings.

For more information on masks, how to wear them, and NMJC protocols, go to: http://www.nmjc.edu/nmjc_announcement/coronavirus-masks.aspx

If you have ANY QUESTIONS about COVID-19 and what to do, please email or call Cathy Mitchell: cmitchell@nmjc.edu  or 575-492-2761

August 6, 2020

See the live chat to answer questions about NMJC and Fall Semester.

July 26, 2020

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

All of us at New Mexico Junior College hope that you and your family are safe during this unusual and difficult time in our lives.  

In my 36 years working in higher education, I have never experienced such sweeping challenges to campus life, as we redirect efforts in how we teach, and how we keep our students, faculty, and staff as safe as possible.  Our team has worked hard these past few months, to implement new safety protocols for life at New Mexico Junior College.

To guide our decisions and actions over the coming months, we identified three benchmarks as we prepare to welcome students in the Fall:

Responsibility to Students and Staff – we will provide a safe environment on campus, along with an excellent education, to give students the knowledge and skills they need for their career.  NMJC will remain an affordable college, providing financial aid and payment plans to help students now and later.

Respect Each Other – we understand the fear people have right now, and we encourage everyone to respect each person’s space and feelings.

Resolve to Overcome These Hard Times – please wear your face mask on campus, social distance, and practice good hygiene by washing your hands frequently.

As we return to campus in the Fall, we want to assure you of our responsibility to keep students safe. We have reconfigured classrooms for in-person courses this Fall, to provide physical distancing between students. Every person is required to wear a mask when inside a building. Hand-sanitizers have been installed throughout every building, and each classroom will be cleaned and sanitized daily.

Our team of Academic Advisors are available each weekday by phone, email, or Zoom to help students register for classes, answer questions, fill out financial aid forms, and more. If you prefer an in-person meeting, just make an appointment in advance. We are here to help in every way we can.  Call 575-492-2577 or email: asknmjc@nmjc.edu.

Many of you have asked about athletics. Guidelines are changing often. At this time, the NJCAA has mandated that all contact sports will be moved to the spring. Our cross-country and rodeo teams will be able to compete in the Fall, depending on the New Mexico Governor’s executive orders. Please check our website and Facebook pages for updated information.

Always know – our priority is safety and success for our students and staff. Will campus life be different? Yes. But we can gain control of our futures. We can be prepared as educated, skilled leaders in our communities.

Please stay safe. Feel free to contact me or any member of the NMJC team if you have questions. And check our website for updates: nmjc.edu

Thank you,

Dr. Kelvin Sharp
President
New Mexico Junior College

July 22, 2020

New Mexico Junior College is committed to the success of our students, and the safety of students, faculty and staff.  

Protecting the safety and health of NMJC, it’s students and staff,  is a shared responsibility. Therefore, we have identified the three Rs to help guide our decisions and actions over the coming months: 

See the full plan here.

Issued July 21, 2020

This is a letter from Governor Luhan Grisham regarding sports for higher education in New Mexico.

Issued July 8, 2020

NMJC has created our protocols and guidelines to help keep our students, staff and faculty safe this Fall, while insuring success in class.  Please see the protocols for safety on the website:  https://www.nmjc.edu/nmjc_announcement/coronavirus-return-fall.aspx  

Received July 7, 2020

Attached are NJCAA Guidelines, on how we proceed with sports.

Here is the face covering policy at NMJC

Issued June 24, 2020

Welcome back to the NMJC Campus. Unfortunately, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the New Mexico Department of Health Orders the following additional guidelines need to be followed for campus operations:

• PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL OF OTHER EMPLOYEES. THIS IS A VERY DIFFICULT TIME AND EVERYONE IS DOING THE BEST THEY CAN. MOCKING, SHAMING, HARRASSING OR OTHER TYPE OF DEROGATORY BEHAVIOR TOWARD ANY OTHER EMPLOYEE, STUDENT OR MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC REGARDING ANY OF THESE MATTERS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.
• Be sure to complete your employee check in prior to arriving on campus.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands.
• Practice social distancing by avoiding large gatherings and maintaining distance (at least 6 feet) from others when possible.
• Do not touch your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
• Stay home when you are sick, except to get medical care.
• Please remember people may be able to spread COVID-19 even if they do not show symptoms. Consider all close interactions (within 6 feet) with  other employees, students and members of the public  and others as a potential source of exposure.
• Handshaking, hugs, and fist bumps are discouraged.
• Limit your use of elevators to the extent possible, while using elevators maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet.
• Use  outdoor seating areas and social distancing for any small group activities such as lunches, breaks, and meetings.
• Unless a healthcare provider instructs otherwise, all individuals should wear a mask or multilayer cloth face covering in public settings except when eating, drinking, or exercising. CDC recommends wearing a cloth face covering as a measure to contain the wearer’s respiratory droplets and help protect their co-workers and members of the general public. Wearing a face covering, however, does not replace the need to practice social distancing.
• Avoid using other employees’ phones, desks, offices, or other work tools and equipment, when possible. Clean and disinfect them before and after use.
• Masks, hand sanitizer and tissues are provided by NMJC, each area should have one person designated to request these supplies from the Central Plant.
• Limit in person meetings to business matters and make such meetings as short as possible.
• Make appointments to discuss business matters, dropping in to any office on campus without an appointment is discouraged. This helps prevent inadvertent gatherings of people.
• Limit face to face meetings to the extent possible. Use teleconferencing or videoconferencing when possible.
• Do not provide access to an employee’s office without that employee’s permission.
• Discontinue use of community coffee pots, tea makers, water coolers and other high touch items.
• Do not bring bulk food to campus to share with other employees. 

Issued June 16, 2020

To all:

We’ve been through almost 3 months of dealing with the impact of the COVID-19 virus on the NMJC campus.

Many safety protocols and various Governor’s Health Orders have been implemented during that time.

We must begin to prepare ourselves for students on campus in the fall.

On July 1st, I will be requesting that all full-time staff come back to their NMJC positions.

Starting on that date, policies and procedures for all full-time employees will resume.

Let me say, I am grateful to everyone who has been rotating and shuffling work schedules to maintain a safe campus environment.

If you have any questions about your return to work on campus, please contact your supervisor.

At this time, I am not sure what Covid safe practices will be in place on July 1st, but I will share those expectations with you later this month.

I am looking forward to having you all back and working with our students.

Thank you,

Kelvin

Issued June 2, 2020

To all:

First of all, let me say it is a lot more difficult to bring a campus back up than to shut it down.

I would be amiss if I didn’t thank all of the folks that worked during our Restricted Access phase.

There was a tremendous amount of work that went on during that time.  Thanks to all of you for being a part of it.

I appreciate the Executive Leadership for their time and ideas and Charley Carroll for the same.

We have a lot more restrictions than we had in March and my attachment shares many of the changes we will be making in this phase.

We do plan to open our doors in the Fall, looking as regular as normal.  Your involvement in these phases only helps us get closer to reaching that goal.

Please don’t hesitate to ask a question or check on a process.  This is a work in progress and we will be adjusting as we get more into summer.

The attachment is our plan moving forward, beginning tomorrow. 

You should be hearing from your supervisor about their plans for your work.

Be safe, stay healthy and thanks for being a part of the NMJC family.

Thanks again,

Kelvin

Issued June 1, 2020

The Class of 2020 will always be remembered as a historic graduating class…one of determination, discipline, and hard work, as you strived to complete your academics in a time of uncertainty. 

You should be proud! We are very proud of you!

Receiving your college degree or certificate indicates to employers and to your community that you believed in yourself, and you accomplished something most people have not done. When NMJC had to teach remotely at the end of March, you conquered the challenge, and won. This life lesson of being flexible and not giving up, is a true indicator of leadership and achievement.

Some of you will continue your education, and some of you will begin a career in your chosen field. Some of you accomplished your degree while working full time, and some of you succeeded while raising a family. Whatever your path, your degree is the beginning to a greater quality of life, and more career opportunities. 

While we were not able to celebrate your accomplishments in person (and we were truly disappointed about this), please know that we have never been more honored to bestow diplomas, than we are this year to the Class of 2020.

Continue to grow. Continue to learn. 

Again, Congratulations! I wish you the best in life and in your career. Please call me anytime if I can help you.

Sincerely,

Dr. Kelvin Sharp
President

P.S. Along with your diploma, we have enclosed your 2020 tassel, and an NMJC Alumni pin. We hope you wear it with pride.

Issued May 21, 2020

Dr. Kelvin Sharp, president of New Mexico Junior College, has announced that the college is planning to offer a full range of classes for students beginning in the fall 2020 semester. “We are planning to operate all classes including face-to-face, online, dual credit, and ITV. We intend to give students every possible choice to meet their needs,” said Dr. Sharp.

“Our executive team is meeting continually to discuss how we can work with the Governor’s Executive Orders, as we plan to meet the needs of our students,” said Sharp. “Many students prefer face-to-face teaching, so our goal is to provide all options for our students. Our challenge is to ensure that we have the proper safety protocols in place to manage the risks associated with the current and any ongoing health crisis.”

NMJC will adhere to the health guidelines prepared by the State of New Mexico when the fall semester begins. Sharp continued, “We want students and their parents to know that whatever the situation in August, our priorities are the wellbeing of everyone on campus, along with the excellent education our students receive from New Mexico Junior College.”

Sharp said that he was extremely proud of the NMJC faculty for their work during the spring semester when the pandemic shut down schools and businesses. All NMJC classes transitioned to online format within a matter of days, and classes finished on time culminating with a virtual graduation of students on May 8th.

Sharp said, “One of our biggest announcements is our new schedule format starting in the fall semester.” Beginning with the fall semester, NMJC will be implementing a new weekday course schedule for students. Classes will be either Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday, with no Friday classes. Dr. Sharp said that the new format allows students greater flexibility in balancing work, family and school obligations. “Most of our students are working, and we understand how difficult it is to go to school three, four, or five days a week. Our new schedule format will allow students greater flexibility to take classes and not conflict with their other obligations.”

Sharp concluded, “I truly believe that NMJC is a great option for students in these uncertain times. Our tuition is the lowest in the state, students can stay safely at home, and our classes will transfer to universities when the student is ready.”

Because of the current health orders, the NMJC campus is on restricted access. Students seeking to register may contact the college through the website, nmjc.edu, or call the NMJC Help desk at 575-492-2575. Academic Advisors are currently working from home, and will return e-mails or phone calls to help students register for classes. Sharp said that he hopes to start opening offices to the public in the coming weeks.

Issued May 18, 2020

Based on the Governor’s most recent order (May 15th), New Mexico Junior College is adopting the following policy on the use of face coverings/masks.

‘All employees of NMJC must have face coverings or masks and wear them in the workplace at all times when in the presence of others, except when eating, drinking or exercising, or unless otherwise advised by a healthcare provider.’

This policy will remain in effect until changes in the Governor’s orders or action by the NMJC Board.

Thanks,

Kelvin Sharp

Issued May 15, 2020

To all: Wednesday afternoon, the Governor of New Mexico extended the ‘Stay at Home’ order through May 31st. Therefore, we will continue with our ‘Restricted Access Campus.’ 

I am appreciative to the Board for their extension of pay for this period, we all hope the NMJC campus is reopened soon.

Next week, the Bookstore will be open and operating at 25 percent occupancy for textbook sales and other items.

Also, the Governor stated that wearing facemasks in public would slow the spread of the Covid 19 virus. Please stay aware of social distance, handwashing and other precautionary measures.

The Executive Order has not been posted at this time, so more details will be forthcoming next week. [Here is the Executive Order posted after this notice was sent].

Thank you,

Dr. Kelvin sharp

Issued: April 30, 2020

Today in the NM Governor’s press conference, a new Executive Order was issued. The order contained an extension of the Stay-At-Home directive from May 1 to May 15.

Essentially, that means NMJC will continue to operate under the guidelines of the ‘Restricted Access Campus’ with only core operations reporting to campus.

As a reminder, for the NMJC faculty and staff:

Cancel all travel and events
Implement a hiring review approval committee (no new hires will be made without approval)
Conduct all operations remotely, except for the minimum workforce needed and approved by the President of New Mexico Junior College, including designated staff from the following:
           1.      Maintenance of buildings and equipment
           2.      Facility operations
           3.      Campus safety and security
           4.      Food services
           5.      Residence hall direction
           6.      Marketing and communications
           7.      Specific administrative positions, related to instruction and student support services
           8.      IT administration and support
           9.      Business office functions
         10.      Human resources and payroll services
         11.      President’s executive leadership team

NOTES

NMJC is restricting public access to all buildings starting Wednesday, April 1, 2020.  Campus buildings will be open only to NMJC employees and current NMJC students.  Contact with the campus and staff should be made by email or telephone.
No outside visitors will be allowed at the NMJC Housing Complex, effective immediately.
Western Heritage Museum will be closed to the public until further notice.
Supervisors should contact part-time employees about not coming to work on campus until further notice (any exceptions must have the NMJC President’s approval).  Requests for restoring these positions will begin as soon as normal campus activity returns.
Staff and supervisors should be aware of Centers for Disease Control information and guidelines: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html

Thank you all for your work for our students and I hope you and your families remain health

There were many details in her new Executive Order.  Here are those Orders:

DOH PHO 4-29 Essential businesses mass gatherings
DOH PHO 4_29 Non-essential med procedures
DOH PHO 4-30 Polling places
EO 2020-026 Renewing public health emergency

Please be safe.  I know that many of the faculty are trying to complete the spring semester (thank you!) and staff will be working on the spring grades (another thank you!).

The virtual commencement is taking shape, thanks Susan and Kasie.

The virtual retirement reception is in the works as well.

Thanks to all of you for everything, let me know if you have any questions.

Dr, Kelvin Sharp

Issued April 19, 2020

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

We at New Mexico Junior College hope you are staying safe. No matter what your circumstances, we know this pandemic has affected everyone in some way, ourselves included. Unfortunately, the falling prices of oil and gas are affecting the economy of Southeastern New Mexico at the worst possible moment. I want to let you know what is happening at NMJC during these difficult times.

You trust NMJC to support our citizens and communities. We affirm this trust by ensuring that the decisions we make are based on three goals: the success of our students; the health and well-being of our students, staff and faculty; and supporting our communities. While we navigate these challenging times, please know that our decisions are guided by these commitments.

 Here is what is happening with New Mexico Junior College:

ONLINE CLASSES FOR STUDENTS – students are our priority. As we realized the pandemic may last well beyond spring break, our faculty quickly shifted to remote teaching, to ensure our students continue their education and finish their credits. To help students in this online environment, we have strived to be accessible with advising and tutoring by email, phone and virtual face-to-face support. Our faculty are committed to our students, and are working hard to assist them.

VIRTUAL COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY - to recognize the accomplishments of our graduating students, we are producing a video featuring all the graduates and their degrees. The virtual ceremony will include photos of students, and will be livestreamed from our website and Facebook on Friday May 8th at 7:00pm. The Class of 2020 will invited to walk the stage in the 2021 Commencement Ceremony. Please check our website and social media for information.

REGISTRATION FOR SUMMER & FALL – this past week, we opened registration for summer and fall courses. Summer classes will remain online to insure the pandemic has dissipated, so we can be allowed to teach in an in-class environment by fall. If you have not enrolled at NMJC before, you can start the process now by applying online (no application fee), and talking with an academic advisor to get started on your career path.

TRAINING AND OUTREACH – trainings that could be transitioned to online delivery have been, and others were paused. They will resume when we are able to return and re-open to the public. If you have questions, please e-mail us: ssauceda@nmjc.edu or call 575-492-4710.

WESTERN HERITAGE MUSEUM & LEA COUNTY COWBOY HALL OF FAME – a real disappointment to the community has been the closure of the museum during this crisis. We hope to re-open at the end of May with two new photography exhibits: “Facing the Inferno: The Wildfire Photography of Kari Greer” and “Pollinators: Keeping Company with Flowers”.

There is no better place to begin your educational pursuit than New Mexico Junior College. We will continue to be the most cost-effective choice for your educational opportunities. Please don’t let this moment in time discourage you from pursuing your goals.  In fact, this may be exactly the right time for you.

Finally, I want to thank our faculty and staff for the tremendous amount of work they have put into this semester. I am confident the benefactors of that work were our students. Please give us a call or send us an email, we are here for you. Please take advantage of our resources to improve the lives of you and your family.

But most important, please stay safe and know that we at the JC are working hard for you.

Issued April 2, 2020  4:15pm

If you need logistical help with your online classes, contact us at (575) 492 2622, email: successcenter@nmjc.edu or fill out this form.

If you need tutoring, email successcenter@nmjc.edu.

Issued:  March 30, 2020  4:15pm

Students:  The next few weeks have become an exercise in balancing how to help our students be successful, and how to keep everyone healthy.

FIRST:  Your online classes will begin Wednesday, April 1.   If you have questions, please contact your professors via Canvas. You can also find their email in the directory:  https://www.nmjc.edu/about/directory/default.aspx

SECOND:  NMJC will be moving to a ‘restricted-access campus’ on Wednesday, April 1st.  What this means is that on-campus operations will be restricted to critical functions only. The only individuals allowed on campus during this period are designated staff/faculty and currently enrolled students.

• There will be limitations on the number of people in a building.
• Most campus buildings will be closed. Phone numbers for assistance will be posted on the doors. We highly encourage you to access the campus and staff by email or telephone.
• No outside visitors will be allowed at the NMJC Housing Complex, effective immediately.
• Western Heritage Museum will be closed to the public until further notice.
• Summer and Fall registration will be postponed (it was originally scheduled for April 13). We will alert you when registration opens.
  If you need tutoring, please see the information here. Virtual tutoring is available.   https://www.nmjc.edu/resource_service/academic_success/index.aspx
•  If you need personal tutoring, you can email the Academic Success Center: successcenter@nmjc.edu
• If you have questions related to Financial Aid, you can email financialaid@nmjc.edu
• If you have questions related to Admission, Advising, Counseling, Testing, or any other area, you can email asknmjc@nmjc.edu

We are doing everything we can to keep you and your families safe, while continuing your success at NMJC. Since this is all ‘new’ for us, please be patient.  It may take a few days to smooth out the bumps in the road.  

Let us know if you have questions.

Issued:  March 30, 2020  3:30pm

NMJC Staff and Faculty:

I need to inform you about some changes we have made regarding when campus will re-open and how this affects everyone. Campus access will be restricted until April 10 (or until instructions change). What this means is that on-campus operations will be restricted to critical functions only. The only individuals allowed on campus during this period are designated staff/faculty and currently enrolled students. Personnel working on campus will be limited to specific positions.

During restricted access campus operations, all staff and faculty are considered to be “on duty, working remotely.” Some individuals, involved in core operations will be asked to report for work on campus. Supervisors will contact these individuals to inform them if they need to report for work on campus. Supervisors within these areas will work to develop this plan and will communicate it to all affected personnel prior to April 1, 2020.  Rotational work schedules may be adopted.

Please know that NMJC will ensure that full-time hourly personnel will continue to be paid for the normal shifts until further notice.  Our goal is to take care of our NMJC family as we care for students, faculty, staff and community.  Please be patient as we find the right balance between staffing for student success and safety for all involved.

In addition, we will:

1. Cancel all travel and events
2. Implement a hiring review approval committee (no new hires will be made without approval)
3. Conduct all operations remotely, except for the minimum workforce needed and approved by the President of New Mexico Junior College, including designated staff from the following:
   1.      Maintenance of buildings and equipment
   2.      Facility operations
   3.      Campus safety and security
   4.      Food services
   5.      Residence hall direction
   6.      Marketing and communications
   7.      Specific administrative positions, related to instruction and student
             support services
   8.      IT administration and support
   9.      Business office functions
   10.      Human resources and payroll services
   11.      President’s executive leadership team

NOTES

• NMJC is restricting public access to all buildings starting Wednesday, April 1, 2020.  Campus buildings will be open only to NMJC employees and current NMJC students.  Contact with the campus and staff should be made by email or telephone.
• No outside visitors will be allowed at the NMJC Housing Complex, effective immediately.
• Western Heritage Museum will be closed to the public until further notice.
• Supervisors should contact part-time employees about not coming to work on campus until further notice (any exceptions must have the NMJC President’s approval).  Requests for restoring these positions will begin as soon as normal campus activity returns.
• Staff and supervisors should be aware of Centers for Disease Control information and guidelines: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html

Thank you all for your work for our students and I hope you and your families remain healthy.

Dr. Kelvin Sharp
President

Issued March 20 - 9:30am

Dear NMJC Students,

On behalf of NMJC, we want to wish you a healthy, restful Spring Break. Please stay safe, avoid travel, and wash your hands! Our main priority at NMJC is ensuring that you are safe and that you can be successful in your studies. We are aware many classes have recently shifted to an online learning format to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus,  and we understand that this may be disruptive. With this in mind, we would like you to be aware of some resources available to you for when you return to classes online in early April:

Circumstances surrounding classes at NMJC are subject to change, so keep signing in to Canvas and to your email through the T-Bird Web Portal for updates (http://sso.nmjc.edu/). We will be reaching out to you to offer information and assistance via Canvas, email, and/or phone in the coming weeks. Academic support is available for you when you return to your classes in April in the Pannell Library:

EMAIL: successcenter@nmjc.edu  
PHONE: 575-492-2622
LOCATION: Pannell Library, NMJC Campus (Hobbs, NM)

Tutors available for one-to-one tutoring in-person or online (in addition to Brainfuse) Mon-Thurs 8 am to 8 pm, Fri 8 am to 5 pm.

If you have questions about Canvas, please contact the Canvas HelpDesk at 575-492-2199.

Sincerely,

Aaron Prebenda
Director, Academic Programs

Issued March 18 - 4:30pm

Per the Governor's press conference, and the coming Executive Order that we should not gather in groups of 10 or more, academic classes will be taught online, starting Thursday, March 19.  We will maintain some in-person classes, but these are on a case-by-case basis, focused mainly in healthcare and first responders).

Professors will communicate with students via Canvas.

Issued: March 17, 2020 - 1:30pm

Staff and Students:  

NMJC is strongly encouraging you to avoid travel, including spring break, to areas with active community transmission of COVID-19. We are, therefore, asking all of you to please fill out the NMJC Travel form, as a protection for all of us as you return to Hobbs. We can then provide you advice and guidance regarding any  COVID-19 exposure. Please see the information below, and fill out the form.

The form must be filled out if you have traveled in the last 7 days, or plan to travel in the near future.

NMJC Travel Recommendations for Employees
     Recomendaciones de Viaje-Empleados

NMJC Travel Recommendations for Students
     Recomendaciones de Viaje-Estudiantes

Issued: March 16, 2020 - 11:55am

Staff and Students:

Every day for over a week, our Executive Committee has met to make difficult decisions about what is best for our students and staff.

We have made the decision to cancel graduation ceremonies this year. This decision includes not only the full college graduation, but the smaller related events such as Cosmo pinning, Nurse graduation, Law Enforcement, automotive, etc. All graduation related events are cancelled this year, as well.

If you are a student who plans to graduate, please apply online. 

Once your degree is conferred, you will receive your diploma in the mail.
If you have purchased your cap and gown in the bookstore, you can return it for a refund.

If you have questions, please call our Help Desk at 575-492-2577.
 
Obviously, this is disappointing for everyone involved. Graduation is a highlight activity for our year, and it is a celebration of student accomplishments. Nevertheless, given the current states of emergency that exist in New Mexico and nationally, this decision is in the best interest of our students, staff, faculty, and members of the public.

We will keep you updated, as we learn anything else.

[NJCAA has cancelled all sports for the spring. See the article here]

Issued:  March 13, 2020 - 5:30pm

To NMJC Students, Staff, and Faculty:

This is a very difficult time, as we evaluate the needs of our students and staff with the need to reduce the exposure to the Coronavirus. After speaking with our local health providers, watching the Governor’s press conference, and meeting with community leaders, the Vice-Presidents and I have agreed to the following steps:

CLASSES

• New Mexico Junior College will be open the week of March 16, 2020, with all classes being held as usual.
• The campus will be closed for an extended spring break March 23 – 31. Operations will resume when staff returns on April 1.
• Students will NOT be returning to campus after spring break.
• Classes will be taught online, which allows our students to complete their studies, and complies with the Governor’s directives over concerns of travel and the spread of the Coronavirus.
• Online classes will remain through the end of the semester.
• A couple of technical programs will continue normal activity such as the Law Enforcement Academy.

CAMPUS STAFF AND OPERATIONS

• NMJC staff and faculty will return to campus after spring break to continue business as usual, including advising, registration, tutoring, and the basic daily operations of the campus.
• The library will be open for students who want to use computers and/or other benefits that the library offers.
• The Testing Center will remain open for regular hours.
• Appointments should be made, as they are reducing the number of students that are allowed in the center at one time.
• Dorms and food service will be open to those students and student-athletes who cannot leave campus. Student services will work individually with these students.
• Sodexo has instituted more rigorous cleaning and sanitizing of the cafeteria and the snack bar.
• NJCAA has suspended all competition through April 3rd, and will assess the situation at that time.  Our coaches will be talking with Deron Clark regarding practice sessions.
• Student workers will continue their work in their respective departments.
• Our professional cleaning staff are focused on public, high-traffic areas, and are bleach-cleaning these areas nightly. The day-crew is also sanitizing high public areas.
• Training and Outreach will continue their training classes at this time.
• The Western Heritage Museum and Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame will remain open although they will be closed for spring break.

TRAVEL

• The Governor has declared that there will be no state-sponsored traveling for employees. If you have registered for a conference that takes place in the next few weeks, it will probably be cancelled; if it is not, please talk with your Vice-President.
• If you are personally traveling over the spring break, or at another time in the next few weeks, please be safe and cognizant about large groups and possible exposure.

PREVENTIVE MEASURES

• If you are sick, STAY HOME. We cannot emphasize this enough. Let your supervisor know the status of your illness.
• If you are starting to feel sick, please go home.
• There are hand-sanitizers in each building, mostly at the entrances. Please alert Charley Carroll if they run low.
• As you have all heard, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. This seems to be the best deterrent to the spread of the virus.
• Practice good cough and sneeze etiquette.
• Don’t touch your face (this is hard to do).
• Avoid crowds.
• Visit the CDC website for additional guidance

As of now, there are no reported Coronavirus cases in or near Lea County. We will keep you updated of new developments through email, the website, and social media.

Thank you.

Kelvin Sharp

Issued: March 13, 2020 - 5:00pm

Beginning Friday, March 20, 2020, all academic classes at New Mexico Junior College will be delivered online to students. NMJC will extend spring break with campus closed from March 23 – 31, following which students will not return to campus. NMJC staff will return to work on Wednesday, April 1st.

Dr. Kelvin Sharp, president of New Mexico Junior College said, “We have two priorities. Our top priority at this time is the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff. At the same time, we must remain focused on the success of our students and give them a way they can safely and successfully complete their studies this semester.”

“By moving our academic classes online,” Sharp continued, “we can allow over 2,000 students to complete their classes from home or other locations away from large crowds of people. As our campus remains open, our staff can operate in a safer environment also away from large groups of people. These actions are in line with Governor Lujan Grisham’s directions for increased public safety.”

Students will report for classes as usual on Monday, March 16, and meet in their classes to receive directions on how to access their new online classes. As soon as they have received their orientation to the new classes, students will be released from campus.

NMJC staff and faculty will return to campus after the extended spring break to continue regular campus operations, including advising, registration, tutoring, and the basic daily operations of the campus. Individual students may access campus services during this time such as computers, library support, and tutoring services.

Athletic activities are suspended until April 3rd by the NJCAA (National Junior College Athletics Association). Many student athletes and others will remain in campus housing during this time even as they take their classes online.

NMJC academic staff are working closely with area high schools to coordinate dual credit classes, as well as supporting preparations for the high schools to re-open.

Sharp concluded, “I am very proud of our faculty and staff as they work together to keep our students safe and complete their classes. We will work together and with our community partners, to get through these challenging times.”

Issued: March 13, 2020 - 8:40am

At this time, New Mexico Junior College is open for classes. The Governor's closing of public schools applies only to K-12, not to higher education.

Our plan is to continue meeting for classes next week before spring break, unless we hear different from the Governor.  Dr. Sharp and the vice presidents have been meeting daily to assess and be sure students are taken care of, and that their concerns are addressed.

We will have an updated statement about any changes this afternoon. We will also post any changes to our social media sites. 

March 12, 2020

Due to the concerns of COVID-19, NMJC is being cautious about group gatherings. We will update you with any new information as it is changing daily. Here are the cancellations, related to NMJC:

• CANCELLED:
  Tonight (March 12)– Census & the Arts at the Western Heritage Museum
• Friday March 13 - Thunderbirds baseball vs Western Texas (due to weather)
• Saturday March 14– Thunderbird Golf Tournament at Rockwinds
  Pie Day at Lea County Event Center
• Sunday March 15– NMJC Community Band Concert in Watson Hall
• March 17-21– NJCAA National Basketball Tournament (postponed until April 21) 

Issued: March 12, 2020

New Mexico Junior College has announced that the annual Pi Day event scheduled for Saturday, March 14, 2020 has been cancelled.

Dr. Kelvin Sharp, president of New Mexico Junior College said, “This morning Governor Lujan-Grisham declared a State of Emergency in response to the outbreak of the coronavirus in New Mexico. As part of her declaration, she is cancelling all large-scale state events, and has asked private organizations to do the same.” Sharp continued, “The Pi Day event is a great activity for students and parents in Lea County but we believe that now is not the time to hold an activity that will bring over 5,000 people into the Lea County Event Center.”

Pi Day is an annual event hosted by NMJC to introduce young students and their families to mathematics- related activities and games. This popular event has grown in size over the past six years, and has become one of the premier events for youngsters in the area.

“I regret this decision but we must be extremely cautious for our students, their families, and our college staff,” Sharp said.

NMJC will continue to hold classes, and will make every effort to complete the current academic year. However, Dr. Sharp has stated that the administration will be monitoring the situation daily, and will be prepared to scale back additional activities if necessary.

Issued: March 11, 2020

At this time, NMJC has no plans to curtail classes or close the campus. We continue to monitor developments, as more details become available regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19). We are meeting regularly to gather information and develop contingency plans in the event that we need to alter our operations. If circumstances change, the college is prepared to act quickly to make changes to protect our students and staff.

Let me be clear, NMJC will take whatever actions are necessary to protect our students and our staff from exposure to medical risks associated with the Coronavirus. Our decisions will be based on the best information available from medical and emergency management professionals as well as after consultation with our educational partners in Lea County.

We have spoken with our colleagues at University of the Southwest, and we understand the difficult decision they made on behalf of their institution. At the same time, we recognize that the circumstances and issues facing USW are different from the challenges confronting NMJC. Any decisions we make regarding changes in classes or curtailing operations must be made in close cooperation with our public-school partners. An independent decision on the part of NMJC could risk the ability of JC students and many high school seniors to graduate on time in May.