DVC Campuses Closed to all Students - sent March 15, 2020

In response to the emergency declarations from the State of California and Contra Costa County, the Contra Costa Community College District (District) and its colleges – Contra Costa College, Diablo Valley College-Pleasant Hill and San Ramon Campus, and Los Medanos College Pittsburg Campus and Brentwood Center – have suspended all face-to-face classes and face-to-face student interactions beginning Monday, March 16, 2020. All campus locations will be closed to students to minimize the spread of the coronavirus until further notice. These actions will allow administrators, faculty, and staff to develop and implement transition plans for a remote format delivery of classes and student support services. Beginning Wednesday, March 18, 2020, the colleges will start the process to deliver classes and student support services remotely.    

Your professors will be reaching out to you in the next few days via your Insite email and/or Canvas to provide further guidance. Please be sure to check your college email account often for any updates, and contact your professor if you do not hear anything by Tuesday, March 17, 5:00 p.m..  If you have questions related to student services (i.e. Financial Aid, Admissions, and/or DSS/DSPS), please email the appropriate office. Contact information can be found on your college website.

As of today, March 15, 2020, we continue to have zero confirmed cases of students or employees with the coronavirus (COVID-19) in the Contra Costa Community College District. However, the rapidly changing community dynamics, particularly over the past 24 hours, and the lack of adequate testing to verify our communities’ health status, have made it clear that we must take proactive steps to ensure the health of students and employees.

We will continue to provide regular updates, including updated frequently asked questions, on the District Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates website.

Moving some classes to online - sent to students 3-13-20

New measures to keep our community safe - sent to students 3-11-20

The Contra Costa Community College District, including Diablo Valley College, is currently in discussions with district Academic Senate and United Faculty leaders regarding the logistics of moving lecture classes to an online format similar to UC Berkeley and CSU East Bay.

In addition, the college will be canceling some campus events involving large groups of people to minimize exposure. Information about these cancellations will be communicated with the group participants and posted on the website 

Later in the week you will receive additional information from the college and from your lecture class instructors with more specific information.

As always we recommend the following safe practices to protect from colds, flus and the COVID19:

• Wash your hands with soap and water frequently and using alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water is not available.
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the crook of your elbow (not your hands).
• Stay home from school or work when you are sick.
• Plan ahead for childcare in case children get sick and need to stay home from school.
• Avoid travel when you are sick.
• Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands.
• Limit unnecessary trips and avoid crowded public spaces when possible.
• If you are sick, wear a mask* when you go out in public or visit the doctor.

*PLEASE NOTE: CCHS does not recommend wearing a mask to avoid becoming infected with a respiratory disease. Masks can be effective when worn by someone who is already sick to diminish the spread of illness.

There are links to much more information on our website and this information is rapidly changing. Check this page often.

Keeping our community safe - COVID-19 updates - sent to students and employees 3-5-20

Diablo Valley College and the Contra Costa Community College District continue to closely monitor the evolving outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel (new) coronavirus referred to as COVID-19, which has now spread to more than 40 countries. 

Because the situation is evolving on a daily basis, we have created a DVC COVID-19 webpage with current information and links to local (county), state, national and worldwide information for those who want to learn more about the virus.

Contra Costa Health Services (CCHS) has confirmed the first positive case of COVID-19 involving a resident of the county. While there have been no reported cases of COVID-19 in the college community, the college and district leaders continue to prepare for decisions and actions to minimize the spread of this virus and reduce the impact COVID-19 may have on our programs and services.  To that end, some examples of current actions include:

• The district, in collaboration with our consortium partners, decided to return all our study abroad students and faculty from Italy now.  Study abroad participants have been advised to self-quarantine for 14 days and visit their medical professional should they develop COVID-19 symptoms.
• An Instructional Contingency Plan website is coming soon.  It will provide guidance and resources for faculty who are adapting their instruction during any period of interruption.  Members of the DVC Distance Education Committee will present on their recommendations during the Tuesday March 10, 2020 Academic Senate Council meeting, 3:00 – 3:30pm, in the BFL CCR.
• Academic Senate and Chancellor’s Cabinet leadership will be meeting on March 13 to further discuss plans for continuation of instruction should we have a major disruption.
• District Police Services and Risk Management, in consultation with Public Relations and Instruction leaders, continue to update and add specificity to our existing heath emergency response action plans and checklists, and will brief Chancellor’s Cabinet on March 10.      

The risk to our community is still considered low, but we are taking this situation very seriously, and taking all possible measures to mitigate the health risks to the extent possible.

The college is doing the following:

• planning workshops for both students and staff sharing "Facts and Myths" regarding the COVID-19 taught by DVC microbiology instructors, (Watch for more about these soon),
• increasing the number of hand sanitizer dispensers throughout the campuses,
• directing custodial staff to give increased attention to daily disinfecting of all frequently touched surfaces throughout the campuses with a stronger disinfectant agent than used under ordinary circumstances,
• maintaining signs in all bathrooms around campus about hand washing,
• increasing efforts to promote hand washing information on posters, campus digital signage (monitors), social media posts and on the DVC homepage message,
• building a webpage with links to current information on COVID-19
• reminding staff and students that using good hygiene practices is the best way to protect yourself and others from any cold, flu or virus including COVID-19!

While this worldwide situation is concerning for everyone, arming yourself with information about how the virus is spread can be empowering and give you a sense of control.  According to the CDC, the best way to reduce your risk of becoming infected with a flu or respiratory virus, such as COVID-19, is to practice good hygiene. Minimize your risk of becoming infected or spreading COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses by doing the following:

• Wash your hands with soap and water frequently and using alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water is not available.
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the crook of your elbow (not your hands).
• Stay home from school or work when you are sick.
• Plan ahead for childcare in case children get sick and need to stay home from school.
• Avoid travel when you are sick.
• Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands.
• Limit unnecessary trips and avoid crowded public spaces when possible.
• Telecommute when possible.
• If you are sick, wear a mask* when you go out in public or visit the doctor.

*PLEASE NOTE: CCHS does not recommend wearing a mask to avoid becoming infected with a respiratory disease. Masks can be effective when worn by someone who is already sick to diminish the spread of illness.

If you think you may have symptoms, see Symptoms on the CCHS webpage.