Polk State reinforces important guidelines for students, employees returning to campuses

Posted on by Polk Newsroom

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Polk State College will enter Phase II of its Return to Campus Plan on Monday, August 17, the start of the Fall 2020 Semester. The College is excited to welcome students and employees back to the Winter Haven and Lakeland campuses at a limited capacity and with strict guidelines in place to help ensure the health and safety of all students, faculty, staff, and visitors.

In Phase II, the Winter Haven Administration Building and Lakeland Technology Building will open to students and visitors to access Student Services including assistance with registration and financial aid. The College continues to follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines closely and encourages all members of the community to review Be the Solution: Polk State College’s Return to Campus Plan before visiting campuses.

“Polk State College is committed to the health and safety of our community,” Polk State President Angela Garcia Falconetti said. “Everyone on campus plays a critical role in ensuring not only their own health, but also the safety of others, and we ask that all individuals visiting campus adhere to the guidelines outlined in the College’s Return to Campus Plan.”

Students, faculty, staff, and visitors are required to:

  • Monitor health daily for symptoms of COVID-19. The CDC’s guidance regarding COVID-19 symptoms can be found at cdc.gov/coronavirus.
    • If sick or experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, stay home. Individuals who are sick or experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should contact their healthcare providers as well as their instructors and supervisors.
    • Members of the College community who are ill with COVID-19, experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, or have come in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 should also use the self-reporting tool on the College’s COVID-19 page to help with slowing the possible transmission of the coronavirus. The College’s COVID Response Team will conduct contact tracing to assist with informing individuals who may be at risk of infection. Additionally, representatives maintain communication with those who have contracted COVID-19 and who are in self-quarantine due to potential exposure to assist with access to healthcare and academic resources.
  • Wear a mask or cloth face covering.
    • During phases I and II, cloth face coverings must be worn at all times while on campus. Face coverings may only be removed when eating, drinking, or alone.
  • Practice social distancing.
    • All individuals should remain at least 6 feet from others. The College has installed directional signage and floor markings to assist and is limiting the number of people on campus to make social distancing easier.
  • Follow CDC guidelines.
    • This includes washing hands frequently and using hand sanitizer when hand washing is not possible. Students and employees also should not share items including school or office supplies with classmates or colleagues.

 

 

It is important to note that the majority of classes will take place online for the fall semester and Student Services remain available in the remote environment by phone, email, and web chat. Students are encouraged to use remote options and to visit campus only when necessary.

In addition to classes starting on August 17, enrollment will continue for 12-week and Fastrack 2 sessions, which will begin on September 14 and October 14, respectively.

For assistance with registration and advising, students may email registrar@polk.edu, call 863.297.1000, or use the web chat in the bottom right corner of the www.polk.edu/admission-aid page.

For assistance with financial aid, students may email financialaid@polk.edu, call 863.297.1004, or use the web chat.

Students may also call the Academic Support Line at 863.669.2833 to receive assistance with technology needs.

Additional information about accessing resources including the bookstores, libraries, tutoring, and more is available on the College’s COVID-19 page.

Students are encouraged to monitor www.polk.edu, the COVID-19 page, their Polk State emails and accounts, as well as the College’s social media pages for important updates and additional resources.