COVID-19, Updates and FAQs

Important Update

Protecting the health and safety of our students, employees and community remains our top priority. With the new Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) state-wide emergency order, the recent surge in COVID-19 cases across the state, and the updated MIOSHA COVID-19 emergency rules, OCC will continue our mostly remote instruction to support our students’ educational goals.

OCC will be making the following adjustments effective Wednesday, Nov. 18:

  • OCC will be suspending face-to-face, on campus instruction, except for classes in Public Services (CREST) and Health Careers which are exempt from the MDHHS guidelines and may continue to meet. Faculty and Deans will communicate with students in these programs to share specific plans.
  • All student services and campus operations remain available in a fully-remote format.
  • OCC’s Athletic team practices and games are cancelled during this time.
  • The Raider’s Bookstore is offering free shipping for online purchase now through January 15.
  • OCC’s libraries are continuing to provide contactless pickup. Students will be allowed to continue to come to campus to pick-up and return library materials.
  • Campus WiFi use for students will still be available on a limited basis.

With the continued impact of COVID-19, the health and safety of our students, employees and community remains a top priority for the College. While the majority of our students will continue taking classes online for fall and winter, a limited number of students and employees will be returning to campus for hands-on labs and use of high-touch equipment.

To help curb the spread of the virus, the following safety precautions are in place on all campuses:

  • Face coverings will be required at all times when on an OCC campus. If you do not have a mask, one will be provided to you.
  • Everyone who comes to campus must complete the online COVID-19 screening each time they return to campus.
  • Classrooms, labs and restrooms will be set up to allow sufficient distance between students and faculty.
  • Communal areas such as Student LIFE offices and club rooms will remain closed. You are asked not to hang out on campus after classes conclude.
  • No access to food, drinking fountains or food vending machines will be available. Vending machines will be available for masks and other supplies.

Student FAQs

Updated: January 5, 2021

Students should plan on a virtual learning environment for the majority of fall and winter classes for the duration of the semester. However, there will be a limited number of labs open on campus for specific courses only. Please check the Schedule of Classes to learn more.

Instructors may choose to hold class meetings remotely on the days and times stated in the schedule, so scheduling concurrent classes will not be permitted.

Employment for student assistants and work-study students may be available remotely. For more information, please contact a Financial Aid office.

No. Most of these classes will be delivered remotely. However, a limited number of classes may be held on campus due to the hands-on nature of the class.

Remote instruction replaces in-class instruction with methods that limit face-to-face contact. You are likely familiar with many tools of remote instruction, including:

  • Live video lectures using Zoom, Skype, or other teleconferencing tools
  • Discussion boards and chat rooms to discuss reading assignments
  • Online resources
  • YouTube videos
  • Detailed assignment sheets for projects with informative links
  • Email messages (reminder - students must use their OCC student email; private emails are not permitted)
  • Conference calls and video conferencing for one-on-one assistance
  • Papers researched outside of class
  • Using D2L for receiving assignments, submitting assignments, group email and discussion groups

Sign up for our free Online Learning Readiness course, DIST-1000. It is a great resource for learning how to use D2L and to be a successful online learner. New Horizons Leaning is offering daily free live webinars on managing and working remotely. You can see the schedule and register by scrolling to the bottom of the program page.

Call the D2L Helpdesk 24/7 including holidays at 855.772.1235 (toll free).

Contact your instructor to discuss other alternatives the College may be able to provide. Learning Support Resources.

While the majority of our students will continue taking classes online for fall and winter semesters, a limited number of students and employees will be returning to campus for hands-on labs and use of high-touch equipment. NOTE: in accordance with the HHS epidemic order, no in-person classes will take place between November 18 and December 20. Please check the Schedule of Classes to learn more.

Book buy backs and rental returns for this semester are now handled online. Go to the textbook tab and select "sell books" There will not be an in store buyback this semester. For more information, visit the college webstore.

Winter 2021 COURSE OPTIONS

COURSE OPTIONS PLACE TIME REASON
Online Courses Online On Demand 24/7 I need maximum flexibility
Remote Classes Remote On Demand 24/7
OR designated times as determined by the course schedule
OR combination of both 		I can carve out specific times to be online
Hybird Courses Hybrid On campus work @ scheduled times
AND On Demand 24/7 access
OR designated online times as determined by the course schedule 		My program has outcomes that require some in-person work during set times, days and locations
In person In Person Scheduled times I am able to meet in-person with set times, days and locations

Academic Policies and Support Services

You are working hard to be successful in the new learning format, and we have the resources to help when you need it.

You can access these and additional resources on Coronavirus Resources page.

We encourage you to seek help with your studies through these final weeks of the semester, especially if you are feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or isolated. Remember to communicate with your instructors if you need clarification or assistance.

If your instructor has not been responsive to your contacts or concerns, please submit a complaint at https://oaklandcc.edu/complaints/default.aspx, or call the Deans of Student Services at:

Auburn Hills: 248-232-4404
Highland Lakes: 248-942-3211
Orchard Ridge: 248-522-3510
Royal Oak: 248-246-2611
Southfield: 248-246-2611

Campuses

All OCC student services will be available online and through other remote means such as email or teleconference. To clarify, all OCC campuses are closed to students and visitors for these activities:

  • Academic Support Centers
  • ACCESS
  • Bookstores
  • Computer Labs
  • Counseling
  • Enrollment Services
  • Financial Aid

All Library services are available online, with "Ask a Librarian" operating 24/7. Please see our new guide for more details and information.

All other College business operations will also continue.

No. Due to the present health situation the College gyms and exercise/weight rooms are to be used only for scheduled academic activities. Public and staff usage is suspended until further notice.

All campus events are cancelled until further notice, including athletic games and practices, external rentals, and performances unless notified otherwise. Student organization meetings and committee meetings may proceed via teleconference.

Although the campuses are closed to students and visitors, all of these services are available by email or online during these business hours. Find out more

The online COVID-19 screening allows the College to track individuals on campus and their general health. Also, it’s required by law. The College uses the information collected to determine who is on campus should we need to notify you of a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 case.

Cleaning and disinfection is the responsibility of all employees, and in some cases, students. In general, employees are responsible for cleaning and disinfecting their work areas with supplies provided by the College.

In lab classes, the faculty and lab staff are responsible for ensuring that work surfaces, tools, and equipment are cleaned and disinfected. They may enlist students to assist with this.

The Custodial staff is responsible for cleaning and disinfecting floors (as needed) and common contact surfaces, such as light switches and door handles.

OCC will evaluate each affected area to determine the most effective infection control method. The preference is to quarantine the affected areas for seven days. This allows for natural weakening of any viruses. After the quarantine, the area is cleaned and disinfected before use. In some cases, where the area of concern is needed prior to completing the quarantine, the College may decide to clean and disinfect the area instead of quarantine.

You should always assume that you must wear a mask while in an OCC building. That being said, there are instances when you can remove your mask. If you are working alone in a single-occupant office, you may remove your mask while in the office. If you work in a cubicle that places you at least 6 feet from the nearest individual, you may remove your mask while seated at your cubicle. If you are working alone in an area where others may enter, such as a hallway, classroom, or lab, you must still wear your mask. Furthermore, any time you leave an area where you may remove your mask, you must wear your mask, even if you are only walking a short distance. If you are not sure, please contact the EHSRM Manager at maschmid@oaklandcc.edu or 248-467-4477 for instructions.

General FAQs

Non-academic concerns may be submitted through the Complaints page. The individual reporting a concern should use the Complaints/Suggestions form. This form should be filled out electronically, saved as a PDF file and submitted electronically as an attachment in an email to: feedback@oaklandcc.edu.

Academic concerns, including grade appeals, may be submitted on the Student Academic Concern form.

The Academic Appeals Policy is posted on the OCC's Academic Appeals Policy page

Contact the Oakland County Health Division (OCHD) for guidance.

If you are an OCC employee, notify your supervisor. If you are an OCC student, notify your instructor. Supervisors and instructors should immediately contact the Manager of Environmental Health and Safety / Risk Management (EHSRM) at maschmid@oaklandcc.edu, or call 248-467-4477.

The EHSRM Manager must be contacted whenever there is a report of an employee or student having COVID-19 (via testing), or if an employee or student has reported symptoms consistent with COVID-19 (without testing). The EHSRM Manager will request case details and provide instructions.

For each reported case, a general notice is sent to everyone identified as being on campus during the infectious period (date of onset of symptoms, plus two days prior). The Oakland County Health Division (OCHD) is notified, and internal contact tracing is conducted.

Anyone determined to have had close contact (w/in 6ft. for over 15min. during a 24hr. period) will be asked to remain off campus for at least 14 days. The OCHD will conduct their own contact tracing with the help of OCC. They may impose additional restrictions or quarantines.

All OCC notifications will be sent to your OCC employee or student email address, so please check at least daily. Contractors will be notified through their OCC point of contact.

The College’s Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response Plan (IDPRP) contains information on the College’s response to COVID-19. The Plan takes into account state law, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and Oakland County Health Division (OCHD) requirements, and Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) regulations. This plan is available on InfoMart, accessible to OCC employees. For non-employees interested in viewing the IDPRP, please contact Michael Schmidt.

Masks are required by law to be worn in all public shared spaces. They provide an added layer of protection from respiratory infections (some studies suggest as much as a 70% reduction in viral exposure, depending upon the circumstances.). Also, wearing a mask helps reduce the amount of virus we may spread to our surroundings.

Yes. If a mask is not properly worn and maintained, it cannot be relied upon to prevent exposures. As such, the CDC and MDHHS, as well as OCC, do not take into account mask usage for determining the need to quarantine.

Yes. While testing is recommended, as it provides you with useful information, the COVID-19 tests may give false negatives (especially the quick tests). In addition, when you get tested after an exposure affects the accuracy of the test. As such, the test results cannot be safely used to determine if you are, or may become, sick.

Yes. You will need to stay off campus for 14 days AFTER the household member recovers (10 days, 24 hours fever free). Thus, you may need to stay off campus for up to 24 days. The Health Department may set a different quarantine period. If they do, follow their instructions to the letter and notify the OCC Manager of Environmental Health and Safety / Risk Management at maschmid@oaklandcc.edu for instructions before returning to campus.

The general notifications sent to individuals who may have been on campus when a COVID-19 case was present are intended to alert you to the situation. For these general notifications, we do not consider if any individuals may have had close contact with the case. OCC will conduct internal contact tracing and notify you if you need to stay off campus.

The College will notify the Health Department. The Health Department will also notify you if you need to quarantine. If you are not notified by the College to stay off campus, but the Health Department informs you that you need to quarantine, please contact the OCC Manager of Environmental Health and Safety / Risk Management at maschmid@oaklandcc.edu for instructions before returning to campus.

Not necessarily. Contact your instructor. In many cases course objectives can be completed remotely.

Absolutely not. While you may not have COVID-19, we do not want anyone you may come in contact with to become ill from any disease.

Absolutely not. Individuals found to have come on campus with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 are endangering others on campus and may be subject to disciplinary action.

All personal information is kept private by OCC to the extent allowed by law. Some personal information, such as name, date of birth, and phone number, may need to be shared with the Health Department to confirm your health data and to facilitate contact tracing. Personal information will not be shared with any unauthorized employee at OCC. In addition, the College always tries not to provide non-personal information that might allow someone to determine the identity of the COVID-19 case.

Yes. You can contact the OCC Manager of Environmental Health and Safety / Risk Management at maschmid@oaklandcc.edu. If you would like to speak directly, leave a phone number where you can be reached. All conversations and correspondence will be treated confidentially to the extent possible.