Message from the President's Office Monday, March 16, 2020
In times of uncertainty, such as the Coronavirus pandemic, it is the responsibility of the College of Micronesia-FSM (COM-FSM) President’s Office to disseminate factual and relevant information on a timely and regular basis. The purpose of these communications is to inform the community so as to mitigate rumors, panic and fear. Communications from this office will appear on the COM-FSM webpage with weekly updates or as necessary.
The college’s primary objective is to keep students, faculty and staff as safe and healthy as possible at this time. With this in mind, the college has taken the following preventative actions and preparations since the emergency public health declarations from the nation and states.
PREVENTIVE REMINDERS:
- IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS SUCH AS TEMPERATURE, SORE THROAT, RUNNY NOSE – STAY HOME AND CONTACT YOUR LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICE
- PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING
- SANITIZE FREQUENTLY TOUCHED SURFACES
- COUGH OR SNEEZE INTO A TISSUE OR FOLDED ELBOW
- PRACTICE GOOD HAND HYGIENE
Today’s Actions, March 16, 2020:
- The College of Micronesia-FSM will cease classes immediately. This will end the semester and final grades are due from faculty on Friday, March 20, 2020. Staff should ask their immediate supervisor for further instructions.
Previous Actions include:
- Activate the Emergency Management Team with representatives on each state’s emergency task force;
- Educate the college community on preventive measures – practice good hand hygiene, disinfect frequently touched surfaces, practice social distancing
- Identify plans and procedures should a case of the virus be suspected on the island, including training staff and securing necessary supplies;
- Identify plans, procedures and quarantine space should a student or employee have symptoms of the virus while on campus;
- Cancelled all student extra-curricular activities;
- Banned all unnecessary college travel;
- The college will then follow the US Department of Education regulations on shortening a term if this happens prior to the end of the semester;
- Collaborate with FSM Health and State Health Departments and task force.
Updates on plans and actions will be posted on the COM-FSM COVID-19 page regularly. Stay healthy!
