May 13, 2021 - Vision in Action No. 33
CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL SAYS FULLY VACCINATED ADULTS CAN LOSE THE MASK, MOSTLY
In a major step toward returning to pre-pandemic life, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday eased mask-wearing guidance for fully vaccinated people, allowing them to stop wearing masks outdoors in crowds and in most indoor settings.
The guidance still calls for wearing masks in crowded indoor settings like buses, planes, hospitals, prisons and homeless shelters, but it will help clear the way for reopening workplaces, schools and other venues — even removing the need for social distancing for those who are fully vaccinated. The guidance says people who are not fully vaccinated should continue to wear masks indoors.
However, Gov. Gavin Newsom and the California Department of Public Health have not yet said whether or when the state would adopt the new federal guidelines.
Read more here or here.
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION RELEASES Q&A ON CIVIL RIGHTS AND EQUITABLE SCHOOL REOPENING
The Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights today posted a new resources on civil rights and school reopening in the COVID-19 environment. The Q&A provides answers to common questions about schools’ responsibilities under the civil rights laws and is designed to help students, families, schools and the public support all students’ rights in educational environments, including in elementary and secondary schools and postsecondary institutions. Topics include:
- Protection against discrimination for students with disabilities
- Protections for students against discrimination based on race, color and national origin
- Protections for students against sex discrimination, including sexual and gender-based harassment
SAN FERNANDO VALLEY SCHOLARS PROGRAM HOSTING FOSTER CARE AWARENESS MONTH EVENT FEATURING DEPUTY VICE CHANCELLOR DR. DAISY GONZALES
The San Fernando Valley Scholars Program is hosting a webinar, Living the Legacy: Systems-Impacted Students in Higher Education in support of Foster Care Awareness Month. Attendees are invited to listen to our student panel of future change-makers from the SFV Scholars Network campuses (College of the Canyons, Pierce College, Los Angeles Mission College, Los Angeles Valley College and California State University, Northridge). Deputy Chancellor Dr. Daisy Gonzales will be the honored guest. The webinar is tomorrow, Friday, May 14 from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
System Guidance/News
The Chancellor’s Office Government Relations & College Finance and Facilities Planning divisions tomorrow continue their systemwide Policy Advocacy Webinars to provide timely updates on major policy decisions affecting the California Community Colleges, including state and federal legislative and budget actions. These webinars are intended for community college leaders who lead and/or support policy advocacy, including CEOs, chief business officers, marketing directors and/or government relations and public information officers, as well as student leaders, policy advocacy organizations and higher education stakeholders. The webinar is Friday, May 14 from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. Register at this link.
The next Chancellor’s Office bimonthly systemwide webinar will take place on Wednesday, May 19 from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. Recordings and slides from past system webinars are available on the Vision Resource Center.
Please share the 2021 System Webinars registration link with your colleagues that are not yet registered. (Registration is only required once and the same link will be used to access all System Webinars in 2021.)
The California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, in partnership with Cerritos College, Chaffey College, Foothill College, Compton College and Lake Tahoe Community College, is hosting the Courageous Leadership Webinar Series, an opportunity to support each other as we choose courage over comfort in leading Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), and anti-racism efforts on our campuses.
We invite college leaders to join the conversation to not only lift up what is working in championing DEI and anti-racism on campuses, but also share how we are navigating challenges and supporting each other in our struggles.
The final webinar is Thursday, May 20 from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Please register for the Courageous Leadership Webinar Series to advance DEI and anti-racism and be fearless in our commitment to make the California Community Colleges truly student-ready.
The Chancellor’s Office Statistics Institute team will present a four-hour workshop at the virtual United States Conference on Teaching Statistics on Increasing Student Engagement at Two-Year Colleges Using Socially Relevant Contexts. The webinar is Saturday, June 26 from 8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
The lead facilitator is Dr. Roxy Peck, professor emerita of statistics at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and a nationally known leader in statistics education. Among her many honors, Dr. Peck was made a Fellow of the American Statistical Association and received the American Statistical Association’s Founder's Award and the USCOTS Lifetime Achievement Award in Statistics Education. Register for the pre-conference workshop and conference at this link.
The Chancellor’s Office is committed to keeping everyone informed during this uncertain time. We encourage administrators, faculty, staff and students to regularly check the Chancellor’s Office COVID-19 resource page and the Chancellor’s Office Communications to Colleges section for ongoing executive orders, guidance memos and announcements. Current and prospective students can also get connected with their local college to find out specific resources and support services available as well as enroll in their local community college.
Student Supports
The California Youth Crisis line runs 24-hours a day, seven days a week: 800-843-5200. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides confidential assistance to anyone in crisis and their loved ones through a live chat and free 24-hour hotline at 800-273-8255. You can also text COURAGE to the Crisis Text Line at 741741.
Items of Interest
U.S. jobless claims fall to 473K as more GOP governors bar aid.
Gov. Newsom seeks $1.5B boost for small businesses.
California children ages 12 to 15 can now get the COVID-19 vaccine.
