COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Frequently Asked Questions

• Older adult non-credit classes – due to the at-risk population being served 
• Middle College will be transitioning services to the online format 
• All college events in the months of March and April have been cancelled 
• We are recommending cancellation of all non-essential travel. The TSA staff COVID cases are a good reminder that travelling heightens the risk of exposure for the traveler and thus raises the exposure risk for everyone on campus when a single employee chooses to travel and then return to campus.

WVC Health Services, along with the health services at many other California Community Colleges, is transitioning to new ways to support students in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Health Services personal counseling appointments will resume in the fall semester, likely via Zoom. Continuing throughout the summer we are offering the following mental health related services for all West Valley College students:

• Resources, Referrals, and 30-minute Counseling Sessions: Our counselor intern, Sarah Luthman and supervisor, George Mageles, are available to connect with you via chat or video in Cranium Café. Brief Personal Counseling is available for the summer months. Visit the Health Services Online page to conduct a Chat Session or request a Video Appointment.
• Tuesday Support Groups: An open support group for West Valley College students Coping with Stress from COVID-19 on Tuesdays at 2:00 PM via Zoom.
• Active Minds Summer Talk Group: An open meeting for West Valley College students on Thursdays at 2:00 PM via Zoom.

We will continue to monitor the guidelines and shared practices of our colleagues throughout the state and nation, and we will provide updates to the WVC Community when we have something new to share.

In the meantime, please see the extensive list of local/county/national and online mental health resources. Feel free to use them, share them, and please let us know if you need anything else at this time.

• Alternative Testing
• Notetaking 
• Alternate Media
• Assistive Technology
• Assistive Equipment 
• Captioning 
• Interpreting 

DESP will work with your instructors to make sure your accommodations are implemented in your online class! 

Guidance from the US Department of Education and the CARES Act provides additional flexibilities to institutions regarding the calculation of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements to receive aid.

Withdrawing from all courses will not negatively affect your Spring 2020 aid and your SAP status for the next term. If you are planning to officially withdraw from your Spring 2020 course(s), please consult with an academic counselor and notify a Financial Aid Advisor.  If you have questions about your financial aid status, please email the Financial Aid Office at wvfa@westvally.edu

Federal work-study will still be paid for scheduled hours as of the closure (March 11, 2020) if you have FWS award funds remaining. Please check in with your FWS Supervisor about entering scheduled work on web-time entry.  If you have questions about your FWS award, please email the Financial Aid Office at wvfa@westvally.edu

No, college staff are working hard to make sure that there are no disruptions in payments to students. The Financial Aid office will maintain the scheduled disbursement dates. Please email the Financial Aid Office at wvfa@westvally.edu with any questions or concerns.

Students may be considered for more assistance by providing the Professional Judgement Special Circumstances packet to ensure they are able to stay in school. Please contact the Financial Aid Office at wvfa@westvally.edu to request the packet or with any questions or concerns.

The Financial Aid Office has been given the temporary flexibility to allow students to submit copies of the required verification documents electronically by uploading a photo of the documents (including from a smartphone), PDF, or other similar electronic document through Cranium Café via our secure WVC Portal, by email, etc.

We also recognize that forms of identification (such as a driver’s license) may expire with no real and reasonable opportunity for renewal due to social distancing requirements. Institutions may accept a copy of an expired document if it expired after March 1, 2020.

The Financial Aid Office has been given the temporary flexibility to allow students to submit a note with an explanation of why neither of the parents are available to provide a signature.

Students drop classes the same way they always have through their WVC Portal. Students now have until April 25 to drop a full-term class.

For students who have already dropped (March 11 or later) with a "W," your record will be updated to reflect an "CW." Moving forward, students who drop during the "W" period will be assigned an "CW." Students will be considered for a refund for enrollment fees* for these courses by the end of the spring term. Students are encouraged to consult with a counselor prior to dropping a course to discuss other options and impact on progress.

Students who drop a course(s) between March 11 and April 25 will be considered for a refund/credit for enrollment fees * for each course that is dropped. Refunds will be automatically issued to student accounts before the end of Spring term.

* Please note the “CD” refund will only include the enrollment fees for the dropped course(s). Other student fees are not subject to refund. For more information on student fees, please visit WVC Tuition and Fees.

1. Contact your respective coach and begin communicating with him/her. 
2. Contact an Athletics Counselor – Freba Cognetta or Andy Cardamone via Cranium Café.
3. Apply to the college.

• All staff and administrators should continue reporting for work in an online format. Consult with your department/division administrators and supervisors to develop the best telecommuting plan. You will need to sign an HR telecommuting agreement. 

• We are working on providing remote access to Banner INB for those employees who are approved to telecommute and need this access to do their work.
  

• Vice Provost Chris Dyer has sent out a communication to all faculty regarding the transition plan for moving classes online.  

• PT hourly classified and student workers should meet online to discuss if they can continue to perform their duties with the option to telecommute for work. 

• Anyone who is sick and/or experiencing symptoms of coronavirus (dry cough, fever, shortness of breath). These individuals can use their sick time for this absence. If you are experiencing symptoms of coronavirus, contact your primary health care provider immediately to report this and to receive treatment. 

• PT hourly students for whom there is no work currently. Student lab assistants can stay home. We may need them later in the semester to assist with labs again. 

• PT hourly classified and student workers should meet online to discuss if they can continue to perform their duties with the option to telecommute for work.