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Please check our Coronavirus Response page for the most up-to-date information about summer and fall sessions.
 

Coronavirus Response

As you have seen in the news, the situation regarding the coronavirus is rapidly evolving. The College takes the health and safety of our community seriously and has been monitoring the status of the coronavirus through its Critical Incident Management Team.

 

The College will be sending out more information on a weekly basis (or more frequently as developments require). In the meantime, if you have any questions, please feel free to send them to PublicHealth@landmark.edu.


Frequently Asked Questions

  • All faculty have adapted their curriculum to be offered through the Canvas online platform, supplemented by Office 365 collaboration tools such as Outlook and Office Teams and other tools appropriate to the class. Students have access to all of these tools through Landmark College’s portal SharkNet.

  • Each student has been assigned an online advisor. This individual works with the students to develop an action plan to stay on track and may also offer supplemental academic support.  Faculty are also available during class sessions and during separate office hours. Supplemental academic support services are also available through the library and by contacting the Drake Center.

  • Our online advisors are also serving as academic support. Many of the online advisors were the Drake support providers and all of them are capable of providing writing, reading, and time management support which is primarily what is provided by the Drake. Students coordinate with their online advisors on the amount of time they would like to have with their online advisors so the amount of “facetime” is in the students hands. The first place students can go for academic support is the faculty themselves. Faculty provide daily office hours and are available during class times. There is also additional discipline oriented support sessions provided including Math support. Math support is provided during the day, but supplemental Drake sessions are not provided during the day because we do not want to conflict with class times, advisor meetings, office hours and other faculty based support options.

    Students can make arrangements for supplemental Drake academic support. To make an appointment students should call the Drake Center at 802-387-6839 for appointments. Phone is answered M-TH 12:30-8:30 p.m. and Friday 12:30-5:30 p.m. Students should call and talk to a person, please don’t send emails or leave messages. Students who make appointments will receive an invite to the session through  their Landmark Outlook calendar/email. Students must accept this invitation so we know they are going to attend. Students should prepare in advance for their online sessions in order for them to be truly beneficial. Sessions will be held using MS Teams unless the student requests otherwise. 

  • Yes.

    Library Support
    The Library’s extensive online collection of e-books, streaming video, and articles is available 24/7 from everywhere by Landmark College students, faculty, and staff with their SharkNet login name and password. Just visit the Library’s website at www.landmark.edu/library for these resources, helpful research guides (“Class & Subject Guides”), and citation guides, as well as a live chat box and contact information.

    Student support is available (online/phone only):
    Monday – Thursday: 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
    Friday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
    802-387-1648
    https://landmark.instructure.com/courses/2893

    IT: The Help Desk (online/phone only) 
    Support is available Monday through Friday 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Please call or email to describe your need. If needed, a follow up appointment will be scheduled. Call 802-387-6800.

    Help Desk technicians may ask students to launch a Teams session to troubleshoot issues that cannot be resolved over the phone or via email. Most support requests will be addressed on the day they are received—the goal is to respond to all support requests within 24 hours.

  • Each faculty member is holding daily office hours and is also available online during the time the class normally meets face to face (Eastern Time). The Canvas course should also clearly communicate weekly student engagement expectations and provide clear directions for submitting work and communicating with faculty. If there are any questions about a specific course, students should consult the faculty member teaching the course or talk with their online advisor.

  • During online advisor sessions, student support will be provided to:

    • Help the student self-reflect on what is working and what is challenging in the online environment
    • Develop a daily/weekly action plan to stay on track
    • Provide just in time academic support
    • Identify and connect students to available online supplemental support resources
    • Make sure the students know how to interact and connect with their courses and faculty
    • Help students manage their time to stay connected academically and socially

  • In her “Letter to Parents about Supporting Students’ Online Learning”, Dr. Gail Gibson Sheffield, VP for Academic Affairs, offered five suggestions (fully explained in the letter) on how you can best support students through this challenging transition:

    1. Help students find a designated workspace
    2. Encourage students to become familiar with Landmark College online
    3. Help students establish a familiar routine
    4. Help students to work with LC academic support
    5. Try to manage anxiety

  • Some students are still working with the advisor they had on campus. However, given the volume of contacts needed to support online instruction, we are also relying on Drake academic support staff, other faculty, and some members of the student affairs staff to serve this role. These individuals are all very familiar with Landmark College and are in contact with the students’ traditional advisor. The online advisor will be able to help students plan and register for both summer and fall courses.

  • Yes, we will be delaying the start of course registration for summer sessions and the fall semester. We need to assess what impact these next few weeks will have before we can determine what additional courses we may offer in the summer or changes to the fall offerings. We should have more information about registration by April 20.

  • Yes, the online advisor posts notes about these sessions through Student Central to provide a record for the student and to ensure the student’s complete support team and faculty are up to speed.

  • That depends on the kind of internship and how actively engaged in the internship the student has been prior to this point. If a student has not been actively engaged, they will most likely be counseled to withdraw from the experience. If they have been actively engaged, there are a few options. Before the start of spring break, the College was working with students and site supervisors to determine if the internship could be completed remotely:

    • If the answer was yes, then students will be expected to continue as planned.
    • If the answer was no, then the student could either complete the online components of the course and finish the experience earning 1 credit (instead of 3) OR, they can work with their program coordinator and site supervisor to develop supplemental work that could provide students to meet the learning outcomes for the internship, and then complete the online components of the course and finish the experience earning 3 credits.

    In either the 1-credit or 3-credit option the internship will fulfill the alternative education general education requirement.

  • As with the course registration, this is still a work in progress. At this point we are unsure what opportunities will be available this summer. As a little more time passes, online advisors will have more information to help support these goals.

  • Yes. Resident deans and resident assistants are holding “virtual duty hours” online in the evenings. This would be a time when you can check in with some of your RAs or one of the RDs, much like you would stop by their offices in the residence halls in the evening. Look for more information over email for details on how to join in on these virtual duty hours.

  • Yes. The Counseling Services staff is prepared to offer online sessions to the students who currently participate in Counseling Services. Any student currently under counseling care will receive an email from their counselor offering them support and reviewing the online session process. Counselors will then schedule meetings in student’s Outlook calendars through Microsoft Teams (part of your Microsoft 365 suite of services already on your laptop). Depending on usage by current students engaged in counseling services at the College, additional session time may be available for new clients as well. If you have any questions on these services available, feel free to contact Jackie Mills, Director of Counseling & Health Services at 802-387-6732 or jacalamills@landmark.edu.

  • The College will hold its Summer II session, which runs July 12 through August 14, on-campus. We have been working with the state of Vermont and public health officials to determine enrollment caps and safety adjustments throughout all facets of campus life.

    At this time, we plan to resume residential programs for the fall semester.

  • Yes. Health Services will begin providing clinical care to students from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Jeff Huyett, NP, will be on on-site for clinical care during Health Services hours. Students who are off-campus and need assistance with medication refills may contact him at jeffhuyett@landmark.edu or by calling 802-387-6753. Students should strategize now for an extended period away from campus. Jeff will assist students with refills at home but know there may be some difficulty for some controlled substances across some state lines.

    Appointments for clinical care on campus are required BEFORE coming in to be seen in order to manage the flow of students in our waiting rooms to decrease risk of transmission from potentially ill students. No student should arrive at Health Services without previously making plans with one of our staff—especially any student with a cough, fever, or shortness of breath. Appointments can be made by calling Cindy Brown at 802-387-1636 or by emailing HealthServices@landmark.edu. Masks will be provided for student appointments at the entrance to Health and Counseling. Any student with cough, fever or shortness of breath is asked to don a mask before entering the space. Any other questions can be directed to Cindy Brown at 802-387-1636 or by emailing HealthServices@landmark.edu or jeffhuyett@landmark.edu.

  • Yes. The Social Pragmatics staff is offering the PEERS curriculum online to students who have been engaged with the program on campus. This format of the program still offers individualized social mentoring through an online platform. In addition, the staff is offering parent updates—probably through a weekly email or newsletter—to help parents support student progress and understand the lesson and language used. The Social Pragmatics staff is offering individual sessions to students they are already working with separate from the PEERS curriculum. The format of these session will be structured with social skills focus. Finally, the staff is planning to offer two online activities per week with a social pragmatic focus. Examples include recommending a movie or YouTube videos students can watch on their own and then participate in an online discussion. For more information, students and families can contact Andy Donahue, director of Social Pragmatic Programs & Services at andydonahue@landmark.edu.

  • Yes. We know how important the connections students have to the campus and other students are, and we are excited to offer a number of creative and innovative ways that students can remain socially engage and connected with their classmates and the campus. A daily email will go out to students that will outline various ways to engage and stay well. These include:

    • The Center for Diversity & Inclusion (CDI) is offering virtual programming, and the CDI will be offering virtual office hours for students to “drop-in.” Additionally, students who had ongoing 1:1 check-ins will receive an updated appointment option with Marc Thurman, CDI Coordinator.
    • Weekly virtual Zumba & Yoga classes with LC Staff + LC Alums
    • Netflix parties
    • Various virtual club and student organization opportunities

    If you haven’t downloaded the Landmark App yet, you should do it today! It has all the programs, activities, and other information, plus a chat wall with various message boards that can keep you in touch with students.

  • No. The only people who should be on campus are enrolled students, students allowed to remain on campus during any breaks, employees of Landmark College and prospective families scheduled for approved visits with the Admissions Office. Non-essential visits to campus, which includes but is not limited to families, alumni, vendors, and guests of live-in staff, must be approved in advance by the Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) by filling out this form. This policy will remain in place until further notice.

  • Yes! The Student Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) is making special allowances if a college changes to online instruction. F-1 students who participate in a full course of study through the online program remain in active status in SEVIS, even if they have left the United States and are taking the online classes from elsewhere.

    For further questions regarding F-1 nonimmigrant status, feel free to contact the Vice Preisdent for Student Affairs at mluciani@landmark.edu

  • Landmark College Summer Program Refund

    In the event summer programs are cancelled, deposits will be refunded. The application fee and program-related costs not billed by Landmark College (e.g., travel, books, etc.) are non-refundable.

    You will be issued a full refund, minus the application fee, should your travel to our Summer Program be disrupted by:

    • Travel bans or Level 3 warnings put in place by the VTDOH, CDC, or other agencies
    • Documented personal COVID-19 illness or quarantine
    • Inability to secure a visa
    • Suspension of major airline carrier services

    Landmark College Fall Refund

    Based on evolving information about COVID-19 across the country and the world, please know your deposit for the fall semester will be refundable through July 15, 2020.

    The application fee and program-related costs not billed by Landmark College (e.g., travel, books, etc.) are non-refundable.

  • Landmark College will be offering courses over the summer. Usually the College offers our students two sessions (Summer 1 and Summer 2) with a mix of courses from 1000 level through 3000/4000 level to help our students stay on track or experience a different kind of instructional experience. These are intensive courses offered over a five-week session. This summer we will continue the Summer 1 (starting June 8) and Summer 2 (starting July 13) offerings and we will be adding a third option: Summer 1 in 10 weeks (also starting June 8). The 10-week option will be offered as an online option. The courses offered in 10-week options will primarily be foundation level courses designed to help students stay on track with their academic plans. We know a number of students planned on participating in an experiential course this summer, either Study Away or Internships. Unfortunately, we had to cancel many of those opportunities for safety reasons. As an alternative, faculty are developing experiential and career-focused curriculum that will be available in our Summer 2 session.

    Summer 1 (June 8 through July 10) is being offered online only. Summer 2 (July 12 through August 13) will be offered on campus in Putney, with restrictions on total enrollment and self-quarantine depending on origin and type of travel. 

  • At this point in time we are planning on offering our full curriculum face to face in Putney. We will always hold the safety of our community as the most important factor.

Prevention

The College is following the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). At this time, the best course of action is to follow our procedures and protocols that are in place for influenza (which were also used in 2009 with the H1N1 virus). This response plan includes:

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or the upper sleeve of your flexed elbow when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue away and immediately wash your hands.
  • Practice Social Distancing - Limiting face-to-face contact with others is the best way to reduce the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).  To practice social or physical distancing:
    • Stay at least 6 feet (2 meters) from other people
    • Do not gather in groups
    • Stay out of crowded places and avoid mass gatherings
  • Isolate yourself if you have flu-like symptoms (fever, nausea, cough).  Students who begin to feel symptoms should report to the College’s Health Services Office for further evaluation. Faculty and staff should consult with their own health care providers and remain home until they are no longer symptomatic.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe (your laptop, mobile phone, etc.).
  • Face Coverings - In light of new evidence regarding COVID-19 transmission, the CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.  It is critical to emphasize that maintaining 6-feet social distancing remains important to slowing the spread of the virus. 

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