COVID-19 – Coronavirus

As Southwest Tech continues to monitor the evolving situation throughout the college’s five-county district, positive cases of COVID-19 are emerging and will likely continue to emerge. Specific cases directly connected to Southwest Tech’s community are being audited internally. Please continue to practice social distancing to keep you and your loved ones safe.

If you receive a report of COVID-19 symptoms (fever, cough, difficulty breathing, etc.) from an employee or student, or if there is someone who is showing signs of symptoms, please follow these steps:

1. Give them the following advice:
   1. Stay home.
   2. Call ahead to your care provider and report symptoms and any pre-existing conditions:
2. Report your encounter using the report a concern online form: Report a Concern
3. Identify in the report any recent campus contacts. (Ex. They were in class on XX-XX-XXXX, held in room X.)

In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Act, any incident creates a threat to the students, employees, or campus guests, which will result in a timely warning.

These steps are essential to
our efforts in reporting and mitigating the spread of COVID-19. If you have any
questions or concerns, please email covid19response@swtc.edu.

Southwest Tech…
This is where people care.

The College and Foundation have had several supporters reach out and ask what they can do to help the college and our students during this crisis.  We understand that everyone is impacted by this crisis, and for some, giving is a way they can make a difference at a time when so much feels outside of our control.   The Southwest Tech Foundation has created the Support Our Students (S.O.S.) Fund.  This fund will support our students in the most impactful ways possible throughout the crisis.

Donate Today

Select ‘Support Our Students (S.O.S.) Fund’ from the Designation drop-down box.

Find out more about how this donation will be used to support our students on the Support Our Students page.

Southwest Wisconsin Technical College continues to closely monitor the spread of the COVID-19, the disease caused by a virus strain that began spreading in people in December 2019.

Health experts are concerned because little is known about this new respiratory virus, and it can cause severe illness and pneumonia in some people.

• The COVID-19 virus was first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.
• The COVID-19 virus is not the same as the coronaviruses that commonly circulate among humans and cause mild illness, like the common cold.
• Formerly, this disease was referred to as “2019 Novel Coronavirus” or “2019-nCoV.”

For specific information about what’s happening in Wisconsin, please visit the Wisconsin Department of Health Services for accurate information.

FEMA has released a website to help the public distinguish between rumors and Facts regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. This information is available at the FEMA – distinguish Facts from Rumors site.

As the Wisconsin DOT updates Driver Education procedures and Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) location information, we will be updating our Driver Education page. Please check for updates prior to calling your instructor.

In Phase three of Southwest Tech’s Return to Work Plan, face-to-face instruction will resume on the first day of the fall 2020 semester with new safety protocols in place.

In compliance with Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers ordering the closure of all non-essential business, Southwest Tech campus closed as of Monday, March 23. However, all student support services have transitioned to alternative delivery methods.

We have also set up a Student Resources page where you can find helpful information to support your life and studies as Southwest Tech. Use the Virtual Programming page to connect with other students, stay healthy or just watch a live stream of a panda.

In phase two of the Southwest
Tech Return to Campus Plan, limited staff will be working on campus. If you
need to meet with an employee in person, please schedule a meeting by emailing
or calling that person directly.

Please
contact your supervisor or Human Resources if you have questions about your
time away from work options.

If you
are a Southwest Tech faculty or staff member, the following internal resources
can be found on the Hub Human Resources Page.

Southwest Tech
will be offering special hours for adult basic education at select college
outreach centers. To best protect the safety of our staff and students we
serve, we require all students to schedule an appointment ahead of time to
allow employees to disinfect rooms and practice social distancing protocols
safely. Please visit the website for more information. https://www.swtc.edu/community/outreach-sites/

The College’s Child Care Center and Food
Services, will remain closed until phase three of the college’s Return to Work
plan.

Student Housing will remain open and we are
requesting that no guests are allowed into the buildings.​

The college is evaluating events hosted on campus and determining whether to host the events as planned, consider alternative options, or cancel the event. Specific decisions will be communicated in a timely manner.

In-Person events are being canceled, but we are looking into offering some of these events virtually. We will update with details as these are figured out.

The Following Events are Canceled

• Dual Credit Student Day | March 30, April 6, April 27, May 4
• New Student Registration | Opens April 13, Individual Dates as follows: April 15, 16, 17, 20, and 23
• Will be Done Virtually
• Motor Show | May 2
• Spring Picnic | May 6
• Southwest Tech HS Trapshoot Invite | May 9
• Golden Knights Jump Into Southwest Tech | July 2

Southwest Tech continues to actively monitor this global health crisis in collaboration with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Covid-19 is spreading through our counties, our towns, our workplaces, and our families. Health officials have encouraged people to avoid public gatherings, to stay home more often, and to keep their distance from others so the virus has fewer opportunities to spread. We limit our social interactions in an act of solidarity to protect the health and wellbeing of others.

How to protect yourself and others, from CDC.gov (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/prevention.html)

Clean your hands often

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with
  unwashed hands[DC1].

Avoid close contact and practice social distancing

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Put at least six feet of distance between yourself and other people. This is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.

Stay home if you’re sick

• Stay home if you are sick, except to get medical care. Learn what to do if you are sick.

Cover coughs and sneezes

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow.
• Throw used tissues in the trash.
• Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Wear a facemask if you are sick

• If you are sick: You should wear a facemask when you are around other people (e.g., sharing a room or vehicle) and before you enter a healthcare provider’s office. If you are not able to wear a facemask (for example, because it causes trouble breathing), then you should do your best to cover your coughs and sneezes, and people who are caring for you should wear a facemask if they enter your room. Learn what to do if you are sick.
• If you are NOT sick: You do not need to wear a facemask unless you are caring for someone who is sick (and they are not able to wear a facemask). Facemasks may be in short supply and they should be saved for caregivers.

Clean and disinfect

• Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.
• If surfaces are dirty, clean them: Use detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.