Coronavirus (COVID‑19) Information and Resources

COVID-19-logo cdc

West Georgia Technical College has returned to normal operating hours at our campuses and other locations. View our WGTC Return to Campus Plan for more information. Please scroll down for the latest updates.

West Georgia Technical College has no higher priority than the health and safety of members of our community.

We recognize that this is a rapidly evolving situation and that the recommendations of the U.S. Department of State and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention can change frequently.

We encourage all members of the College’s community to monitor the CDC website as it provides the most current reference information.

Prevention is a key strategy with any virus, such as influenza or this coronavirus, so it is important to both protect yourself and take measures against spread to others. Updates are posted below as they become available.

Resources

 

Let’s All Stay Healthy!

West Georgia Tech remains vigilant in monitoring the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

  • Stay home if you feel sick or exhibit symptoms of illness.
  • Wash your hands frequently.
  • Physically distance yourself from others where possible.
  • Unvaccinated students are strongly encouraged to wear masks.
  • COVID vaccines are available. Visit dph.georgia.gov to find a location near you.
  • Know your own risks and refer to the CDC guidelines.
  • Regular sanitizing and cleaning on campus will continue.
  • If you test positive or are directly exposed to someone who has tested positive, please complete the COVID-19 Notification Reporting Form. This will connect you to the best recommendations for your situation, and also help us track cases and exposures on campus. Do not fill this form out on behalf of someone else. It should only be completed by the person who was exposed or who tested positive.

March 31 2023 – CARES Funds Disbursement Report Update

West Georgia Tech CARES Funds Disbursement Report Update – March 31 2023

 

December 31 2022 – CARES Funds Disbursement Report Update

West Georgia Tech CARES Funds Disbursement Report Update – December 31 2022

 

September 30 2022 – CARES Funds Disbursement Report Update

West Georgia Tech CARES Funds Disbursement Report Update – September 30 2022

 

June 30 2022 – CARES Funds Disbursement Report Update

West Georgia Tech CARES Funds Disbursement Report Update – June 30 2022

 

March 31 2022 – CARES Funds Disbursement Report Update

West Georgia Tech CARES Funds Disbursement Report Update – March 31 2022

 

January 6 2022 Update

Students,

With the recent surge in COVID-19 cases, multiple variants, and the change in guidelines from the CDC, the state has issued an amended order regarding isolation and quarantine for COVID-19 positive tests, symptomatic vs asymptomatic cases, and exposures. We want you to know that our college receives guidance and updates as they become available, directly from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH).  We are also very fortunate to have direct and sometimes one-on-one phone calls with DPH to discuss protocols.  These are the protocols that West Georgia Technical College has been, is, and will continue to follow.

For the duration of the virus, we have followed these agency directives and have had good success throughout our college.  One main point to keep in mind is that we must react to the symptoms of the individual case as it is not a one size fits all response.  This is another reason why it is incredibly important for everyone to utilize the COVID-19 Notification Reporting Form.  Use this form immediately if you have tested positive, had direct exposure to a known positive case closer than six feet for more than 15 minutes, or if you are feeling symptoms that might be COVID-19 related.  Please be thorough in completing the form so that all pertinent information can be considered. Understand that by filling out the COVID-19 Notification Reporting Form, our response to you will be a response using the most recent guidelines and recommendations from the CDC and the DPH.  The form also helps us to determine if we have a hot spot in the college and may need to consider additional action.

Due to many illnesses currently in the area, if you are sick, we encourage you to get a test to determine if you have COVID-19 or something else.  Regardless, if you have any fever, do not come to campus until the fever has passed and you can go 24 hours without fever or the medication used to control it.  As always, the guidance from the CDC and the DPH changes over time; we will continue to change with it.

Reminder: If you are exposed, experience symptoms, or test positive, please complete the COVID-19 Notification Reporting Form. You will receive an email advising you of the actions you should take, if any. Situations will be carefully and individually considered based upon self-reported details of your personal situation.

Thank you for your help in keeping WGTC operating efficiently and effectively so we can continue to educate and serve you in the best way possible. We look forward to a great Spring Semester!

 

December 31 2021 – CARES Funds Disbursement Report Update

West Georgia Tech CARES Funds Disbursement Report Update – December 31 2021

 

September 30 2021 – CARES Funds Disbursement Report Update

West Georgia Tech CARES Funds Disbursement Report Update – September 30 2021

 

June 30 2021 – CARES Funds Disbursement Report Update

West Georgia Tech CARES Funds Disbursement Report Update – June 30

 

March 31 2021 – CARES Funds Disbursement Report Update

West Georgia Tech CARES Funds Disbursement Report Update – March 31

 

March 24 2021 – COVID-19 Update

COVID-19 Status March 24, 2021. 5,749 students currently enrolled at West Georgia Tech. 2 students with a current positive COVID-19 test. 619 current number of employees at West Georgia Tech. 0 Employees with a current positive COVID-19 test. This is a snapshot of current cases from students and employees who have been on campus. For this reporting, the College intends to keep the public informed by sharing relevant data while maintaining the privacy of sensitive health information for individual students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors. Positive cases are self-reported by employees and students within the College community.

After March 24, 2021 WGTC is suspending weekly updates due to extremely low numbers of COVID cases on campus. We will continue to monitor cases for official reporting, and we will resume public updates if cases rise and become an area of concern.

 

March 19 2021 – CARES Funds Disbursement Report Update

WGTC CARES Act Student Disbursement Plan–2ndGrant Allocation – March 19

 

March 17 2021 – COVID-19 Update

COVID-19 Status March 17, 2021. 5,749 students currently enrolled at West Georgia Tech. 4 students with a current positive COVID-19 test. 619 current number of employees at West Georgia Tech. 0 Employees with a current positive COVID-19 test. This is a snapshot of current cases from students and employees who have been on campus. For this reporting, the College intends to keep the public informed by sharing relevant data while maintaining the privacy of sensitive health information for individual students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors. Positive cases are self-reported by employees and students within the College community.

 

March 10 2021 – COVID-19 Update

COVID-19 Status March 10, 2021. 5,765 students currently enrolled at West Georgia Tech. 1 students with a current positive COVID-19 test. 619 current number of employees at West Georgia Tech. 0 Employees with a current positive COVID-19 test. This is a snapshot of current cases from students and employees who have been on campus. For this reporting, the College intends to keep the public informed by sharing relevant data while maintaining the privacy of sensitive health information for individual students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors. Positive cases are self-reported by employees and students within the College community.

 

 

March 3 2021 – COVID-19 Update

COVID-19 Status March 3, 2021. 5,765 students currently enrolled at West Georgia Tech. 4 students with a current positive COVID-19 test. 619 current number of employees at West Georgia Tech. 0 Employees with a current positive COVID-19 test. This is a snapshot of current cases from students and employees who have been on campus. For this reporting, the College intends to keep the public informed by sharing relevant data while maintaining the privacy of sensitive health information for individual students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors. Positive cases are self-reported by employees and students within the College community.

 

February 24 2021 – COVID-19 Update

COVID-19 Status February 24, 2021. 5,765 students currently enrolled at West Georgia Tech. 2 students with a current positive COVID-19 test. 619 current number of employees at West Georgia Tech. 1 Employees with a current positive COVID-19 test. This is a snapshot of current cases from students and employees who have been on campus. For this reporting, the College intends to keep the public informed by sharing relevant data while maintaining the privacy of sensitive health information for individual students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors. Positive cases are self-reported by employees and students within the College community.

 

February 17 2021 – COVID-19 Update

COVID-19 Status February 17, 2021. 5,765 students currently enrolled at West Georgia Tech. 5 students with a current positive COVID-19 test. 619 current number of employees at West Georgia Tech. 1 Employees with a current positive COVID-19 test. This is a snapshot of current cases from students and employees who have been on campus. For this reporting, the College intends to keep the public informed by sharing relevant data while maintaining the privacy of sensitive health information for individual students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors. Positive cases are self-reported by employees and students within the College community.

 

February 10 2021 – COVID-19 Update

COVID-19 Status February 10, 2021. 5,770 students currently enrolled at West Georgia Tech. 8 students with a current positive COVID-19 test. 615 current number of employees at West Georgia Tech. 2 Employees with a current positive COVID-19 test. This is a snapshot of current cases from students and employees who have been on campus. For this reporting, the College intends to keep the public informed by sharing relevant data while maintaining the privacy of sensitive health information for individual students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors. Positive cases are self-reported by employees and students within the College community.

 

February 9 2021 – COVID-19 Update

Students, thank you for a great start to spring semester at West Georgia Technical College! As we continue to move through the COVID-19 pandemic, we appreciate your willingness to adjust and keep our college community safe and healthy. As you know, early in January we made the decision to move some in-person, on-campus classes to a virtual format for January and then we extended that change for February. We are pleased to say that at this point, we do plan to bring these classes back to campus beginning March 1. We know conditions could worsen again, so stay tuned, but a March 1 date is likely at this point. Of course, this does not affect those of you who originally registered for and are taking 100% online classes. This only affects those who registered for classes that were temporarily moved to a virtual formal. Impacted students will receive more information through email and Blackboard prior to March 1.

For those of you already taking classes and labs on campus, I assure you that we are continuing to improve the health and safety of our facilities. For those of you who will be returning to campus for the first time, we believe you will be pleased with what you find. Over the last 11 months, WGTC has implemented a number of changes to keep all of us safe on campus. 

  • Masks, gloves and sanitizer are available at all locations.
  • Hands-free faucets and toilets have been installed at all locations.
  • Clear acrylic barriers are in place at reception areas and other places people interact.
  • Fogging machines are in use in areas of possible contamination. These are the same units you may have seen the national guard using at long-term care facilities.
  • Filters in our HVAC units have been upgraded to increase capture of airborne virus. Campus air systems are also pulling in outside air to constantly ventilate the facilities.
  • Restroom cleaning machines have been purchased and are in-use at each campus to thoroughly clean and sanitize our restrooms.
  • Additional janitorial coverage on campus provides more frequent sanitizing of surfaces including door handles, railings and restrooms.

This week we are beginning to install Bi-Polar Ionization technology in each HVAC unit at all locations. BPI technology is used primarily in hospitals and healthcare settings to constantly treat the air inside buildings. BPI results in increased capture and destruction of not only the COVID-19 virus, but other airborne pathogens and even odors and smells. All locations should be covered by this system by mid-March.

As you can see, we are actively at work to pursue any and all methods to fight COVID-19. As we continue wearing masks, physically distancing and implementing these changes, we hope that you will feel safe on campus, and we are confident that we are doing all we can to make you as safe as possible.

Please remember that if you test positive for COVID-19 or are directly exposed, you should email your instructor and COVID@westgatech.edu so that our COVID Response Team can advise you on when you can safely return to campus.

Thank you again for working together to beat this pandemic. We are all looking forward to the day when many of these measures can go away and we can return to more normal routines.

Sincerely,

Pat Hannon
Interim President

February 3 2021 – COVID-19 Update

COVID-19 Status February 3, 2021. 5,772 students currently enrolled at West Georgia Tech. 10 students with a current positive COVID-19 test. 615 current number of employees at West Georgia Tech. 2 Employees with a current positive COVID-19 test. This is a snapshot of current cases from students and employees who have been on campus. For this reporting, the College intends to keep the public informed by sharing relevant data while maintaining the privacy of sensitive health information for individual students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors. Positive cases are self-reported by employees and students within the College community.

 

January 27 2021 – COVID-19 Update

COVID-19 Status January 27, 2021. 5,771 students currently enrolled at West Georgia Tech. 4 students with a current positive COVID-19 test. 615 current number of employees at West Georgia Tech. 5 Employees with a current positive COVID-19 test. This is a snapshot of current cases from students and employees who have been on campus. For this reporting, the College intends to keep the public informed by sharing relevant data while maintaining the privacy of sensitive health information for individual students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors. Positive cases are self-reported by employees and students within the College community.

 

 

January 20 2021 – COVID-19 Update

COVID-19 Status January 20, 2021. 5,982 students currently enrolled at West Georgia Tech. 14 students with a current positive COVID-19 test. 615 current number of employees at West Georgia Tech. 3 Employees with a current positive COVID-19 test. This is a snapshot of current cases from students and employees who have been on campus. For this reporting, the College intends to keep the public informed by sharing relevant data while maintaining the privacy of sensitive health information for individual students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors. Positive cases are self-reported by employees and students within the College community.

 

January 13 2021 – COVID-19 Update

COVID-19 Status January 13, 2021. 6,185 students currently enrolled at West Georgia Tech. 9 students with a current positive COVID-19 test. 615 current number of employees at West Georgia Tech. 4 Employees with a current positive COVID-19 test. This is a snapshot of current cases from students and employees who have been on campus. For this reporting, the College intends to keep the public informed by sharing relevant data while maintaining the privacy of sensitive health information for individual students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors. Positive cases are self-reported by employees and students within the College community.

 

January 10 2021 – CARES Funds Disbursement Report Update

CARES Fund Institutional Disbursement Report – January 10

 

January 6 2021 – COVID-19 Update

Due to the increase in COVID-19 cases in our area, WGTC is moving some on-campus courses online during the month of January. All affected students have been emailed individually to their student email. Also, when each of these courses is accessed in Blackboard, students will find a notification and a syllabus with online activities. These courses will meet in an online format during the month of January. They will begin meeting on campus February 1 unless conditions change between now and then.
To recap:
  • All classes at WGTC will begin on schedule next week.
  • Some classes which were scheduled to meet on campus will be beginning the semester in an online format. 
  • Please check your student email to see if you are affected by this change. 
  • Full details will be available in Blackboard once the online courses are available. 

If you have specific questions about courses you are registered for, please email advising@westgatech.edu.

 

 

December 31 2020 – CARES Funds Disbursement Report Update

West Georgia Tech CARES Funds Disbursement Report Update – December 31

 

 

December 9 2020 – COVID-19 Update

COVID-19 Status December 2, 2020. 6,436 students currently enrolled at West Georgia Tech. 3 students with a current positive COVID-19 test. 615 current number of employees at West Georgia Tech. 2 Employees with a current positive COVID-19 test. This is a snapshot of current cases from students and employees who have been on campus. For this reporting, the College intends to keep the public informed by sharing relevant data while maintaining the privacy of sensitive health information for individual students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors. Positive cases are self-reported by employees and students within the College community.

 

December 2 2020 – COVID-19 Update

COVID-19 Status December 2, 2020. 6,443 students currently enrolled at West Georgia Tech. 8 students with a current positive COVID-19 test. 615 current number of employees at West Georgia Tech. 3 Employees with a current positive COVID-19 test. This is a snapshot of current cases from students and employees who have been on campus. For this reporting, the College intends to keep the public informed by sharing relevant data while maintaining the privacy of sensitive health information for individual students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors. Positive cases are self-reported by employees and students within the College community.

 

November 25 2020 – COVID-19 Update

COVID-19 Status November 25, 2020. 6,444 students currently enrolled at West Georgia Tech. 5 students with a current positive COVID-19 test. 615 current number of employees at West Georgia Tech. 2 Employees with a current positive COVID-19 test. This is a snapshot of current cases from students and employees who have been on campus. For this reporting, the College intends to keep the public informed by sharing relevant data while maintaining the privacy of sensitive health information for individual students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors. Positive cases are self-reported by employees and students within the College community.

November 18 2020 – COVID-19 Update

COVID-19 Status November 18, 2020. 6,445 students currently enrolled at West Georgia Tech. 8 students with a current positive COVID-19 test. 626 current number of employees at West Georgia Tech. 3 Employees with a current positive COVID-19 test. This is a snapshot of current cases from students and employees who have been on campus. For this reporting, the College intends to keep the public informed by sharing relevant data while maintaining the privacy of sensitive health information for individual students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors. Positive cases are self-reported by employees and students within the College community.

November 11 2020 – COVID-19 Update

COVID-19 Status November 11, 2020. 6,452 students currently enrolled at West Georgia Tech. 9 students with a current positive COVID-19 test. 626 current number of employees at West Georgia Tech. 2 Employees with a current positive COVID-19 test. This is a snapshot of current cases from students and employees who have been on campus. For this reporting, the College intends to keep the public informed by sharing relevant data while maintaining the privacy of sensitive health information for individual students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors. Positive cases are self-reported by employees and students within the College community.

November 4 2020 – COVID-19 Update

COVID-19 Status November 4, 2020. 6,453 students currently enrolled at West Georgia Tech. 4 students with a current positive COVID-19 test. 626 current number of employees at West Georgia Tech. 3 Employees with a current positive COVID-19 test. This is a snapshot of current cases from students and employees who have been on campus. For this reporting, the College intends to keep the public informed by sharing relevant data while maintaining the privacy of sensitive health information for individual students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors. Positive cases are self-reported by employees and students within the College community.

 

November 4 2020 – Update from the WGTC COVID Response Team

To: West Georgia Technical College Community: Students, Faculty and Staff

From: WGTC COVID Response Team

Date: November 4, 2020

Subject: Updates for winter and flu season

As we enter the season for flu and other illnesses over the next few months, we will continue to deal with COVID and the expected increase in the number of confirmed cases.

Our COVID team is increasing its coordination with the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) in reporting and monitoring cases. We thank you for your help as we work to keep everyone safe and healthy, and we ask for your continued support. We are all weary of masks, distancing and sanitizing, but we cannot afford to let-up at this point.

Please wear your mask as much as possible – keeping in mind that they are required in all classrooms and common areas.  Maintain social distance of at least the six-foot recommendation when possible and wash your hands and wrists thoroughly with soap and water multiple times per day. Do not share food, drinks or other items including your phone. In labs, please disinfect tools or instruments before passing them on to others. Use hand sanitizer when soap and water is not available. Sanitizers are not to be considered a replacement of soap and water.

To assist in minimizing the spread of COVID, do not come to campus if you are sick. Report a case of COVID to COVID@westgatech.edu immediately and provide your first and last name, the campus you associate with, your date of birth, address, county of residence, phone number and date of exposure. If you are a student, please provide your student ID. This information is necessary for reporting to DPH.

The COVID team cannot and will not give you medical advice. The team can only offer guidance for quarantine dates using the guidelines from the CDC and DPH. Please do not contact the team for sicknesses other than COVID.  If you are sick, you may need to seek the treatment and advice of a medical professional. Many illnesses look similar and only a diagnosis by medical professionals can diagnose a case of COVID, flu or another illness.

The team reviews each case based on its own unique circumstances, so the person directly affected should be the one reporting. This allows us to determine the proper steps for quarantine and the notification of others.

We ask for your cooperation in following all these guidelines and thank you for working together to keep us all healthy.

 

October 28 2020 – COVID-19 Update

COVID-19 Status October 28, 2020. 6,453 students currently enrolled at West Georgia Tech. 8 students with a current positive COVID-19 test. 626 current number of employees at West Georgia Tech. 5 Employees with a current positive COVID-19 test. This is a snapshot of current cases from students and employees who have been on campus. For this reporting, the College intends to keep the public informed by sharing relevant data while maintaining the privacy of sensitive health information for individual students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors. Positive cases are self-reported by employees and students within the College community.

 

October 21 2020 – COVID-19 Update

COVID-19 Status October 21, 2020. 6,456 students currently enrolled at West Georgia Tech. 6 students with a current positive COVID-19 test. 626 current number of employees at West Georgia Tech. 4 Employees with a current positive COVID-19 test. This is a snapshot of current cases from students and employees who have been on campus. For this reporting, the College intends to keep the public informed by sharing relevant data while maintaining the privacy of sensitive health information for individual students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors. Positive cases are self-reported by employees and students within the College community.

October 14 2020 – COVID-19 Update

COVID-19 Status October 14, 2020. 6,457 students currently enrolled at West Georgia Tech. 5 students with a current positive COVID-19 test. 641 current number of employees at West Georgia Tech. 1 Employees with a current positive COVID-19 test. This is a snapshot of current cases from students and employees who have been on campus. For this reporting, the College intends to keep the public informed by sharing relevant data while maintaining the privacy of sensitive health information for individual students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors. Positive cases are self-reported by employees and students within the College community.

 

 

October 7 2020 – COVID-19 Update

COVID-19 Status October 7, 2020. 6,462 students currently enrolled at West Georgia Tech. 2 students with a current positive COVID-19 test. 641 current number of employees at West Georgia Tech. 0 Employees with a current positive COVID-19 test. This is a snapshot of current cases from students and employees who have been on campus. For this reporting, the College intends to keep the public informed by sharing relevant data while maintaining the privacy of sensitive health information for individual students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors. Positive cases are self-reported by employees and students within the College community.

 

September 30 2020 – COVID-19 Update

COVID-19 Status September 30, 2020. 6,475 students currently enrolled at West Georgia Tech. 5 students with a current positive COVID-19 test. 641 current number of employees at West Georgia Tech. 1 Employees with a current positive COVID-19 test. This is a snapshot of current cases from students and employees who have been on campus. For this reporting, the College intends to keep the public informed by sharing relevant data while maintaining the privacy of sensitive health information for individual students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors. Positive cases are self-reported by employees and students within the College community.

 

September 30 2020 – CARES Funds Disbursement Report Update

West Georgia Tech CARES Funds Disbursement Report Update – September 30

CARES Fund Institutional Disbursement Report

 

September 28 2020 – Coronavirus Testing Basics

You’ve probably heard a lot about coronavirus testing recently. If you think you have coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and need a test, contact your health care provider, local pharmacy, or local health department immediately. The FDA has been working around the clock to increase the availability of critical medical products, including tests for the coronavirus, to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more about the different types of tests and the steps involved.

 

 

September 23 2020 – COVID-19 Update

COVID-19 Status September 23, 2020. 6,468 students currently enrolled at West Georgia Tech. 8 students with a current positive COVID-19 test. 641 current number of employees at West Georgia Tech. 1 Employees with a current positive COVID-19 test. This is a snapshot of current cases from students and employees who have been on campus. For this reporting, the College intends to keep the public informed by sharing relevant data while maintaining the privacy of sensitive health information for individual students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors. Positive cases are self-reported by employees and students within the College community.

 

 

September 16 2020 – COVID-19 Update

COVID-19 Status September 16, 2020. 6,462 students currently enrolled at West Georgia Tech. 6 students with a current positive COVID-19 test. 641 current number of employees at West Georgia Tech. 0 Employees with a current positive COVID-19 test. This is a snapshot of current cases from students and employees who have been on campus. For this reporting, the College intends to keep the public informed by sharing relevant data while maintaining the privacy of sensitive health information for individual students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors. Positive cases are self-reported by employees and students within the College community.

September 9 2020 – COVID-19 Update

COVID-19 Status September 2, 2020. 6,447 students currently enrolled at West Georgia Tech. 2 students with a current positive COVID-19 test. 641 current number of employees at West Georgia Tech. 0 Employees with a current positive COVID-19 test. This is a snapshot of current cases from students and employees who have been on campus. For this reporting, the College intends to keep the public informed by sharing relevant data while maintaining the privacy of sensitive health information for individual students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors. Positive cases are self-reported by employees and students within the College community.

 

September 8 2020 – CARES Funds Disbursement Report Update

West Georgia Tech CARES Funds Disbursement Report Update – September 8

 

September 2 2020 – COVID-19 Update

COVID-19 Status September 2, 2020. 6,428 students currently enrolled at West Georgia Tech. 5 students with a current positive COVID-19 test. 641 current number of employees at West Georgia Tech. 1 Employees with a current positive COVID-19 test. This is a snapshot of current cases from students and employees who have been on campus. For this reporting, the College intends to keep the public informed by sharing relevant data while maintaining the privacy of sensitive health information for individual students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors. Positive cases are self-reported by employees and students within the College community.

 

August 6 2020 – Welcome from Student Affairs

Students:

Welcome to Fall Semester 2020! The first day of classes is Monday, August 10 and we anticipate a fun, safe and productive semester. First, allow me to explain the fun. We intend on welcoming you in royal fashion with a Mask-uerade Party. Yes, you’ll receive your official West Georgia Technical College mask at the campuses and some more goodies (I can’t spoil all of the surprises!) to help you be prepared for this most interesting semester during Weeks of Welcome. And for those who will participate online, there are opportunities to win other prizes including a T-shirt that will be mailed to you. There will also be bi-monthly newsletters packed with additional opportunities to engage so the fun is for everyone!

As we begin in the midst of the pandemic, protective measures have been implemented for the health and safety of all as we begin classes in an online, hybrid and face-to-face format. To help protect us all:

  • Stay home if you are feeling sick, have a fever over 100.4 degrees, and/or you experience any symptoms of illness, to include coughing, shortness of breath or loss of taste or smell.
  • Keep your distance while on campus, allowing at least six feet of space between you and others at all times. The student centers will be open, however please make sure to maintain proper distancing, or they may have to be closed. Signage has been added to help remind all to physically distance. The fitness centers will remain closed for now.
  • Wear a face mask any time you are sharing space with others including classrooms/labs/offices where physical distancing is not possible. Please bring your own mask or face covering. Plexiglass or protective shields have also been added to Enrollment Centers, Libraries and other open, centralized information areas.
  • Wash your hands regularly and thoroughly for at least 20 seconds.
  • Avoid touching your face and cover your coughs/sneezes.
  • Additional personal protective equipment is available in labs where necessary.
  • Notify your instructor if you have been on campus and test positive for COVID-19.
  • Do not come to campus if you have been directly exposed to COVID-19 or while awaiting test results. Follow the guidance given by your local Department of Public Health after exposure.
  • An absence due to COVID direct exposure or COVID illness will be excused. Faculty will work with you to transition to online learning as needed and if appropriate. The WGTC COVID Response Team can assist students to determine exposure risk.
  • For questions or reporting purposes, the West Georgia Technical College’s COVID Response Team can be reached at COVID@westgatech.edu. All information will be kept confidential by faculty and Response Team members.

In addition to asking our faculty, staff and students to clean their areas after each use, the college has also added many new measures to clean and disinfect the facilities.

  • Additional sanitizer stands have been added to each campus and are ready for use.
  • Cleaning supplies are available in classrooms, at kiosks and other pertinent areas.
  • Extra cleaning and sanitation is occurring in all areas by trained professionals.
  • New equipment has been added to help disinfect the restrooms and new techniques have been employed for deep cleaning.
  • Recommended air filters have been updated at all facilities and building air flow has been increased as prescribed by CDC guidelines.
  • Plus much, much more!

All of these measures are in place to help you learn, have fun, be healthy and safe and ultimately, be successful. Our goal is still the same and that is to help YOU achieve your goals and be successful in your career. So get ready, get set, and we’ll see you soon. We look forward to serving you!

Affectionately,
Tonya F. Whitlock, PhD
Vice President for Student Affairs

 

July 30 2020 – Welcome to Fall Semester!

Students,

The health and safety of West Georgia Technical College students, faculty and staff is always our first priority. As West Georgia Tech returns to in-person learning for the Fall 2020 semester, we want to provide you with information regarding how we are meeting the needs of our students in the safest way possible.

This Fall Semester, we are committed to ensuring a safe learning environment for everyone. There will be new ways to learn, new health procedures in place, and recommendations students can consider to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The Fall 2020 semester will have more options than ever before for students as they decide which learning environments best suit their needs. We are offering a blended course schedule that includes a wide variety of course delivery methods. Students have the opportunity to choose from online classes, face-to-face classes, or virtual classroom options where instructors will be teaching live on campus giving students the choice to attend in person or online.

Each college class will offer some or all of these learning options, and students may choose their preference when registering for classes. Courses requiring laboratory skills will be offered in person. The laboratory environments will require students and faculty to observe social distancing protocols as well as wearing mask coverings when social distancing isn’t possible.

All of our campuses now have new plexiglass shields installed in areas where students, faculty, and staff frequently interact face to face, as well as social distancing guidelines marked throughout each campus. Additional prevention methods are being incorporated at all campuses and include increasing the number of times that classrooms and labs are cleaned and disinfected, and providing students access to hand sanitizer in each classroom and in common areas.

Students are expected to wear mask coverings in classrooms and labs and in common areas throughout each campus, and reminders to wear masks, wash hands properly, and social distance six feet apart are marked throughout each campus as well.

From the onset of the pandemic in Georgia, West Georgia Technical College has followed COVID-19 guidance from the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and will continue to do so. We know these last few months have been challenging, but we thank you for your commitment to helping prevent the spread of COVID-19.

We cannot wait to see you this Fall!

Sincerely,
Scott Rule, PhD
President

 

July 24 2020 – COVID-19 Notification Steps

Students, faculty and staff who have tested positive for COVID-19 or believe they have been exposed, should view our COVID Notification Steps to find out how to notify WGTC and what is needed.

 

July 20 2020 – CARES Funds Disbursement Report Update

West Georgia Tech CARES Funds Disbursement Report Update – July 20

 

July 14 2020 – WGTC Return to Campus Plan

West Georgia Technical College plans to reopen for Fall Semester. Our Return to Campus Plan outlines a timeline and safety protocols the College will use to reopen. Additionally, the College has created an email address, COVID@westgatech.edu, for use by students, faculty and staff who have tested positive or believe they have been exposed to COVID-19. This address will connect you with experts who can assess your situation and risk level and advise you on a plan of action. Please continue to monitor www.westgatech.edu for additional updates.

 

June 9 2020 – CARES Funds Disbursement Report Update

West Georgia Tech CARES Funds Disbursement Report Update – June 9

 

May 21 2020 – CARES Funds Disbursement Report

West Georgia Tech CARES Funds Disbursement Reporting

 

May 19 2020 – CARES Funds Heading to Eligible Students

WGTC has applied for and has now been awarded federal funds under the CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act. Following the criteria provided by the Department of Education, the college has identified students who attended spring semester who are eligible for relief funds. Refunds to eligible students will be automatic – with no action required by the student. Disbursement through BankMobile Disbursements is underway and should be complete by the end of this week.

Eligibility (this may change as we continue to receive guidance from the Department of Education):

  • Still enrolled in at least 1 credit class after March 13
  • Enrolled in an eligible program that leads to a certificate, diploma or degree
  • Title IV eligible students only (must have completed a FAFSA for 19/20 aid year and all outstanding verification C codes on FAFSA cleared)
  • Most current (spring) SAP code is good standing, warning, or approved academic plan standing
  • Exclusions:
    • Dual Enrollment student
    • Foreign Students (includes DACA)
    • Transient Students
    • Defaulted on student loans, over-payments, or other loan restrictions
    • Enrolled exclusively in online courses

 

May 13 2020 – Registered Nursing Program Announcement

As a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, CNA testing will not be available until July 2020. In response to this, WGTC has decided to allow students to apply for competitive selection for the Associate Degree Nursing program for July 1, 2020 with acceptance contingent upon completion of CNA certification by August 6, 2020. All other requirements must be met by July 1. The cohort selected for admission into the ADN program for Fall 2020 will be located on the Coweta Campus.

If you have additional questions regarding the requirements for competitive selection into the ADN program for Fall Semester 2020, feel free to contact the Advising Center at advising@westgatech.edu.

 

May 4 – 2020 PSB Exam Now Available in Online Format

Students required to take the PSB Exam as part of the competitive selection process for WGTC’s Radiologic Technology, Dental Hygiene, Medical Assisting and Surgical Technology programs may now register to take this exam in an online format.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the PSB exam is being administered by PearsonVUE using an online proctoring platform.  Dates will be scheduled by PearsonVUE after you register with WGTC at the link. If a student was already registered to test, he or she will be contacted individually. There is no need to re-register.

 

April 24 – 2020 CARES Act

Federal funding under the CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act) has been identified to go to colleges in response to the COVID-19 pandemic national emergency. The first installment of this funding is designated to go to students. West Georgia Technical College is in the process of applying for these funds. In the meantime, the College is working on an appropriate plan for release of funds to students. At this time, we are still awaiting further guidance and clarification from the Department of Education on the exact regulations for disbursement, as well as what student populations are eligible to receive the money. We know the significance of this funding for some of our students in need and can assure you we are working diligently to release funds as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience. Further updates will be posted here on our COVID-19 Information and Resources page.

 

April 22 2020 – TEAS Exam now Available in Online Format

Students required to take the TEAS Exam as part of the competitive selection process for WGTC’s Registered Nursing and Practical Nursing programs may now register to take this exam in an online format.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the TEAS exam is being administered using an online proctoring platform.

 

 

April 10 2020 – Summer Semester Course Schedule available

Registration for Summer Semester will open Monday, April 13 at 8 a.m. and West Georgia Technical College has now posted the Summer Semester course schedule for viewing. With the uncertainty of a date that students and faculty can return to the campuses due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the summer schedule is almost entirely comprised of online classes. However, the College is offering as many courses as possible in an online format in an effort to keep you moving forward in your program of study. As we are allowed to return to campus at some point, we will prioritize those students who need to complete hands-on components from Spring Semester.

As you view the course schedule, you may have questions about classes that are being offered and classes that are not being offered. Virtual Advising appointments are now available for WGTC students to meet with professional academic advisors at West Georgia Tech. Advisors can answer questions about course requirements, competitive selection and academic support. To schedule a virtual advising appointment, go to the Student Advising page of the WGTC website. Students must use their secure WGTC email to sign up and sign into the system. Appointment times are available Mondays and Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Thank you for your patience. We know this uncertainty can be frustrating, but we are moving forward through this together. We all look forward to the time we can be back on campus and in labs, celebrating our successes together.

West Georgia Technical College has tentatively rescheduled Spring Semester graduation to August 20, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

 

April 7 2020 – Spring Semester Graduation Rescheduled

West Georgia Technical College has tentatively rescheduled Spring Semester graduation to August 20, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The ceremony was originally scheduled for May 7, 2020. All students who indicated they would participate in May will be invited to participate in August. Further details about the August 20 event will be shared at a later date.

 

March 26 2020 – Spring Semester Schedule Updates

WGTC Students,

Thank you for the many ways you have worked with us to adapt to totally online instruction. We know it has not been easy in some cases. Thank you for contacting us by email, as almost all faculty and staff are teleworking away from campuses. Thank you for being patient with us as we respond and try to get you the correct information in a timely way. Our faculty and staff are also adapting to a new way of doing business.

At this point, with the COVID-19 pandemic continuing, we would like to announce additional schedule updates for the rest of the Spring Semester. Most importantly, in order to be compliant with SACSCOC, our accrediting body, we need to make up the week of instruction we lost March 16-20. We believe the best way to do this is to continue our online instruction from now until the regular end of the semester on April 28 utilizing the week of April 6-10 for instruction instead of the previously scheduled spring break. I realize this is a big step. Many of you (as well as many faculty and staff) had planned on this break. However, we are all operating in a world that has been disrupted to a large degree. Most previously scheduled travel has been cancelled by government action or by resorts and destinations themselves. We believe it is in all of our best interest to use this week for instruction and to end the semester on time.

We are all operating under circumstances we have never faced before, but I am so encouraged by the spirit of cooperation and understanding that we are showing as the West Georgia Technical College community. None of us can change the situation we are in, but we do make it easier on each other by working together with patience and kindness.

Please take care of yourselves and your families. The best way you can help now is to stay home and not expose yourself or others to COVID-19. I encourage you to continue to monitor www.westgatech.edu and our social media channels for the latest information. We will share more updates as we can.

Sincerely,
Scott Rule, PhD
President

 

March 26 2020 Update – Governor’s Executive Order

In accordance with Governor Brian Kemp’s Executive Order 03.26.20.02, all TCSG colleges will remain closed for in-person instruction with limited exceptions through the rest of the Spring 2020 semester. West Georgia Technical College will continue to hold classes via digital platforms only for the remainder of the Spring 2020 semester. Students should look for specific guidance from instructors regarding limited exceptions where in-person instruction will be allowed and should continue to monitor their West Georgia Tech email and Blackboard account for communication from their instructors. Certain faculty and staff may be required to report on campus and should contact their supervisor for guidance.

 

March 19 2020 Update – Positive COVID-19 test

The health and safety of West Georgia Technical College’s students, faculty, and staff is always our first priority. Today, West Georgia Technical College was notified that a member of the college community has self-reported a positive COVID-19 test. This person was last on our Douglas Campus March 5, 2020, with no evidence of visiting any other campus.

The overall risk of COVID-19 to students, faculty, and staff at WGTC remains low. Health officials are taking precautionary measures to quickly identify cases of COVID-19, take appropriate public health action to reduce its spread, and protect the general public in identifying potential contacts.

For members of the WGTC community, the best prevention measures for any respiratory virus, including COVID-19, are:

  • Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

We advise the WGTC community to watch for signs and symptoms such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath, and to contact their primary care physician if they experience any symptoms. Be sure to call before going to a doctor’s office, emergency room, or urgent care center.

For accurate and reliable information about COVID-19, visit dph.georgia.gov/novelcoronavirus or cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov.

 

March 19 2020 Update – Online Instruction

WGTC Students,

Online instruction for ALL courses is scheduled to begin Monday, March 23.  On Monday, please log into the Blackboard online platform. You will receive additional information in Blackboard regarding the continuance of each course.

To log into Blackboard:

Blackboard Login

Username: Everything before the @student.westgatech.edu in your email address

Password:  Your eight-digit birthdate

  • For example, a birthdate of January 01, 2001 has a password of 01012001

Please continue to check your student email account and the WGTC website for updates. If you have immediate questions, reach out to instructor through Blackboard messaging for assistance.

Additional resources have been added to our COVID-19 webpage today including an email directory and Frequently Asked Questions.

 

March 18 2020 Update – Community Resources

WGTC Students,

As we all grapple with the far-reaching impact of the corona virus pandemic, many are in need of assistance. The WGTC Foundation is still here to assist where it can for those of you seeking to enhance your careers through education, but many support services are beyond the scope of our mission or means of assistance. Please see below for additional entities in and around our area who are providing assistance, but keep in mind that they are seeing an increase in requests and may be struggling to provide the services to the level they would like.

All Students:

WGTC provides a comprehensive list of community resources in our service delivery area. This list is updated regularly and can be found on our website at: https://www.westgatech.edu/student-support-resources/. These services can provide help including medical, domestic violence, mental health and substance abuse, housing, health insurance, education, employment and training, senior service, children/youth and more. Please contact them directly for more information.

Location-Specific: 

For students in Carroll, Haralson, and Heard counties, the Community Foundation of West Georgia recommends you visit: http://westgacares.org/search/ for a searchable database of resources available in these three counties.

For students in Coweta and Douglas counties (or living in metro Atlanta counties outside our service delivery area), the United Way of Greater Atlanta offers United Way 211 as an extensive database of resources. You can access the searchable database by dialing 211.

For students in Coweta County, One Roof Outreach is providing daily resources for food insecurity. Visit their website for locations for pick-up: https://oneroofoutreach.org/.

For students in Troup County, visit http://coronavirus.lagrangega.org/#services for a list of resources and updates specific to Troup County and city of LaGrange.

Worried about paying for school next semester?

Foundation and external scholarship applications are open until April 16. See our website for information on how to apply: https://www.westgatech.edu/discover-wgtc/foundation/foundation-scholarship/

 

March 17 2020 Update

WGTC Students,

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we took action late last week to combat the spread of the Corona virus (COVID-19). It is unfortunate that we had to temporarily suspend instruction, but in addition to that action being an Executive Order from the Office of Governor Brian Kemp, it was the best way to ensure your safety and safety of your fellow students, our faculty, and staff.

Yet, I know this interruption has delayed your progress toward meeting your educational goals. We are committed to getting you moving along that path again as rapidly as possible, in a safe and healthy environment. To that end, our COVID-19 response team has been hard at work determining how best to proceed. After these first days of planning, it is clear that we can, indeed, continue with our educational mission, by embracing and expanding our online offerings and investigating telework options for faculty and staff. We still face a host of unknowns as the situation changes, but we have a plan I would like to share with you.

Classes to Resume Monday, March 23 – Online Only

As you may know, under emergency powers granted by the state legislature, Governor Brian Kemp has ordered all public elementary, secondary and post-secondary schools closed through March 31. While our physical campuses are required to be closed to the public and students, we are allowed (and even encouraged) to do as much as we can in an online format.

With that allowance, ALL of our credit classes will resume March 23 in an online learning environment utilizing Blackboard Learn (our online learning platform). For those of you already enrolled in online classes, you will simply continue where you left off.

If one or more of your classes is not currently online, you will also resume classes on March 23 by logging in to Blackboard (instructions on how to access Blackboard will be sent in a separate email later this week). Once logged in, you will be able to access communication, assignments and further direction from your instructors.

Courses Requiring Lab or Hands-On Work

While all courses will resume on Monday, March 23, we realize some courses cannot be fully completed online. You will still need to login to Blackboard, where you will hear from your instructor regarding timelines and schedules for completing the hands-on components at a later date. At this time, we do not have firm dates as to when we will return to campus facilities or clinical sites, but by logging into Blackboard and keeping up with communications and assignments there, your instructor will share additional details as they are available. There is much still to be determined based on conditions which are out of our hands. We rely on information from the Governor’s Office, the Georgia Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control to know when it will be reasonable for us to return to campus.

Completing the Semester

It is our intent to help each of you complete your classes (and ultimately, your program) with as little disruption as possible under these circumstances. We are working as a team across the College to remove as many roadblocks as we can for you. We are also still investigating our non-academic strategies, such as student services, library, bookstore, and more. Our goal is to be able to provide these additional services, most likely in an alternative format utilizing telework and virtual solutions.

I know that this can be a scary time. Our lives have been disrupted in ways that didn’t even seem possible just a few weeks ago. All of us are dealing with family, work and school issues that we’ve never faced before. I want to assure you that West Georgia Tech will utilize all our assets (insofar as we are allowed to do so) to make our changes and adaptations as smooth as possible. All of us are forced to adapt, and we will get through this together. Please continue to monitor all your sources for good information to best protect yourself and your loved ones. It is critical to follow guidelines we are given for social distancing, proper handwashing and other preventive measures.

You, as students, are the most important part of our West Georgia Tech community. Our mission is to train and educate you. Please take care of yourself. We will share more updates as we can.

Sincerely,
Scott Rule, Ph.D.
President

 

March 13 2020 Update

West Georgia Technical College community,

In light of the current health issues and concerns resulting from the coronavirus (COVID-19), West Georgia Technical College has made the decision to suspend classes and activities on all campuses March 16-20. All campuses and locations will be closed. Employees – both faculty and staff – may be required to report at specific times during the week for planning or training purposes. Individual supervisors will contact employees directly, if necessary.

While a variety of factors influenced this decision to close, be assured that the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff is always our primary concern. At this time, we do not have any confirmed cases of COVID-19 connected to any of our students or employees. However, confirmed cases have appeared in part of our service area and in surrounding areas.

West Georgia Tech will remain in consultation with the Georgia Department of Public Health and other state and local authorities as we evaluate this evolving situation. We ask that the entire College community continue to follow the COVID-19 guidelines as shared by DPH and the CDC. This remains a rapidly evolving situation and we know that members of our community will have questions we cannot yet answer. The emergency management team is meeting frequently and will continue to develop answers, adjust plans as necessary and communicate these with you.

Students and employees should continue to monitor email and the West Georgia Tech website, www.westgatech.edu, for current information and resources.

Scott Rule, Ph.D.
President

 

March 12 2020 Update

Dear West Georgia Tech community,

There is no higher priority than the safety and health of our students, faculty, and staff. As you know, the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases is rising in Georgia, and I want to provide you with an update and steps we are taking to reduce the risk of infection.Prevent spread of coronavirus by avioding contact with sick people, washing hands with soap and water for 20 seconds, and ovoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

To date, there have not been any cases of coronavirus exposure to anyone on our campuses. We continue to provide our college community with communications that detail preventative measures people should take to reduce risk of infection. This includes CDC-recommended strategies like washing hands regularly; avoiding the touching of eyes, nose, and mouth; covering coughs and sneezes with tissues; avoiding close contact with those who may be sick; and staying home when experiencing symptoms. You will find a CDC flyer outlining important COVID-19 facts attached to this email. We are also taking extra measures to regularly clean and disinfect areas with a high amount of human contact. This includes lavatories, doorknobs, elevators and stair railings, among others.

In addition, senior staff, representing all areas of the college, are taking a close look at events that are scheduled on our campuses to determine if these events need to be rescheduled, modified or cancelled. We will announce any event changes as we make these determinations. At this point, any identified cancellations will be done out of an abundance of caution and not because of any direct threat to our College community.

We are monitoring this developing situation closely and following guidance from the Governor’s office, the Centers for Disease Control and the Department of Public Health. This continues to be a fluid situation, but we are committed to providing you with accurate information in a timely manner. The College has a robust emergency response plan and contingency plans that can be called into place if needed.

I thank you for your trust and assistance in providing a safe and healthy learning environment for students.

Scott Rule, Ph.D.
President

Wash your hands steps: wet; get soap; scrub; rinse; dry. Bubble says: Hands that look clean can still have icky germs!

 

March 9 2020 Update

Know the facts about coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) and help stop the spread of rumors. Current information from the Centers for Disease Control is attached. 

Health officials worldwide are closely monitoring the outbreak of illness caused by the newly identified coronavirus (COVID-19).Picture of COVID-19 virus: E protein, S protein, N protein

To date, there have been NO cases of COVID-19 reported at West Georgia Technical College, although there are reported cases in the state of Georgia. We recognize that this is a rapidly evolving situation and that the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Georgia Department of Public Health and others can change frequently.

West Georgia Technical College has no higher priority than the health and safety of members of our community.

We encourage all members of the College’s community to monitor the CDC website as it provides the most current reference information.

Prevention is a key strategy with any virus, such as influenza or this coronavirus, so it is important both to protect yourself and take measures against spread to others.

Visit https://www.westgatech.edu/coronavirus-information-and-resources/ for links to additional CDC and Georgia Department of Public Health resources about COVID-19.