COVID-19 Information

Dear Triton Students,

Moving into an online learning environment has been a transition for all of us at Triton College. We want you to know that our priority is ensuring you have access to resources to be successful in meeting your educational goals. A list of support services and online learning resources can be accessed here.

With the state’s “stay at home” order extending beyond the end of the spring semester, we are now considering opportunities for students to complete lab and hands-on experience requirements while being mindful of how we incorporate social distancing and personal protective equipment. We will provide more information in the coming weeks directly to students in programs with these requirements.

We know from connecting with many of you that some of you have faced unexpected challenges. You may be considering withdrawing from a course. We have extended our deadline for course withdrawals. The last date to withdraw from a class is May 4. The steps for withdrawing from a course can be found here.

Following the steps is important, and it starts with talking with an advisor or counselor. You will then receive a link to complete an electronic drop form. This completed form will be reviewed by Financial Aid. Students who have paid their bill in full will receive a credit voucher in the amount of the course tuition to be used by May 2021. For students who have a balance due to Triton College, the amount of the class will be waived from what is owed. Through this process, we will work to ensure that students on financial aid do not have to return funds or lose any aid. Our hope is that you will take this course again when you feel you can be successful.

As you look to the future, please review our more than 350 course offerings this summer. Like many institutions, all of our summer courses will be offered in an online format. Our first of three start dates is May 26. Registration is now open for summer session courses.

Finally, congratulations to all of the Triton College 2020 graduates! While Triton and many academic institutions have adjusted numerous events including commencement and Adult Education ceremonies, we still plan to celebrate you and your accomplishments when it is safe and feasible to do so. We will provide more information in the coming weeks.

Wishing you all good health,

Jodi Koslow Martin, Ph.D.

Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs

Dear Triton College Community,

There was anticipation and hope that our campus would be reopened very soon; however, with the extension of the "stay at home order," our campus facility will remain closed through Saturday, May 30. Our efforts in supporting the completion of the spring semester and beyond will continue strongly in our remote environment. In response to this date change, several of our end-of-semester activities are adjusting accordingly.

With the stay at home order extending beyond the end of the spring semester, we are investigating opportunities for students to complete skills and proficiencies gained through hands-on experiences and labs, while being mindful of how we incorporate social distancing, protective equipment and staggered scheduling to ensure everyone's safety.

Additionally, we have made the decision to postpone the 2020 Commencement and Adult Education ceremonies. Given all of the hard work of our students and the magnitude of their accomplishments, we will celebrate when it is safe and feasible to do so. We will provide more information in the coming weeks.

Summer credit classes begin May 26 via online/remote learning format. I am appreciative of all the work each of you have done to persevere and provide a supportive learning environment for our students. I am confident that you will continue to rise to the challenge and grateful for your ongoing efforts.

Be well and be safe.

President Moore

As we conclude our second week of remote learning and support, I appreciate your continued perseverance in navigating our current environment. In consideration of meeting student needs and planning for the future, I am informing you that we will be continuing online instruction for the summer semester. We ask for your support these next few weeks as logistics are developed and details are shared.

Please enjoy the upcoming extended weekend.

Be well and be safe.

President Moore

Late this afternoon we learned that a Triton College student recently tested positive for COVID-19. The last day the student was on campus was Monday, March 9, which is beyond the 14-day time recommended for self-quarantine. This is the first reported case of COVID-19 at Triton College. 

Privacy laws prevent us from sharing many details. The student is in contact with our Director of Health Services and is receiving medical care. Our thoughts are with this student throughout the recovery process.

Prior to the campus closing on March 17, Operations and Maintenance maintained daily rigorous cleaning practices across campus. Once college operations resume, they will continue these sanitizing practices and follow thorough daily sanitation procedures. Individuals exposed to COVID-19 are advised to self-quarantine for 14 days. If you exhibit symptoms, please follow the guidelines of the CDC and the Cook County Department of Public Health regarding testing. Students who test positive should inform Laura Hill, Director of Health Services, at laurahill@triton.edu. Employees who test positive should inform AVP Joe Klinger at joeklinger@triton.edu. 

The College will continue to provide updates at https://www.triton.edu/pages/coronavirus-info/. If you have questions or immediate concerns, please email covid19@triton.edu.

With our first week of online learning underway, I want to express appreciation for your diligence in meeting student needs during this time. I have learned we are seeing consistent student interaction in the online format, which is encouraging and a direct reflection of your work in supporting them.

I also want to make you aware of several updates. As the governor has extended the state's "stay at home" order through Thursday, April 30, we are adjusting our return to campus. Our current plan is for staff and faculty to return on Monday, May 4, with online learning continuing until the end of the spring semester. We will continue to pay our staff and faculty throughout this time. Should you have any questions regarding payroll, you can contact payroll@triton.edu for support.

The College will continue to provide updates at https://www.triton.edu/pages/coronavirus-info/. If you have questions or immediate concerns, please email covid19@triton.edu.

Be well and be safe.

President Moore

March 17, 2020: Effective immediately, Triton College’s campus is closed until further notice. No one is to report to campus without authorization. Updates will be provided as they become available.

Like many educational institutions, Triton College is working to ensure a healthy environment for the campus community. Triton College seeks to strike the right balance between preparedness and caution.

• All Triton College facilities and offices are closed until further notice
• Only authorized personnel are allowed on campus. Authorized personnel will be notified if they are permitted on campus. 
• Triton College will be extending Spring Break into the following week and thereby creating a two-week Spring Break for students.
• The extension of student Spring Break is intended to allow full-time and adjunct faculty members to prepare to deliver online instruction. Faculty with face-to-face courses should work during the second week of Spring Break to move as much instruction onto an online format. Resources will be made available to assist and more information will be forthcoming.
• Starting Monday, March 30, all lecture components of credit courses will be moved into an online format until further notice.
• Effective Tuesday, March 17, all events, which include students and external organizations, are suspended until further notice. This pertains to both on campus and off campus events. At this time, the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) has suspended all spring competition. 

Please direct all COVID-19 questions to covid19@triton.edu.

President Moore

March 12, 2020: As we prepare for spring break, it is important to provide you with an update of actions on our campus regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Click here to view an important health and hygiene update from Laura Hill, Director of Health Services at Triton College.

March 2, 2020: With the recent news coverage of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (aka COVID-19), I want to assure you that the staff and administration at Triton College are monitoring ongoing information for the safety of our students and staff.

While there are no reported cases on our campus, there is now one reported case of Coronavirus in Suburban Cook County. Public health officials are working to identify and actively monitor individuals who were in contact with that individual in an effort to reduce the risk of further transmission. The state of Illinois also plans to ask the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to deploy a team for assistance.

We remind you that in order to prevent the spread of flu type communicable diseases, we continue to stress the importance of hand hygiene, covering coughs, and staying home when sick. Triton’s Operations and Maintenance staff will continue to be diligent with cleaning practices across campus. This includes daily sanitization of high-touch surfaces such as door handles, faucets, light switches, etc. Everyone is encouraged to take universal precautions, including frequent hand washing throughout the day.

Attached, please read a message from our Director of Triton's Health Services, Laura Hill, with information, resources and safety tips from the CDC.

President Moore

Our goal is to provide the Triton College community with up-to-date information and resources regarding the College's response to COVID-19. Check back regularly for updates.

Any Triton students and employees who feel like they may have any symptoms of COVID-19 should contact their health care provider for guidance. Anyone who does test positive is asked to report that information to the College to help protect the health of other students and employees. Students who test positive should inform Laura Hill, Director of Health Services, at laurahill@triton.edu. Employees who test positive should inform AVP Joe Klinger at joeklinger@triton.edu.

As a reminder, the campus remains closed through Sunday, May 31. During this time period, all buildings are being cleaned and disinfected to provide maximum protection in the future for all students, employees and visitors to our campus. If you have questions or immediate concerns, please email us at covid19@triton.edu.

A: Use this checklist to guide your decision to withdraw from one or more classes this Spring semester.

A. Effective for the remainder of the spring semester, Triton College will cease drop for non-payment. If you are enrolled in spring classes and you have a balance on your student account, you are still responsible for the balance; however, Triton will not drop you from your classes due to your inability to pay. If you have concerns about paying your balance, please email finaid@triton.edu and we will work with you to find alternative payment arrangements during this difficult time.
If you are enrolled in a payment plan for spring 2020, your payment will still be withdrawn on the scheduled payment date(s). If you have concerns about making your scheduled payment, please contact finaid@triton.edu before your payment is due, and we will work with you to make alternative arrangements.

A. Labs that cannot be delivered online are postponed to future dates to be determined later. Students are encouraged to contact their faculty member to find out if labs are being held remotely. Based on your instructor’s discretion, labs may or may not be held.

A. If you have questions about a specific class, please reach out to your instructor for the class or email studentservices@triton.edu.

A: If you develop a fever and symptoms of respiratory illness, such as cough or shortness of breath, within 14 days after travel from impacted countries, you should call ahead to a healthcare provider and mention your recent travel or close contact. If you have had close contact with someone showing these symptoms who has recently traveled to an impacted country, you should call ahead to a healthcare provider and mention your close contact. Your healthcare provider will work with your state's public health department and CDC to determine if you need to be tested for COVID-19.

A: Current symptoms reported for patients with COVID-19 have included:

• Mild to severe respiratory illness with fever
• Cough
• Difficulty breathing

Patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection have reportedly had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of:

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath

CDC believes at this time that symptoms of COVID-19 may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 after exposure.

A: Currently, there is no vaccine available to protect against COVID-19; to reduce the risk of infection, the CDC recommends:

• washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds;
• avoid touching eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands; and
• avoid close contact with people who are sick.

If someone has cold-like symptoms, they can help protect others by doing the following:

• staying home while sick;
• avoiding close contact with others;
• covering their mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, then throwing the tissue in the trash and washing their hands; and
• cleaning and disinfecting objects and surfaces.

A: There is no specific antiviral treatment recommended for COVID-19 infection. People infected with COVID-19 should receive supportive care to help relieve symptoms.

All students participating in rental programs have received reminder emails which include FedEx return shipping labels. Print the label and take it and the rental item to any FedEx where it will be boxed and shipped free of charge.