Dear Students,
As we have all learned, Carleton classes will be happening online for at least the first half of spring term due to the coronavirus pandemic. As part of that determination, the CCCE is suspending in-person community and civic engagement activities as of today until further notice. This difficult decision reflects a commitment to the safety of our campus and broader community—yet it also means we are unable to physically contribute to partner organizations that will be sustaining key functions—such as food access, healthcare, and education—in our community during this challenging time.
We are working to determine ways we can continue to support our partners and academic civic engagement remotely. There are many models and examples of how this can be done well, and we’re hopeful we can provide continuity in cases where it makes sense.
In the meanwhile, there are a few things you can do to continue active civic engagement:
- Be counted in the 2020 Census: Ensure you are counted in the 2020 Census. Residential college students who may have been counted on campus will need to be counted where they reside on April 1, 2020. Each household (including apartments) completes the census together. Being counted in the census helps drive key public and private resources to our communities and address issues like housing, hunger, and political representation. You and those you reside with can complete the census together here, learn more here, and ask questions by texting 662020—a census FAQ text line managed by the State of Minnesota.
- Prevent disease transmission: Be thoughtful about prevention for your sake and others’. Wash your hands thoroughly, avoid touching your face, stay home when you’re sick, clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces, and avoid close contact with people who are sick. If you are experiencing a fever of 100.4 F or higher along with a cough and shortness of breath, you should self-isolate and call ahead to a healthcare provider.
- Use your civic skills: Wherever you are, there will be ways to contribute. For example, we are particularly aware of the ramifications for youth who rely on public schools for food access in communities where public schools may close. Mutual aid models and other forms of action on the social change wheel may provide ideas for how you can engage through actions like advocacy, philanthropy, or community building. Use your research skills to identify resources, recommendations, and organizations that can help, and share what you’re learning and doing with our team. We will also work to create online spaces to share and connect with one another in the weeks ahead.
- Communicate, communicate, communicate: We will be notifying all community partner organizations that we have on record that Carleton students are not able to provide in-person service until further notice and how we might support them remotely. However, if you work with an individual family, teacher, or person, we may not have reached them. Therefore, be in contact with your partners as you have been in the past and as you would for any professional relationship. If you have been leading or engaging in community and civic engagement activities at Carleton and are unsure about how to proceed, please contact us. Please proactively help us think through how your partners may be impacted and let us know if there are unresolved questions for consideration on your mind. We are going to be relying on one another to ensure we cover our bases.
We are gathering information on how to navigate student employment during this time and will follow up when we have more. If you need to talk to the CCCE staff, contact Sinda Nichols at snichols2@carleton.edu or x7019 or Melissa Thomas at mthomas@carleton.edu or x5454. Please visit Carleton’s COVID-19 website for the most up-to-date information affecting our campus.
You are not alone—and we’re glad to be connected to each of you in these times.
Thanks,
The CCCE Pro Staff Team