1 June ICC appoints reopening plan task force June 1, 2020 By Thomas, Donna S. General 0 Itawamba Community College is actively making plans to safely open its doors for the 2020 fall semester with the appointment of a task force that will examine all options. The 21 members, which touch all areas of the college, had a virtual organizational meeting on May 18, and its goal is the announcement of a plan on June 15. “Our goal is to develop guidelines and protocols for the 2020 fall semester while following the guidance of public health officials and take a measured approach in determining how and when to welcome students back to campus and fully resume face-to-face instruction and services,” said ICC President Dr. Jay Allen. Approximately 100 administrators, faculty, staff and students will be involved in the process through the task force and additional participation in three breakout committees – Health Standards for Employees, Students and Visitors Proposal (Rilla Jones, Dean of Health Science Instruction); Residence Halls. Dining, Athletics and Student Activities (Dr. Brad Boggs, Dean of Students); and Classrooms, Labs and Clinical Proposal (Dr. Michelle Sumerel, Vice President of Instructional Services). Each is expected to present a proposal no later than June 3. Review is scheduled for June 4, and the final plan, June 11. The reopening plan will be announced on June 15. “Throughout the pandemic, we have placed an emphasis on ensuring that decisions weren’t made by a single person,” Allen said. “With the Reopening Task Force and the breakout subcommittees, we look to compile a list of innovative solutions to consider within numerous areas, including campus operations, sanitation, student activities, facilities, residence halls, academics and athletics. These groups are charged with identifying and increasing attention to the areas of practice that may require temporary changes in order to safely reopen in compliance with state, federal and CDC recommendations.” Before the appointment of the task force, ICC announced that it has scheduled face-to-face classes in July, and registration is continuing by accessing www.iccms.edu/registrationinformation. During altered operations, ICC has continued to serve students on an appointment basis and is now extending those by taking appointments for campus tours for incoming freshmen, who can now visit either the Fulton or Tupelo campus. In addition, all three ICC locations, Fulton, Tupelo and Belden, are currently operational, Monday-Thursday, by appointment only. Other members of the task force include Tyler Camp, special assistant to the president; Dr. Melissa Haab, dean of enrollment services; Dr. Joe Lowder, dean of workforce/community services; Sandi South, executive director of finance; Tim Senter, executive director of human resources/physical plant; Barry Emison, dean of career and technical education; Denise Gillespie, dean of eLearning; Dr. Chad Case, director of housing; Carrie Ball-Williamson, director of athletics; Terry Bland, director of financial aid; Mande Miller, director of advising/Tupelo Campus; Dr. Bobby Solomon, registrar and director of admissions; Bryan Turner, Sodexo; Josh Gammill, Pathway coordinator; Chris Stevenson, Social Science division chair; Dr. Jada Mills, Natural Science division chair; and Jake Hartfield, director of student activities. Related Articles ICC releases reopening plan for fall; classes to begin as originally scheduled Itawamba Community College announced plans today to open its doors for classes for the fall semester on Aug. 17 as originally scheduled as well as provided more details regarding educational delivery methods, student activities and athletics. The scheduled opening is part of the recommendations from the college’s 21-member Reopening Task Force, which was appointed to examine campus operations, sanitation, student activities, facilities, residence halls, academics and athletics. “At the onset of COVID-19 in Mississippi, we suspended nearly all in-person operations at ICC, including face-to-face instruction,” said ICC President Dr. Jay Allen. “This was a challenging decision; however, we were prepared for the transition to online instruction due to our nationally-recognized eLearning Department and our dedicated faculty. We have since shifted to returning our employees to our facilities, while never ceasing to impede the successes of our past, current and potential students. Today, we’re excited to be able to share the results of the study by the task force and its recommendations.” Although fall classes are scheduled to begin, there will be both in-person ... ICC releases latest reopening plan for Aug. 17 As Aug. 17 approaches, Itawamba Community College has released information that will provide a glimpse of what to expect for the fall semester at all three of its locations, Fulton, Tupelo and Belden. The plan was developed based on guidance from healthcare professionals, feedback from employees and students as well as ICC leadership and recommendations from the College’s reopening task force, according to President Dr. Jay Allen. “The information provides an overview as we plan to welcome students back to our locations when classes begin on Aug. 17. Every decision that continues to be made prioritizes the safety of our students, employees and communities we serve.” The plan covers such areas as academics, residence halls, campus dining and student experience. In addition, a self-reporting app will be implemented for all students and employees to allow for symptom checking and contact tracing. All students will complete an ICC-specific Canvas module, Safely Together, on ways to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and how members of the college community can continue to stay safely together, Allen said. ... ICC provides innovative delivery of several workforce classes Itawamba Community College is providing innovative delivery of several Workforce classes to enable individuals to enroll in three online courses to meet the needs of its workforce partners as well as those of all individuals who are interested in skilling up or exploring job opportunities. The available courses, which are a collaboration between ICC’s Workforce and eLearning divisions, include Forklift: Train-the-Trainer, Forklift Operator Training and Lockout-Tagout: Isolation of Hazardous Energy. “ICC’s staff, particularly Workforce and eLearning, have done an exceptional job in transitioning current courses to an online format,” said ICC President Dr. Jay Allen. “With the reduction of face-to-face classroom and training opportunities as the College is impacted by COVID-19, they explored methods of meeting the needs of not only our workforce partners but individuals who are interested in attaining more or better skills to enhance their current or future job options. These three classes are only a start since work is continuing to offer additional opportunities.” The hybrid Forklift Operator Training course includes instruction on safely operating a forklift in industry ... ICC formally opens mobile planetarium Officials from the Tennessee Valley Authority joined Itawamba Community College representatives for a ceremonial ribbon cutting for the grand opening of its planetarium, Apr. 10 at the Fulton Campus. The planetarium is currently located in the John S. Crubaugh Education Building, but plans are being developed to make it more mobile, according to Heather McCormick, mathematics division chair and one of three STEM sponsors, who are leading the project. “We are extremely grateful to TVA for their generous donations which have made the planetarium possible,” McCormick said. “In addition, TVA’s generosity has given our students research and leadership opportunities as they prepared the narration for the planetarium shows. We are proud of our students and their hard work.” They include Sara Davis of Smithville, Allyson Johnson of Nettleton, Lawson Laird of Guntown and Remington Reed of Carthage whose research material and written narration scripts for the planetarium disks allows four available shows including Northern Hemisphere with Constellations, Aurora Borealis, Day Side Earth and Moon and Warped Andromeda. The planetarium as well as a weather balloon experiment were made ... ICC reorganizes Career and Workforce Division, promotes Barry Emison Itawamba Community College has reorganized its Division of Career and Workforce Education to better serve its industry partners and to make a more significant impact on the economic development efforts, not only for this region but also the entire state, according to President Dr. Jay Allen. Barry Emison, who has served as the dean of Career and Technical Instruction since 2015, will become the newly-created vice president of Career and Workforce Education, a Cabinet-level position. Six years ago when he transitioned into the dean’s position from a teaching role as instructor of Precision Manufacturing and Machining Technology, Emison talked about a pipeline for learning, and he was emphatic that adult learners have a place in education. Emison attended college at ICC as an adult learner, so he knows from experience. “When I graduated from high school, college was not an option,” he said. “I took an entry level job in manufacturing, and it was immediately evident that I needed a skillset. Three years later, I enrolled in Tool and Die Technology while continuing to work full time at night. ... ICC's Dickinson elected Mississippi Campus Law Enforcement Association president Itawamba Community College Campus Police Chief Jason Dickinson of Mantachie has been elected president of the Mississippi Campus Law Enforcement Association for a two-year term. Dickinson returned to ICC in 2021 to become Campus Police Chief 28 years after he first enrolled as a student. He previously spent 23 years working patrol and investigating in such roles as chief of police, chief investigator, captain patrol, commander special operation group, sergeant patrol and patrol officer. A graduate of Mantachie High School, Dickinson earned Associate of Applied Science degrees in Agribusiness and Law Enforcement at ICC. He has received numerous honors during his career in law enforcement, including the youngest Chief of Police (Mantachie) in 1998-99. In addition, his career has included serving as Patrol Sergeant for the Baldwyn Police Department and Chief Investigator for the Itawamba County Sheriff’s office. Among his certifications, Dickinson has earned the full-time Law Enforcement Certificate and every state teaching certificate. He is a nationally certified Active Shooter instructor and K-9 handler and state-certified Criminal Investigator and SWAT Operator. Dickinson and his wife, Amanda, have ... Comments are closed.