BRTC administration has continued to meet daily, attend state meetings by division, and has implemented Friday Q&A sessions with the president and vice presidents.
The following information is a list of details performed by BRTC administration immediately after closing on March 12 for COVID-19.
Friday, April 10, 2020
- BRTC administration met to monitor student, campus, public, and national issues.
- Reminder link and summary sent to faculty and staff, Board of Trustees, and Foundation Board members of Governor Asa Hutchinson’s update
- President Eggensperger met with state 2-year college presidents about COVID-19 and state funding
Thursday, April 9, 2020
- BRTC administration met to monitor student, campus, public, and national issues.
- Reminder link and summary sent to faculty and staff, Board of Trustees, and Foundation Board members of Governor Asa Hutchinson’s update
- President Eggensperger met with state 2-year college presidents about COVID-19 and state funding
Wednesday, April 8, 2020
- Reminder link and summary sent to faculty and staff, Board of Trustees, and Foundation Board members of Governor Asa Hutchinson’s update
- President Eggensperger met with state 2-year college presidents about COVID-19 and state funding
Tuesday, March 7, 2020
- BRTC administration met to monitor student, campus, public, and national issues.
- Reminder link and summary sent to faculty and staff, Board of Trustees, and Foundation Board members of Governor Asa Hutchinson’s update
- Enrollment management vice president Jason Smith met state student affairs leaders about COVID-19 accommodations for students
- President Eggensperger met with state college and university executive council members about higher education in Arkansas and planning for the Arkansas Division of Higher Education
Monday, April 6, 2020
- BRTC administration met to monitor student, campus, public, and national issues.
- Reminder link and summary sent to faculty and staff, Board of Trustees, and Foundation Board members of Governor Asa Hutchinson’s update
- Institutional advancement vice president Karen Liebhaber met with state advancement leaders about campus, community, and student communication, fundraising, and marketing during COVID-19
- Academic vice president Dr. Brad Baine met state academic leaders about COVID-19 accommodations for students and classes
- Academic vice president Dr. Brad Baine met college academic leaders
Sunday, April 5, 2020
- Reminder link and summary sent to faculty and staff, Board of Trustees, and Foundation Board members of Governor Asa Hutchinson’s update
Saturday, April 4, 2020
- Reminder link and summary sent to faculty and staff, Board of Trustees, and Foundation Board members of Governor Asa Hutchinson’s update
Friday, April 3, 2020
- BRTC College Council held budget hearings for all departments via Zoom.
- Reminder link and summary sent to faculty and staff, Board of Trustees, and Foundation Board members of Governor Asa Hutchinson’s update
Thursday, April 2, 2020
- BRTC College Council held budget hearings for all departments via Zoom.
- Reminder link and summary sent to faculty and staff, Board of Trustees, and Foundation Board members of Governor Asa Hutchinson’s update
Wednesday, April 1, 2020
- BRTC administration met to monitor student, campus, public, and national issues.
- Reminder link and summary sent to faculty and staff, Board of Trustees, and Foundation Board members of Governor Asa Hutchinson’s update
- President Eggesnperger, vice president Karen Liebhaber, and Foundation Board members attended state resources call featuring Secretary of Commerce Mike Preston and Arkansas Bankers Association President and CEO Lorrie Trogden
- Institutional advancement vice president Karen Liebhaber and Foundation Board member Graycen Bigger attended remote call held with Arkansas congressional delegation addressing COVID-19
- President Eggesnperger and vice president Karen Liebhaber attended NEA Intermodal Meeting led by Foundation Board member Graycen Bigger, addressing economic issues in Clay, Lawrence, Randolph, and Sharp counties
Tuesday, March 31, 2020
- BRTC administration met to monitor student, campus, public, and national issues.
- Reminder link and summary sent to faculty and staff, Board of Trustees, and Foundation Board members of Governor Asa Hutchinson’s update
- BRTC continued to reach out to the community seeking BRTC students who were impacted by the 3/28 tornado to assist them in contacting their instructors and offering support.
Monday, March 30, 2020
- BRTC administration met to monitor student, campus, public, and national issues.
- Reminder link and summary sent to faculty and staff, Board of Trustees, and Foundation Board members of Governor Asa Hutchinson’s update
- Summary of Governor Asa Hutchinson’s 3/29 update sent as well as links to other state and federal COVID-19 resources for individuals and businesses
- BRTC reached out to the community seeking BRTC students who were impacted by the 3/28 tornado to assist them in contacting their instructors and offering support.
Sunday, March 29, 2020
- Reminder link sent to faculty and staff, Board of Trustees, and Foundation Board members of Governor Asa Hutchinson’s update
- BRTC monitored the status of BRTC employee safety after the 3/28 tornado
Saturday, March 28, 2020
- Reminder link and summary sent to faculty and staff, Board of Trustees, and Foundation Board members of Governor Asa Hutchinson’s update
- BRTC administration monitored the EF3 tornado that hit nearby Jonesboro, Arkansas, and monitored the status of BRTC employee safety
Friday, March 27, 2020
- BRTC Board of Trustees Finance and Facilities Committee met
- Academic vice president Dr. Brad Baine held virtual meeting with academic deans to discuss the expectations for the next few weeks
- Reminder link and summary sent to faculty and staff, Board of Trustees, and Foundation Board members of Governor Asa Hutchinson’s update
- Dr. Martin Eggensperger delivered donations of cleaning supplies to Pocahontas Medical Center, East Clinic
- Academic vice president Dr. Brad Baine met with Site Director of Paragould Campus
- BRTC website, social media, and The River’s Edge continue to be updated daily
Thursday, March 26, 2020
- BRTC administration met to monitor student, campus, public, and national issues.
- President Eggensperger updated BRTC students via email and video.
- Reminder link and summary sent to faculty and staff, Board of Trustees, and Foundation Board members of Governor Asa Hutchinson’s update
- Academic leadership
- worked with adult education director to discuss combating COVID-19 challenges,
- prepared ADHE letters of notification,
- collaborated with Student Success Coordinator to develop plans for distributing food to students in need, and
- discussed concurrent classes
- Communicated with legislative delegation about current activities for the community
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
- BRTC administration met to monitor student, campus, public, and national issues.
- Addressed state changes to BRTC’s current year’s fiscal budget
- Addressed potential state changes to BRTC’s next year’s fiscal budget
- Discussed enrollment opportunities
- Reminder link and summary sent to faculty and staff, Board of Trustees, and Foundation Board members of Governor Asa Hutchinson’s update.
- Academic leadership
- shared delivery of class/course instruction plan with faculty,
- discussed plans and strategies for institutional initiatives,
- developed a plan to provide summer offerings online, if necessary, and
- discussed opportunities and ideas for working with Institutional Advancement to assist in promoting the college
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
- BRTC administration met to monitor student, campus, public, and national issues.
- Addressed state changes to BRTC’s current year’s fiscal budget
- Addressed potential state changes to BRTC’s next year’s fiscal budget
- Discussed enrollment opportunities
- BRTC officials met to support county and student support services
- Reminder and link sent to faculty and staff, Board of Trustees, and Foundation Board members of Governor Asa Hutchinson’s update
- Academic leadership virtually met with Dean of Assessment to discuss needs for ADHE, and discussed concurrent classes
Monday, March 23, 2020
- BRTC administration met to monitor student, campus, public, and national issues.
- Reminder and link sent to faculty and staff, Board of Trustees, and Foundation Board members of Governor Asa Hutchinson’s update.
- Academic vice president Dr. Brad Baine virtually attended a Chief Academic Officers’ meeting to discuss best practices and strategies to combat COVID-19 challenges
- Academic leadership virtually discussed best practices and strategies to combat COVID-19
Weekend, March 21-22, 2020
- BRTC administration met to monitor student, campus, public, and national issues.
- President Eggensperger updated BRTC students via email.
- BRTC Cares initiative began which offers the general public access to BRTC wifi for free and access to BRTC student discounts at certain businesses.
- Reminder and link sent to faculty and staff, Board of Trustees, and Foundation Board members of Governor Asa Hutchinson’s update.
Thursday, March 19, 2020
- BRTC administration continues to meet daily to monitor student, campus, public, and national issues.
- The BRTC President’s Cabinet received and is considering recommendations made by the BRTC Emergency Management Task Force for Viral Epidemics/Pandemics. Many of the recommendations are already being implemented and will continue:
- Frequent communication to BRTC students, employees, and communities
- Continued attention to student classes, alternate modes of instruction, and attention to student needs
- Assistance as possible with community needs by BRTC resources and/or faculty and staff as necessary
- BRTC President Dr. Martin Eggensperger announced to the public that BRTC employees will work remotely except for a few mandatory on-campus employees.
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
- BRTC administration continues to meet daily to monitor student, campus, public, and national issues.
- The BRTC Emergency Management Task Force for Viral Epidemics/Pandemics met and identified strategies to support students during the coronavirus epidemic which will be provided as recommendations to the President’s Cabinet.
Tuesday, March 17, 2020
- BRTC administration continues to meet daily to monitor student, campus, public, and national issues.
- BRTC notified the public about the college’s continued monitoring of the coronavirus situation
- BRTC received notification of the following notification from Arkansas Community Colleges:
- April 4 ACT test is canceled – students will be given an opportunity to reschedule for June 13 or a later date
- May 2 SAT test is canceled
- June 6 SAT remains scheduled for now
- College Board is working to develop “streamlined AP Exam options” to allow high school students to test from home. An update on this plan is promised by Friday, March 20
Monday, March 16, 2020
- BRTC administration met and will meet daily to monitor the coronavirus situation and support students, employees, and the public.
- Signs were placed on outside doors notifying visitors that the college is closed to the public to support public safety.
- The BRTC Emergency Management Task Force for Viral Epidemics/Pandemics met and continued evaluating strategies to support students during the coronavirus epidemic.
Sunday, March 15, 2020
- BRTC administration communicated with BRTC stakeholders about forthcoming COVID-19 plans.
- BRTC announces plans about COVID-19 to faculty, staff, and the public
Thursday, March 12, 2020
- Message from President Eggenserger
- BRTC Emergency Management Task Force for Viral Epidemics/Pandemics meeting
- All allied health students have been asked to leave clinical sites.
- Administration is discussing academic transition and operations plans in case they are necessary.
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
BRTC administration emailed a BRTC Preparations for Coronavirus and Other Illnesses announcement to students, faculty and staff, board members, and posted the announcement on the website, in The River’s Edge, and BRTC’s social media account.
Tuesday, March 10, 2020
BRTC administration is closely monitoring the status of the coronavirus, COVID-19, and other communicable illnesses as well as communicating frequently with local and regional health officials. BRTC has created an Emergency Management Task Force to address and develop contingency plans to limit the impact to BRTC operations in the case of a local outbreak.