If you currently live on campus and have nowhere else to go, arrangements will be made to accommodate you.”

College notice

Northwest College announced Sunday it would close through April 3 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and classes will not resume until April 6. Non-essential personnel are being told to stay home, and all efforts to reduce face-to-face interaction are in effect.

The announcement came a few hours after Gov. Mark Gordon and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow made a recommendation to local superintendents and school boards that all K-12 schools close through at least April 3.

Before the governor’s recommendation, the college had planned to extend spring break until today (Tuesday). Speaking on Friday when the earlier precautions were being taken, NWC President Stefani Hicswa said she was being briefed daily on the situation and what appropriate responses were necessary. Whatever steps they took to implement social distancing to minimize the spread of the virus, Hicswa said, they were “working to ensure students can finish the semester.”

“This is moving so quickly,” Hicswa added.

Sunday’s notice on the the closure to NWC students, staff, and faculty stated the closure included the Powell, Cody, and Worland locations, as well as all resident halls and apartments.

“If you currently live on campus and have nowhere else to go, arrangements will be made to accommodate you,” the notice read.

Student Senate President Bossan Abdyyeva, who is also a resident assistant, said most students who live on campus are not panicking, but the announcement initally concerned international students, who weren’t sure what accomodations would be made.

“Some of them were freaking out, because it didn’t say what that means,” she said.

However, after they discussed the situation with college administrators, they were told they could stay on campus if they didn’t have any other options.

A campus program pairs international students up with a “friendship family” so the students have some social connections to a family who lives in Powell. Abdyyeva’s friendship family said she could stay with them if she needed to.

“It was super nice of them,” she said.

While students will have a place to live, there’s more uncertainty about classes. The notice said that classes will resume April 6 “in an alternative format” so students can continue their education as “unimpeded as possible.” Classes that require students to gather may be canceled or rescheduled.

Following her expected graduation in May, Abdyyeva has been planning to go to Montana State University — Billings in the fall; on Monday, she wasn’t sure how the disruption to classes would impact her. For classes that can be done online, Abdyyeva said she’d be able to finish them, but she’s not sure about classes such as her chemistry lab, which have to be done in the classroom. Whatever happens, Abdyyeva is keeping positive.

“I believe it’s doable. I prepared mentally,” she said.

The Hinckley Library, Children’s Learning and Care Center and the Johnson Fitness Center are all closed until April 6. In addition to classes and facilities closures, all events scheduled before May 12 on campus are canceled, as is travel to conferences.

For more information on campus responses to the virus, go to www.nwc.edu/covid-19.