Effective at 3:00 PM on Thursday, March 19th all UA Cossatot campuses will be closed at least until March 30th.
We take the COVID-19 outbreak very seriously and to protect our students, employees, and our stakeholders, we feel it is in everyone’s best interest to shutter our campuses.
Our students have already been moved to our online learning platforms and we will keep that in place for the foreseeable future.
Our employees will be working from home during this time and we will continue to encourage them (and our students) to practice social distancing and proper hygiene in their personal lives.
We know that we are all in this together and will beat this epidemic together. We all have to make well informed and sensible decisions that may not be popular, but they are for the good of us all.
Even though next week is spring break, we will still be closely monitoring the COVID-19 outbreak. If we must extend the campus closings beyond March 30th, we will make that determination later next week.
In the meantime, we are still teaching and working, we are now just doing it from a distance.
Please be safe and God Bless.
Regards,
Dr. Steve Cole
Chancellor, UA Cossatot
Arkansas Map of Covid-19 Positive Cases 03.19.20
A Message to UA Cossatot Students!
I wanted to personally let each and every student who attends UA Cossatot know that everything we are doing during this crisis is to make sure you stay safe and still receive the education you expect to get from UA Cossatot. Currently we have moved all of our courses online and we will keep offering them online as long as we need to in order to keep you as safe as we can from COVID-19 exposure.
During this trying time, please reach out to us for ANY help you need. I also wanted to remind students that we can’t beat the COVID-19 outbreak without your help. Please take this virus very seriously and please practice good hand-washing habits and PLEASE refrain from meeting closely in large groups. This virus spreads mainly by close human contact and if we can eliminate that behavior, at least for a while, we can limit the spread of this virus.
What you do and how you respond personally to this epidemic will define your entire generation!
Please be safe, call or email me any time, and GO COLTS!
Chancellor Cole
From the City of Ashdown
Declaration Of Local State Of Emergency
City of Ashdown
250 North Second Street - P.O. Box 135 · Ashdown, Arkansas 71822
Phone (870) 898-2622 · Fax (870) 898-4322
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 2020-=1
DECLARATION OF LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY
WHEREAS, the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is responding to an outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel (new) coronavirus that was first detected in China and which has now been detected in 60 locations internationally, including in the United States. The virus has been named "SARS-CoV-2" and the disease it causes has been named "coronavirus disease 2019" (abbreviated "COVID-19"); and
WHEREAS, Governor Asa Hutchinson issued Executive Order 20-03 on March 11, 2020 declaring a state of emergency for the State of Arkansas in response to the COVID-19 outbreak; and
WHEREAS, the safety and welfare of the citizens of the City of Ashdown as well as the employees is of
the utmost importance.
NOW, THEREFORE, by the power vested in me as Mayor of the City of Ashdown, Arkansas, the following protocols are implemented until further notice.
1. All access to Ashdown City Hall is limited to essential personnel.
2. No one will be allowed to enter the city offices without an appointment.
3. Appointments can be made by contacting the office in question
4. Anyone needing to conduct business within city hall will be subject to screenings including
checking of temperature to see that it is below 99.6 degrees, and the individual does not
display any other outward symptoms of the virus.
5. We strongly encourage those needing to conduct business with offices within city hall, water
department, street department, sanitation department or city park to make every effort to
conduct their business via telephone, email, or fax.
6. Other measures may be implemented as needed to provide for the safety and welfare of the
city employees.
IT IS SO ORDERED, this 18th day of March, 2020.
James Sutton
Mayor City of Ashdown
Notice from Little River County
Closed To Foot Traffic
By Order of the County Judge, the Little River County Courthouse is open by appointment ONLY. Please call the number of the office needed, from the list below, to discuss an appointment and an officer will assist you upon entry. We apologize for the inconvenience, but we appreciate your patience and understanding.
Office Phone Number
Assessor 870-898-7204
County Clerk 870-898-7209
Circuit Clerk 870-898-7212
Treasurer 870-898-7215
Collector 870-898-7217
District Clerk 870-898-7230
Veterans 870-898-7261
County Judge 870-898-7202
Sanitation 870-898-7276
Flood Warning for the Area from the National Weather Service
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SHREVEPORT HAS ISSUED A * FLOOD WARNING FOR URBAN AREAS AND SMALL STREAMS IN... SOUTHWESTERN LITTLE RIVER COUNTY IN SOUTHWESTERN ARKANSAS... SOUTHEASTERN MCCURTAIN COUNTY IN SOUTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA... NORTHWESTERN BOWIE COUNTY IN NORTHEASTERN TEXAS... SOUTHEASTERN RED RIVER COUNTY IN NORTHEASTERN TEXAS... * UNTIL 1015 AM CDT. * AT 718 AM CDT, DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING HEAVY RAIN WHICH WILL CAUSE FLOODING. UP TO TWO INCHES OF RAIN HAVE ALREADY FALLEN. * SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE... NEW BOSTON, FOREMAN, DE KALB, AVERY, ENGLISH, ALMONT, BEAVERDAMS, LYDIA, GOODLAKE AND WALLACE. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... TURN AROUND, DON'T DROWN WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED ROADS. MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN VEHICLES.
UA Cossatot Scholarship Application Open through April 1
The UA Cossatot Scholarship Application is open until April 1 of each year. The deadline to complete the application for the 2020-2021 academic year is approaching, and UA Cossatot encourages all current and incoming students to apply.
The UA Cossatot Scholarship Application is one application where students can apply for institutional and foundation scholarships online and is located at www.cccua.awardspring.com.
For more information about the UA Cossatot Scholarship Application, please contact UA Cossatot Foundation Director, Dustin Roberts, at 870-584-1172 or droberts@cccua.edu.
Bowie County has its First Presumptive Case of COVID-19
TEXARKANA, TX- The first presumptive positive case of COVID-19 in Bowie County, TX has been identified. We are awaiting confirmation from the Texas Department of State Health Services. More details will be released as they become available.
Bowie County has its first presumptive case of COVID-19
Texarkana News TEXARKANA, TX- The first presumptive positive case of COVID-19 in Bowie County, TX has been identified. We are awaiting confirmation from the Texas Department of State Health Services. More details will be released as they become available. Mar. 16 2020 @ 6:05pm
The Bowie County/City of Texarkana, TX Emergency Operations Center is now operating Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Call (903) 255-5560.
UA Cossatot's Center for Student Success Notice
Canceled Events at UA Cossatot this Month
Due to the COVID-19 coronavirus, UA Cossatot has closed its campuses to students and the public until after spring break. Certain events have been canceled and will be rescheduled.
The college has canceled the lunch-and-learn event set to take place in De Queen on March 19. The second annual Miss UA Cossatot pageant scheduled for March 28 has also been canceled and will be rescheduled for a later date.
UA Cossatot has also temporarily suspended facility rentals and community events held at all UA Cossatot campuses until further notice.
The college apologizes for any inconvenience and wishes to thank the public for their support.
To All UA Cossatot Students
The safety of our students is our number one concern at UA Cossatot, and the coronavirus pandemic has made this more important than ever. We want our students to learn and we want them to have a safe environment in which to learn. That is why effective IMMEDIATELY all UA Cossatot campuses will be closed to students that take on-campus courses. All UA Cossatot campuses will be locked to outside individuals as well. This mirrors today’s announcement by Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson that all K12 schools will be closed at least through spring break.
Students, your education is important to us, that is why we have also created an online component to every in-class course at UA Cossatot. While you are away from campus, your instructors will still be able to work with you to ensure you get the most out of your education during these very trying times. You will be learning even more about that this week.
This campus closure is for ALL campuses and will be reevaluated after spring break. At that time, we will determine whether we need to keep the campuses closed or reopen them at that time. I urge you all to visit our website to learn more about the coronavirus and ways you can protect yourself. Please wash your hands often and practice social distancing if you can.
Thank you for your time. We appreciate you!
Dr. Steve Cole
Chancellor
UAC
From the Office of the Chancellor
In the UA Cossatot update that was sent on March 12th, we indicated that the Coronovirus situation was extremely fluid and could change at a moment’s notice. That moment is now as earlier today Governor Hutchinson and Education Secretary Key announced that all K12 schools will be closed this week. Our institution has a wonderfully close working relationship with all of our K12 districts and we share many of the same students. With that being said, UA Cossatot will follow suit and will close our campuses to students this week. We will continue to be closed to students until after spring break, where, at that time, we will reevaluate the Coronavirus situation. Our campuses will also be locked and closed to visitors and outside entities.
All UA Cossatot employees will be working on Monday. We will assess that situation on a day-to-day basis.
All UA Cossatot courses have been converted to have an online component and faculty will have the ability to teach this week via the Blackboard Learning System. While our maintenance department has already been working overtime to keep our campuses clean, over the next two weeks we will have the opportunity to deep clean our campuses as per CDC guidelines.
Please know that our campus will continue to work closely with the University of Arkansas System Office, UAMS, and other government entities to ensure our pandemic plan regarding COVID-19 continues to protect our students, employees, and other stakeholders.
UA Cossatot will continue to update our status on our cccua.edu website, our ED88 Facebook page, and other media outlets. These are very different times that call for very different measures and we appreciate our community’s understanding of this necessary decision.
Regards,
Dr. Steve Cole
Chancellor, UA Cossatot
Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught
While the state response to COVID-19 is one that is rapidly evolving, we do want to update you on the latest developments.
Late Friday afternoon, Governor Asa Hutchinson announced he will amend an executive order to allow expanded use of telemedicine in the state. The Governor also announced he is providing additional resources to the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) which will create 10 new lab positions and assist with much-needed help at the call center.
Additionally, the state has requested and will receive more personal protective equipment (PPE) for medical personnel and first responders.
As of Friday afternoon, there is a total of 9 presumed positive cases in Arkansas. The patients with presumed positive test results reside in the central Arkansas region. Schools in Pulaski, Grant, Jefferson, and Saline counties are currently closed. Residents in these counties are being asked to limit large gatherings to 200 people or less.
On Monday, the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) issued a public health directive to long-term care facilities across the state to question visitors about their travel over the past 14 days and to screen visitors and staff for signs of illness and fever.
All Arkansans are being asked to reconsider every trip out of state.
Dr. Jennifer Dillaha, Medical Director for Outbreak Response at ADH, advised that if you are showing symptoms (including coughing, fever, and shortness of breath), you should consult your primary care provider instead of county health units or the hospital.
If you have a medical appointment, call the healthcare provider and tell them that you have or may have COVID-19. This will help the healthcare provider’s office take steps to keep other people from getting infected or exposed.
While ADH is currently limited in the number of tests they can administer, physicians can order tests from commercial labs.
UAMS has set up a coronavirus hotline for people who have questions or feel they may have symptoms. The number is 1-800-632-4502. UAMS HealthNow is also available for free COVID-19 screenings.
To access, go to UAMS HealthNow and click on “Begin Screening.”
This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to patients of all ages across the state of Arkansas and is accessible from a smartphone, tablet, laptop or computer with video capabilities.
Arkansas Children’s Hospital announced that any family with children health questions related to COVID-19 can call 1-800-743-3616.
ADH has activated a call center to answer questions from health care providers and the public about the novel coronavirus. During normal business hours (8:00 am – 4:30 pm), urgent and non-urgent calls, please call 1-800-803-7847. After normal business hours, urgent calls needing immediate response, please call 501-661-2136.
UA Cossatot Currently Not Hosting Public Meetings
UA Cossatot is not hosting public meetings in their facilities until further notice due to the Coronavirus, Therefore, Sevier County Extension has moved the Pesticide Applicator Training to the Farm Bureau Bldg. in De Queen. What: Pesticide Applicator Training When: Thursday, March 19, 202 at 5:30 pm Where: Farm Bureau Bldg. in De Queen
UA Cossatot Scholarship Application Due April 1st
The 2020-2021 UA Cossatot scholarship application is due April 1. The online application can be found here: https://cccua.awardspring.com/
Students are encouraged to finish their application early and then follow up with whomever they have chosen to provide their recommendation letters.
Completing this online scholarship application before April 1 is the best time for students to apply for scholarships for the upcoming academic year and gives them access to all the scholarships we have available.
Home Page
null
Miss UA Cossatot Pageant Cancelled
The Miss UA Cossatot Pageant scheduled for March 28 in Lockesburg has been cancelled due to health concerns.
From the Office of the Chancellor
UA Cossatot is working closely with the University of Arkansas System Office, UAMS, and other entities to ensure our pandemic plan regarding COVID-19 protects our students, employees, and other stakeholders. Our team has met non-stop for the past several weeks to enact measures to address the COVID-19 outbreak. These measures include sharing more information campus-wide regarding prevention, altered course scheduling, restricted campus usage, and campus closures, should that need arise.
We have communicated this link on our UA Cossatot webpage to all students and employees: https://www.cccua.edu/novel-coronavirus
This link includes useful information regarding what UA Cossatot is doing locally and it offers students and employees health and safety information about COVID-19.
UA Cossatot campuses continue to prepare for our college community’s safety as well as possible closure as we have:
Created online versions of all non-technical courses offered at UA Cossatot. We are currently working on all technical courses to ensure students can maintain learning, even while being away from campus. Initiated a policy where, until further notice, we will not be allowing the use of our facilities by outside groups.
Directed our Medical Division to cancel clinical rotations at local health care facilities and teach Medical Department lecture courses via Zoom software. Developed an IT plan that allows personnel VPN access to their workstations. This will allow UA Cossatot to operate from a business standpoint while not being on campus.
Cancelled the second annual UA Cossatot Scholarship Pageant that was to be held on March 28th. We do not have a reschedule date. Encouraged UA Cossatot employees to limit non-essential business travel. While no members of the UA Cossatot community have been diagnosed with COVID-19, UA Cossatot is preparing for the potential of local transmission and we are aligning our efforts with local leaders, The UA System, UAMS, and the Arkansas Department of Health.
These are just a few of the preparations we have made to keep our students and campus community updated and better protected from the COVID-19 outbreak.
Campus leaders are meeting daily to assess this very fluid situation. We will continue to monitor and adjust our efforts, keeping student, public and, employee safety in mind.
Regards,
Dr. Steve Cole Chancellor, UA Cossatot
Cossatot Community College
Information as of: March 16, 2020 At UA Cossatot, health and safety of our campus community are top priorities. As the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak rapidly evolves in the U.S. and worldwide, UA Cossatot will continue to provide the latest updates and guidance for the campus community in one place online: cccua.edu/coronavirus.
UA Cossatot Holds Seventh Annual Come Fall in Love Event for High School Juniors
“Come Fall in Love” is an event that takes place at UA Cossatot every February. It is designed for juniors in high school to fall in love with UA Cossatot. Approximately 500 high school students visited the college to learn about careers, educational opportunities, and how they can achieve their goals by enrolling at UA Cossatot.
This past month, UA Cossatot hosted seven “Come Fall in Love” events to seven local area high schools. The high schools that brought their students to the college included; Foreman, Kirby, Ashdown, Nashville, Dierks, Horatio, and De Queen.
Upon arrival, the students were greeted and welcomed by UA Cossatot staff. Throughout the day, several sessions took place concerning career readiness, financial planning, and testimonies from alumni. The college also designated time for students to learn about programs offered at UA Cossatot, student organizations at the college, and services the college’s Educational Resource Center provides.
Students were able to sit in on college classes, play games, receive program information, and take pictures. The college also provided the students with a free lunch before they returned to their high school.
UA Cossatot Director of Student Services, Suzanne Ward, said, “Providing the basic information regarding college prior to the senior year is crucial. The more students know about career goals, academic programs, college life, and financial planning for college, the better decisions they can make about their future.”
For more information about UA Cossatot, please contact Student Services at 870-584-4471. To learn about college opportunities offered at UA Cossatot while in high school, please contact the Director of High School Programs, Julie Rhodes, at 870-584-1343.
International Women's Day was March 8th
International Women's Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women throughout the world. UA Cossatot celebrated across all three campuses on Monday, March 09, 2020 bringing awareness to all students, faculty and staff of the college by wearing a pink or purple shirt. Thank you to all who participated!
