COVID-19 Updates and Reporting

By proper handwashing and keeping up with vaccinations and boosters to protect against COVID-19 and the flu, you can help prevent respiratory illnesses all year long! This webpage is a resource that will be updated as required when new guidance is provided through the U.S. or Maine Center for Disease Control (CDC). We highly encourage you to check here regularly to stay current on the latest developments for respiratory illness prevention.

WCCC is committed to following CDC health recommendations: In response to the updated guidance from the US CDC, individuals who test positive for COVID-19 can now return to their daily activities if they have been fever-free for 24 hours without medication and their symptoms are improving. However, it is important to note that even without symptoms, individuals with COVID-19, RSV, or Influenza may still be contagious and should take precautions (listed below) to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses. WCCC continues to advise individuals feeling unwell to stay home and to wear masks, cover coughs, and practice frequent handwashing when returning to campus.

If you have symptoms of respiratory illness, do not come to class or work! If you are feeling sick, stay home and notify your instructors or supervisor. If you test positive for COVID-19, you should remain off campus and notify the college. Students should notify Nichole Cote at 207-454-1012 or ncote@wccc.me.edu and employees should notify Tina Erskine at 207-454-1002 or terskine@wccc.me.edu . These COVID-19 contacts will work with you to determine when it is safe for you to return to campus.

Respiratory Virus Testing: Testing for respiratory viruses can help you decide what to do next, like getting treatment to reduce your risk of severe illness and taking steps to lower your chances of spreading a virus to others. Testing is an additional prevention strategy that you can choose to assist in making decisions to further protect yourself and others. Additional information on testing can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/testing.html

Immunizations and the COVID-19 Vaccine: Immunizations are a core prevention strategy to lower risk from respiratory viruses. WCCC strongly encourages all learners to receive the COVID-19 vaccinations and remain up-to-date on boosters, but it is not required. There is one exception: WCCC students in some programs may require vaccination against COVID-19 due to requirements at third-party locations, such as clinical or internship sites. Visit https://www.vaccines.gov/search/ to find available COVID-19 and flu vaccines.  Stay Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines Including Boosters

Face Coverings: Masks are currently optional on the WCCC campus for students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Wearing a mask can help lower the risk of respiratory virus transmission. When worn by a person with an infection, masks reduce the spread of the virus to others. Masks can also protect wearers from breathing in infectious particles from people around them. Different masks offer different levels of protection. Wearing the most protective one you can comfortably wear for extended periods of time that fits well (completely covering the nose and mouth) is the most effective option.

For more information: If you have questions about the above information, please reach out to one of the contacts listed above or to Tyler Stoldt, Dean of Enrollment Management and Student Services, at (207)-454-1032 or tstoldt@wccc.me.edu.

Fall 2023 HEERF Book Grant Funds - AUGUST 30, 2023

Emergency book grants authorized under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) to assist currently enrolled WCCC students who are experiencing financial difficulties due to the COVID-19 outbreak are now available.  WCCC applied for supplemental funds to provide book grants to qualifying students in order to reduce financial hardships and encourage enrollment and retention.  These institutional funds must be used for books.

Apply for Fall 2023 Book Funds by visiting the Financial Aid tab on the MyWCCC Portal.  Click here to access the portal, please note you will need to login to complete the application.

MCCS BOARD ENDS STUDENT COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENT - FEBRUARY 8, 2023

Maine’s community colleges have ended a COVID-19 vaccine requirement for on-campus students, effective immediately.

The student vaccine protocol had required all on-campus students to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Maine Community College System (MCCS) President David Daigler cited better access and range of preventative and treatment options for COVID-19, strong vaccination rates in Maine, and improved outcomes for pandemic victims as key factors in his recommendation to the board of trustees.

“I believe the board should consider ending the vaccine requirement for on-campus students, while simultaneously adopting language urging students to get the COVID-19 vaccination and boosters,” Daigler told the board at its regular meeting on Wednesday, February 8th.

The MCCS Board of Trustees voted unanimously to rescind the student vaccine requirement and adopt language “to strongly encourage all learners to receive the COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters.”

“We have been monitoring COVID-19 benchmarks all along, and this vote is a thoughtfully and carefully considered decision by the board,” Chairwoman Joyce Maker said. “It is the right time to adopt new tools and tactics to best address managing COVID-19 on campus.”

Daigler announced that the seven colleges will promptly strengthen and expand wellness education programs aimed at mitigating the spread of respiratory and other illnesses, including COVID-19, influenza, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).

“It’s been three full years since the pandemic began, and the situation has changed since we initiated this vaccination protocol,” Daigler said. “It’s time to change our approach by ending the requirement and focusing on wellness education programs.”

“The health and safety of the people in our community remains our top priority, and we know the pandemic is not over. That is why we are coupling this decision with a commitment to expanding and strengthening our on-campus wellness education efforts,” Daigler said.

Trustee Dr. Mark Fourre, president of Coastal Healthcare Alliance and a longtime senior health care executive, supported the change.

“A successful vaccination campaign and natural immunity now provide a significant level of protection for our communities. We also have new tools available to treat the virus. That shift, coupled with the urgent need to prepare our workforce for the future, lead me to believe that now is the right time to update the student vaccine protocol,” Fourre said.

There is one exception to the new protocol: Students in some programs may be required to have a COVID-19 vaccination due to the requirements at third-party locations, such as student placement sites.

Maine’s seven community colleges serve approximately 25,000 people a year at nine campuses and four off-campus centers across the state. The policy affects students at all those locations. Students at off-site locations must follow the site requirements.

Expanded wellness education efforts may include, but are not limited to, facilitating access to health care tools such as vaccination and flu shot clinics, direct messages to students, digital and print messaging in public spaces, and wellness messages in campus community newsletters.

“This was not an easy decision because we don’t want to send a signal that our community doesn’t need to take any COVID-19 preventative measures. Nothing could be further from the truth,” Daigler said. “The health and safety of our community remains our top priority, but requiring students to have the vaccine is no longer a primary way to accomplish that.”

MASKING NOTICE FROM PRESIDENT MINGO - FACE COVERINGS REQUIRED FOR ALL INDIVIDUALS ON CAMPUS - FEBRUARY 6, 2023

WCCC COVID-19 CONFIRMED CASE COUNT AS OF February 7, 2023

Washington County Community College (WCCC) will report here on any confirmed cases of a person with COVID-19 who has been on campus or at a college facility and may have exposed other members of the campus community.

Note that this count is partly based on self-reporting to the college. We cannot provide details about individual cases.

2/7/2023: Please note this chart is updated when a case is provided to WCCC or an individual is recovered.  The recovered cases are the total from the start of the pandemic.

Current Cases: Recovered Cases:
5 57

NOTICE OF COVID-19 EMERGENCY RELIEF FUNDING AND BOOK GRANT AVAILABILITY -  September 14, 2022

The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Emergency Grant Funding application process is open for the Fall semester of 2022. HEERF funding was a response by the United States Department of Education to assist students in continuing their education during COVID-19. Because HEERF emergency funds are federally-funded, eligibility criteria and guidelines are restricted by the U.S. Department of Education to students who meet the general eligibility criteria listed on the application.

Students can request HEERF emergency funds to assist with the cost of Technology Needed to Support Remote Learning, Pay Rent or Utility Bills, Pay Childcare Expenses, Food Insecurity, Transportation Expenses, Healthcare Expenses, Pay Course Tuition/Fees and purchase supplies for classes. Please be sure to provide a brief explanation as to why you are requesting the funds.  Book grants are also available with the new funding for the Fall 2022 semester.

Apply for Fall 2022 Funds by visiting the Financial Aid tab on the MyWCCC Portal.  Click here to access the portal, please note you will need to login to complete the application.

If you need assistance, please contact Financial Aid at (207) 454-1033 or via email at fa@wccc.me.edu.

Click here to see HEERF fund reporting.

UPDATED STUDENT VACCINATION POLICY AS OF June 22, 2022

Effective June 22, 2022, as a condition of enrollment and attendance, all learners, with the exception of learners enrolled exclusively in online courses who will not be physically accessing Maine Community College and Washington County Community College-owned or controlled indoor spaces, shall provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19, subject to the medical exemption recognized under applicable laws. Learners will be required to provide proof of receipt of at least one dose of vaccination prior to attending their first in-person class and provide proof of any required second dose by the start of the following semester.

Further, boosters are strongly recommended for all learners but not required at this time, however, the System President is authorized to enact a booster requirement, based on CDC guidance and in consultation with the College Presidents, to maintain the safety of the Colleges.

Students living in campus housing must provide proof of being fully vaccinated prior to move-in.  

This protocol will remain in effect until June 30, 2023.

MCCS Vaccine Protocol Frequently Asked Q&A

Medical Exemption Request Form

Updated Face Covering Protocol - March 9, 2022

Effective 3/9/2022, face coverings are optional on the WCCC campus for students, faculty, staff, and visitors.

Click here to view a message from President Mingo on updated face covering protocols as of March 9, 2022.

Previous COVID-19 Updates