Important Information: COVID-19

page updated May 5, 2020

In response to the COVID-19 health crisis, the 10 campuses of the University of Hawaiʻi are closed, effective immediately, to everyone except current students, employees, and select services.

On this page:

• CARES Act Emergency Funding
• Student Financial Aid FAQs
• Emergency Grading Policy
• Deadlines
• Returning to campus after travel
• Commencement
• Campus Updates
• Student Services Unit Operations
• Student Resources
• Building Closures

CARES Act Emergency Funding

The Federal CARES Act provides institutions of higher education with emergency funding to help students impacted by COVID-19. The University of Hawaii Community Colleges CARES program provides emergency grants to currently enrolled students whose lives have been disrupted by the coronavirus and are facing financial challenges. You may be eligible if you had at least $200 of expenses related to the changes in UH classes because of the coronavirus.

For more information and to apply, please visit the UH Community Colleges C.A.R.E.S. information page.

Student Financial Aid COVID-19 FAQs

Added April 16, 4pm

If you have questions about how Covid-19 will effect you and your financial aid, you can check to this Covid-19 and Financial Aid FAQ page to find your answers. If you still have questions, contact Financial Aid.

Emergency Grading Policy

Added April 9, 10am

In response to the exceptional circumstances of the spring 2020 semester, the University of Hawaiʻi has worked together as a system to develop a Credit/No Credit option for students for this semester only.

Deadlines

• The deadline to withdraw from a class with a W has been extended to April 30. I hope you will stay in your courses, but if it is just not going to work for you, we want to give you that option.
• Registration for summer and fall will begin on schedule on April 6. If you wish to discuss your schedule with an advisor, please contact them via email or through the office email. You can find your advisor in STAR-GPS.

Returning to campus after travel

Updated 7 April, 10am

If you are returning from off-island and need to visit any campus services in person, please contact the Interim Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, Judy Oliveira, at 808-235-7370 or judyanno@hawaii.edu for clearance to return to campus. 

Commencement

WCC’s commencement ceremony is postponed to December 2020 with a final date to be announced this summer. Awarded diplomas will be mailed to students over the summer. Please be sure to verify your address via MyUH.

Campus Updates

• Testing Center/Proctored Testing to be completely online as of 5pm March 27; The Hub closes starting March 24, 2020; Uala Leaf shortens hours; Commencement postponed until December; See below for details.
• Starting Monday, March 23, 2020, many campus services will be running on a modified schedule.
• UH instruction will be conducted online for the remainder of the semester starting Monday, March 23, 2020. Instructors will reach out to students with details about how to continue your coursework online.
• Campus offices and services will remain open during this time.
• View the events calendar for information about postponements and cancellations of events.

To encourage the practice of social distancing, beginning Monday, March 23, 2020, WCC offices on campus will be open for services Monday–Friday, 8:00am–4:30pm, primarily via phone and email. Appointments can be arranged by contacting the office directly. Confirmations will be sent via phone and/or via your hawaii.edu email.

Student Services and Unit Operations

1. ADA Accommodations
2. Admissions/Records
3. Bookstore
4. Counseling/Advising
5. Cashier’s Office
6. Financial Aid
7. Library
8. Testing Center
9. TRiO SSS
10. Tutoring
11. The Hub
12. Uala Leaf Cafe

ADA accommodations

Should you need ADA accommodations for online learning, please contact:

Ann Lemke, Disabilities Counselor 
808-235-7413 (for appointments) 
lemke@hawaii.edu

Admissions/Records

Geri Imai, Registrar
gerii@hawaii.edu
808-235-7432
winccar@hawaii.edu

Students may continue to drop courses online through the drop deadline 3/27.

Bookstore

The WCC Bookstore providing “touchless” services to our campus community via online and phone orders*.

Deniece Kitchin, WCC Bookstore Manager
808-235-7418
deniecek@hawaii.edu

Monday–Friday, 10am–2pm

* Online orders will be shipped to customers for free, and telephone orders will be rung up over the phone and can either be shipped or picked up in store. Purchases $25 and higher will have free shipping. Some shipping restrictions apply depending on the type of item.

Cashier’s Office

Effective Friday, May 1, 2020, the Cashier window will be adjusting their days and hours of operation for in-person transactions:

• Monday, Wednesday, Friday and pay days from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

If you are an employee and are still receiving paper checks, you can sign up for direct deposit through HiPay. If you need assistance signing up, please call our Cashier Office at 808-235-7411.

Counseling/Advising 

Ka‘ahu Alo, Counseling Coordinator
Aileen Salvador, WCC Counseling Office Assistant

808-235-7413
Fax: 808-235-7414

Appointments can be made via email, phone call or MySuccess. You may also contact your assigned counselor directly.

Financial Aid

Have questions about how Covid-19 will affect you and your financial aid? Check out this Covid-19 and Financial Aid FAQ page to find out.

Financial aid has implemented “touchless” services, operating remotely. Please contact us via phone or email.

Dayna Isa, Financial Aid Director
808-235-7449 
wccfao@hawaii.edu
Fax: 808-235-7462

Financial aid forms/documents can also be submitted via the secure UH File Drop. However, some financial aid forms need to have original signatures (not copies).  Please call the WCC Financial Aid Office first to see which forms will be acceptable via File Drop.

Financial aid recipients are expected to participate, pass all courses, and maintain satisfactory progress. If you are thinking about dropping classes, please contact the Financial Aid office first (there may be negative consequences such as repayment of money, loss of future financial aid eligibility, etc.), then contact your academic advisor for additional options.

Library 

Access to Library support and services will be provided online. For more detailed information about borrowing a laptop and other services see the WCC Library webpage.

Monday – Friday
8am – 5pm

Research and Reference Services

Students can access research and reference services online via phone, text, chat, email and Google Meet. 

808-235-7338
wccref@hawaii.edu
Text: 808-731-2275 (text messaging)

Chat/Google Meet: Access our chat reference service on the Library homepage (library.wcc.hawaii.edu). Scroll down the homepage and look for the green bubble icon. Based on the question and need, librarians will then determine whether the chat reference interaction should be moved to Google Meet and will assist students accordingly. 

Access to Books

Students who need to access library books can work with a librarian via phone, text, email or chat reference to determine what books are needed. As students work with librarians online, they will help determine whether a chapter, multiple chapters, or the entire book is needed. Library staff will then digitize the chapter(s) and email the file to students. If it is determined that an entire book is necessary, library staff will place the book(s) in a locker located outside the library entrance. Library staff will email the student(s) the pass key to unlock the locker.

Book Returns and Due Dates

The WCC Library book drop is closed until at least May 1. All due dates have been extended until May 15, so please keep your Library materials for now

Access to Library Electronic Resources

Access to online library resources is available 24-7 via the Library homepage (library.wcc.hawaii.edu). The WCC Library provides seamless access to 216,000 ebooks, more than 55,000 ejournals, 50+ library research databases, and thousands of streaming videos. To assist students in navigating through these e-resources, students should reach out to WCC Librarians via telephone, text, email, or chat reference.

For any questions regarding the information above, please call Head Librarian Sarah Gilman Sur at 808-235-7338.

Testing Center

Face-to-face proctoring of tests at the WCC Testing Center will end as of 5:00pm, March 27, 2020.

Visit the Testing Center page for more details.

In order to support the need for proctored testing, WCC is introducing remote test proctoring. “WCC Proctors for Me” will be test-proctoring done by trained Testing Center staff over ZOOM. Staff will verify student identity via picture identification, provide instructions and watch students via ZOOM for the duration of the test.

Jesse Soileau, Testing Center Manager
808-235-7498
jsoileau@hawaii.edu

Modified Testing Center procedures: 

• Schedule Appointments – via MySuccess on the Testing Center services page at least 24 hours in advance. 
• Shorter testing time – Currently, tests will be limited to 75 minutes. Accommodations for students with disabilities will continue to be made for students with documentation from Dr. Ann Lemke, lemke@hawaii.edu, 808-235-7448. 
• Identification required – Students must present a valid photo ID, course information, instructor’s name, and the exam they will be taking. You are encouraged to bring your own pen and/or pencil. 

Exceptions – Students who seek exceptions to the above protocols may make requests via the Interim Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Judy Oliveira, judyanno@hawaii.edu, 808-235-7370. 

Restroom Closures

The following restrooms will be closed to allow our janitorial staff time to focus on deep cleaning of open areas:

• Hale ‘Ākoakoa 2nd-floor restrooms next to the Student Activity Center
• Hale ‘Ākoakoa restrooms near ‘Ākoakoa 101 & 105 Conference rooms
• Hale Pālanakila 1st-floor restrooms near vending machines
• Palikū Theatre 2nd-floor restrooms
• Hale Laʻakea 3rd-floor

TRiO SSS

TRiO SSS has moved online. They are happy to assist you with tutoring and/or computer loans as needed for the remainder of the semester. 

If you need assistance, please call 808-235-7459 or email Serena Lakalaka.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

Stay safe and healthy,

Serena Lakalaka, MSCP
Counselor, TRIO SSS
lakalaka@hawaii.edu
808-235-7487

Tutoring

Scott Sutherland, Ka Piko Coordinator
808-235-7467 
scottjks@hawaii.edu

Ka Piko tutoring services (Math Lab, Speech Lab, Writing Center) currently provide appointment-based and drop-in tutoring services online via Zoom. Instructions on scheduling appointments and tutoring schedules available via https://windward.hawaii.edu/ka-piko.

Online options are also available at: 

Tutor.com – You can connect with a live tutor for a synchronous session with voice, video, chat, screen-sharing, file-sharing, and digital whiteboard capabilities. 

**The University of Hawaii’s Online Learning Academy via http://manoa.hawaii.edu/ola/about/ provides one-on-one English, math and science tutoring.

The Hub

The HUB is closed as of 3/24/2020 until further notice.

Uala Leaf Cafe

The Uala Leaf Cafe is currently closed. We hope to be able to reopen soon when the campus reopens. Until then we are with you all in spirit.

Student Resources

Building Closures

With the exceptions of Hale ʻĀkoakoa, ʻAlakaʻi and Kakoʻo, all buildings will be closed and remain locked until April 30. Occupants with keys will still be able to access the building.

Notices will be posted in all buildings to indicate which bathrooms are open and closed.

The doors and bathrooms open in Hale ʻĀkoakoa, ʻAlakaʻi and Kakoʻo may be limited:

• The doors facing Great Lawn will be open in Hale ʻĀkoakoa
• The lanai doors will be open in Hale Kakoʻo
• All entrances will be open in Hale Alakaʻi