This Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update page was provided to our College community and the public as a space for over two years of the pandemic where we shared College policies, guidelines, and amount of confirmed COVID-19 cases on campus.

While we continue to track confirmed on-campus cases and closely and consistently follow recommendations from the CDC and the state, as of June 30, 2022, this page will no longer be updated.

If any faculty, staff, or student tests positive for COVID, you must continue to immediately contact the College’s COVID Coordinator, Stephenie Vergnetti, at SVergnetti@johnson.edu. Anyone who tests positive cannot return to campus until Ms. Vergnetti receives the notification of a negative test or the required quarantine time is complete.  

The health and safety of our students, employees, and visitors on campus continue to be our top priority. If you have any concerns or questions, please contact Stephenie Vergnetti at SVergnetti@johnson.edu.

Thank you.

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The Johnson College COVID-19 Dashboard provides weekly updates on confirmed cases within our campus community.

Week ending on:	Positive COVID-19 Cases
6/28/22	1
6/21/22	2
6/14/22	1
6/7/22	1
5/31/22	0
5/24/22	2
5/17/22	1
5/10/22	1
5/3/22	2
4/26/22	0
4/19/22	0
4/12/22	2
4/5/22	0
3/29/22	0
3/22/22	0
3/15/22	0
3/8/22	1
3/1/22	1
2/22/22	2
2/15/22	4
2/8/22	3
2/1/22	5
1/25/22	2
1/18/22	5
1/11/22	3
1/4/22	0
12/28/21	0
12/21/21	0
12/14/21	2
12/6/21	4
11/29/21	3
11/22/21	3
11/15/21	1
11/8/21	1
11/1/21	0
10/25/21	0
10/18/21	1
10/11/21	0
10/4/21	1
9/27/21	2
9/20/21	3
9/13/21	2
9/6/21	1
8/30/21	0
8/24/21	0
8/16/21	0
8/9/21	0
8/2/21	0
7/26/21	0
7/19/21	0
7/12/21	0
7/5/21	0
6/28/21	0
6/21/21	0
6/14/21	0
6/7/21	0
5/31/21	0
5/24/21	0
5/17/21	0
5/10/21	0
5/3/21	0
4/26/21	1
4/19/21	2
4/12/21	2
4/5/21	2
3/29/21	0
3/22/21	2
3/15/21	2
3/8/21	0
3/1/21	0
2/22/21	1
2/15/21	3
2/8/21	1
2/1/21	1
1/25/21	3
1/19/21	3
1/11/21	0
1/4/21	0
12/28/20	0
12/21/20	0
12/14/20	1
12/7/20	1
11/30/20	1
11/23/20	1
11/16/20	0
11/9/20	0
11/2/20	1
10/26/20	0
10/19/20	0
10/12/20	0
10/5/20	0
9/28/20	0
9/21/20	0
9/14/20	0
9/7/20	0
8/31/20	0

Posted on February 28, 2022 at 12:07pm

Following the updated CDC mask policy, masks on campus will be optional beginning today, February 28, 2022. We strongly encourage non-vaccinated individuals to continue to wear a mask while around others, indoors. We will continue to monitor community levels, and if that level returns to “high status,” we may need to reinforce mask-wearing on campus.

Masks optional is only a recommendation. You may continue to wear a mask based on your personal preference if you are immunocompromised, at high risk for severe illness, or live with or have social contact with someone at high risk for severe illness. Please be considerate of those around you and wear a mask if asked. We will continue to social distance when possible. We will also continue the vaccine requirement for all employees.

if any faculty, staff, or student tests positive for COVID, you need to immediately contact the College’s COVID Coordinator, Stephenie Vergnetti, at SVergnetti@johnson.edu. Anyone who tests positive cannot return to campus until Ms. Vergnetti receives the notification of a negative test or the required quarantine time is complete.  

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Posted on January 18, 2022, at 1:05 pm

As the spring 2022 semester begins, we want to remind everyone that our on-campus face-covering policy is still in effect. All faculty, staff, students, and visitors must be masked while inside on-campus buildings, classrooms, and labs regardless of vaccination status. 

The health and safety of our campus community continue to be our top priority as we deliver our mission of student-centered, real-world, hands-on learning in a supportive and safe environment.

Also, if any faculty, staff, or student tests positive for COVID, you need to immediately contact the College’s COVID Coordinator, Stephenie Vergnetti, at SVergnetti@johnson.edu. Anyone who tests positive cannot return to campus until Ms. Vergnetti receives the notification of a negative test or the required quarantine time is complete.  

The health and safety of our campus community continue to be our top priority as we deliver our mission of student-centered, real-world, hands-on learning in a supportive and safe environment.

__________________________________________________________

Posted on August 9, 2021 at 2:07 pm

Johnson College is re-establishing its on-campus face-covering policy due to the contagious delta COVID-19 variant and Lackawanna County’s substantial COVID-19 spread. Effective immediately, all faculty, staff, students, and visitors, regardless of vaccinated status, must be masked at all times while inside on-campus buildings, classrooms, and labs.

The health and safety of our campus community continues to be our top priority as we deliver our mission of student-centered, real-world, hands-on learning in a caring and safe environment.

This plan is subject to change pending guidelines set forth by local, state, and national government officials and appropriate health agencies.

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Posted on July 14, 2021 at 8:43 am

At this time, Johnson College does not require its students, employees, or visitors to be fully vaccinated. The College strongly advises individuals who are not fully vaccinated to wear face coverings and continue to social distance when on campus. The health and safety of our students, employees, and visitors on campus continue to be our top priority, and we are closely and consistently following recommendations from the CDC and the state.

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Posted on March 29, 2021 at 2:00 pm

Fall 2021 Reopening Plan

Dear Students,

We will welcome more students back to campus for in-person classes and labs for the 2021-22 academic year starting with its summer session on June 28, 2021. Through our enhanced course offerings, we are committed to delivering our mission of providing students with real-world, hands-on learning in a caring and safe environment. Students will be able to choose either in-person or virtual classes for their general education and program theory courses, which have only been offered virtually since March 2020. Labs and lab-related coursework will continue to be delivered in-person, on our campus, or at one of our industry partner lab locations. CDC guidelines will be adhered to at all locations.

Throughout the 2021-2022 academic year, our plan includes the following:

• Campus will be zoned to ensure contact tracing. Masks will be provided, and social distancing guidelines enforced.
• Our Facilities Department is following all CDC cleaning guidelines for campus.
• The student Café will not operate as normal. Students, staff and faculty will be allowed to bring their own food and use the dining area. Tables and chairs will be set up within social distancing guidelines. We are planning to have “grab and go” items available too.
• Congregating and events will be limited.
• Housing will not be available for the foreseeable future. If you need housing, you should reach out to our office of Student Engagement for other options.

This plan is subject to change pending guidelines set forth by local, state, and national government officials and appropriate health agencies.

As we move forward from this past academic year, we’re thrilled to be able to welcome you, some for the first time, on campus, with even more flexible options for your education.

Sincerely,

Dr. Katie Pittelli
President & CEO

__________________________________________________________

Posted on June 16, 2020 at 12:12 pm

Fall 2020 Reopening Plan

Dear Students,

I am pleased to announce that Johnson College has developed a fall 2020 reopening plan which will go into effect on August 31, 2020, the first day of class. Johnson College will be welcoming students back this fall for in-person classes while operating in a hybrid model. This schedule will be in place for at least one full academic year. In this model, we will continue to deliver on our mission of providing students with “real world, hands-on learning in a caring environment.”

In this new hybrid model, we will be able to increase flexibility for our students, while prioritizing their safety and giving them the hands-on learning that they need to thrive in industry. General Education classes and program theory classes will be delivered online. Labs and lab-related coursework will be delivered in-person, in a safe manner, following social distancing guidelines, both on campus and at industry lab locations. In some cases, we may be utilizing simulation software and at home lab kits.

To ensure that our reopening plan meets the needs of our students and adheres to the guideline set forth by government and health officials, I have met regularly with local health officials, the Mayor, state officials, and other college presidents. Health officials have been sharing that the key to reopening is proper PPE, like masks, and social distancing. They also support the idea that we must be prepared to operate in new ways. The reopening plan that we have developed includes a reopening task force, who will be meeting to assist in executing and monitoring the plan.

In addition to the hybrid model of learning, the College’s plan includes the following:
• Campus will be zoned to ensure contact tracing. Masks will be provided, and social distancing guidelines enforced.
• The Facilities Department is following all CDC cleaning guidelines for campus.
• The student Café will not operate as normal. Students will be allowed to bring their own food and use the dining area. Tables and chairs will be set up within social distancing guidelines. We are planning to have “grab and go” items available to students as well.
• Congregating and events will be limited.
• Housing will not be available for the foreseeable future. Students who need housing should reach out to the office of Student Engagement for other options.

Due to the ongoing concerns regarding COVID-19, this plan is subject to change pending guidelines set forth by local, state, and national government officials and appropriate health agencies. I know this is different from how we are used to operating but this model ensures that students still get the hands-on experience and exposure to industry partners for which Johnson College is known. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate this together. I would also like to thank our industry partners for giving us the opportunity to continue to use their spaces for lab and clinical instruction. We would not be able to deliver our high-quality, hands-on education without them.

Thank you, students, for your continued hard-work and adaptability. Faculty and staff are available to help you and are committed to helping you achieve your academic and career goals. We will slowly be reopening campus over the summer as Pennsylvania transitions through its reopening plan. Students will be finishing their requirements from the spring semester and faculty and staff will be preparing for the students’ return in the fall. We stay committed to educating the essential workforce of tomorrow and will continue to demonstrate how We Work.

Sincerely,

Dr. Katie Pittelli
President & CEO

To read the complete plan, please click here.

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Posted on April 1, 2020 at 8:20 A.M.

Dear Campus Community,

All of us at Johnson College hope that you are all doing well and keeping yourself and your loved ones safe and healthy. Your well-being and safety are most important to us. We have been doing everything we can with the hopes of opening our doors back up for the remainder of this Spring semester. Unfortunately, with the extension of the social distancing guidelines, and Pennsylvania’s Stay at Home Order, we will not be able to be back on campus for the remainder of this semester. Due to these factors, the remainder of the semester will be taught online through D2L.

Commencement is an important tradition to our Johnson College community. During this extraordinary time, Johnson College believes our graduates should still have the opportunity to celebrate this occasion with their classmates, instructors, families, and friends. We have rescheduled our commencement ceremony to Saturday, August 8, 2020.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our students for being flexible and understanding of the situation that we are all in. I’ve been receiving wonderful feedback from them about how their classes are going and their interactions with instructors and staff. Our students prove to us time and time again that they are up to any challenge that faces them. They are adaptable and hard-working, which are just a few of the traits that make them so successful.  

We would also like to acknowledge and give our gratitude to all those essential businesses who are working hard during this time to supply the life sustaining services that they provide. Thank you to our industry partners, alumni, and current students who are working on the front lines in the healthcare field, transportation, manufacturing, logistics, and food services. We couldn’t be more proud of you and thankful for all that you do.

And finally, I would like to give a big thank you to our faculty and staff. We truly would not be able to do what we do without you. Your dedication, innovative thinking, and quick response has made this transition to online learning as smooth as it could possibly be. Thank you for continuously going above and beyond for our students.

Stay strong and focused, Johnson College. As we navigate this new situation together, I want to remind everyone that it is temporary, and we are all in this together. Faculty and staff are still available to help students and are committed to helping them achieve their academic and career goals. We remain dedicated to delivering the best hands-on education that we can. Students will get their hands-on lab hours completed even though it may not be in the same traditional manner. But that is the great thing about Johnson College, we know how to respond quickly and creatively to find solutions. Even in times of adversity, we continue to show everyone just how we work.

Sincerely,

Dr. Katie Pittelli
President & CEO

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Posted on March 30, 2020 at 8:50 A.M.

Dear Campus Community,

For the safety of our students and for their loved ones, we have made the decision to postpone our annual commencement ceremony to Saturday August 8, 2020 at 10:00 A.M. at the Theater at North [1539 N. Main Ave. in Scranton]. During this extraordinary time, Johnson College believes you should still have the opportunity to celebrate this occasion with your classmates, teachers, families, and friends.

A graduation practice will take place on Friday, August 7, 2020 at 9 A.M. in the Moffat Building.
Students will still receive their cap and gown, have the opportunity to meet with college administrators, and will receive tickets for the event. The Office of the Registrar will also still issue diplomas to students.

Johnson College will have more information regarding Grad Finale and Awards Night in the coming weeks.

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Posted on March 16, 2020 at 11:53 A.M.

Dear Campus Community,

Per the Governor’s instructions, and confirmed by PDE, we are considered a non-essential business and are requiring all employees to work from home starting tomorrow, March 17. Please continue to be available to students. While the physical campus is closed, our staff and faculty must be available for students. Faculty, please continue your plans to get all course work online. We will continue to update you as we receive more information.

Instructional classes and campus labs will resume on Monday, March 23 in an online format through April 14. Students can log into D2L for specific class instructions. Students are encouraged to reach out to their faculty member with any questions on how a class will be delivered. All internships, clinicals, and off campus labs may continue, as long as the associated organization is operating. Students should be in contact with faculty members to know if an assigned organization is open.

All larger events have been postponed, including the Spring Career Fair. Alternative plans are being made for the Spring Open House. We will share additional information as plans develop.

Student housing will remain closed through April 14. Resident students with questions or extenuating individual circumstances should contact the Office of Student Engagement, (570) 702-8912, or e-mail Nolan Renz, Director of Student Engagement, at nrenz@johnson.edu.

Your health and safety is our top priority. Please use caution. If you, or a loved one, or someone you have been in contact with has been, or is sick, please do not come onto campus or attend any face to face experience. Continue to look to the CDC and other health related organizations for the most up to date and factual information:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/summary.html#anchor_1580064337377
Pennsylvania Department of Health
https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx
Pennsylvania Emergency Preparedness Guide
https://www.ready.pa.gov/BeInformed/EmergencyPreparednessGuide/Pages/default.aspx

Thank you Johnson College community for working together to get through this most challenging and unprecedented time.

Sincerely,

Dr. Katie Pittelli
President & CEO

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Posted on March 11, 2020 at 2:03 pm.

Dear Johnson College families,

I wanted to reach out to you personally to share this information.

Effective Monday, March 16, as a precaution to reduce potential pathways for the spread of COVID-19 within our community, we are extending Spring Break. During this time, we will continue to assess the situation and plan further steps as we receive information. We plan to resume regular instruction on Monday, March 23.

In the meantime, we encourage you to follow the guidelines set forth by the CDC to protect yourself and help prevent the spreading of COVID-19. Although there are no confirmed cases, our students’ health and safety is the top priority.

Please see the letter below that was sent to the campus community earlier this week.

This is a difficult decision, and one we came to after many internal discussions with several constituent groups. I assure you that our faculty, staff, and administrators will continue to work to ensure that your student is safe and successful. We look forward to welcoming them back to campus soon.

Sincerely,

Dr. Katie Pittelli

President & CEO

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Dear Johnson College Community,

The Johnson College senior leadership team is committed to the health and wellbeing of our students, staff, faculty, and visitors. We wanted to take this time to update you on the latest information pertaining to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the preemptive measures we have already begun taking on our campus.

Facilities and custodial staff on campus thoroughly clean all classrooms, offices, and common areas on campus daily. The staff has changed cleaning products that are specifically formulated to be more effective against diseases such as the coronavirus. In addition, disinfecting wipes and hand sanitizing stations will be available in all buildings on campus, starting Monday, March 9, 2020.

In addition, our food service provider, Metz Culinary Management, has assembled a task force that will formulate action plans for all likely scenarios. They are actively collaborating with key suppliers, relaunching ServSafe training for all employees and adding additional training regarding the spread and prevention of COVID-19.

You can protect yourself, and aid in the spreading of disease, by following the suggested prevention tips below:

• Cover coughs or sneezes with your elbow. Do not use your hands!
• Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
• Clean surfaces frequently, including countertops, light switches, cell phones, remotes, and other frequently touched items.
• Contain: if you are sick, stay home until you are feeling better.

Below you will find additional links to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Pennsylvania Department of Health regarding the virus as well as preventative measures you may take.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/summary.html#anchor_1580064337377
Pennsylvania Department of Health
https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx
Pennsylvania Emergency Preparedness Guide
https://www.ready.pa.gov/BeInformed/EmergencyPreparednessGuide/Pages/default.aspx

We will continue to take the necessary precautions on campus and we encourage you to do the same at your homes. To support these efforts, and to prevent the spread of illness, we recommend that if you are experiencing flu or cold symptoms, please stay home from work and school.
Thank you for your cooperation with this matter.

Sincerely,
Johnson College Senior Leadership Team