PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — With Aroostook County experiencing its most substantial increase in COVID-19 cases thus far, the University of Maine at Presque Isle and Northern Maine Community College are helping students finish the semester safely through increased online learning and adapting to the necessary safety precautions.
As of Wednesday, nine UMPI students were in quarantine, with eight in Park Hall, a residence hall designated for those in COVID-19 isolation. President Ray Rice confirmed that four of the students tested positive for COVID-19. Those students were released from isolation on Friday.
The other students received negative test results but remain in quarantine, in adherence to Maine CDC guidelines, due to contact with the students who had tested positive.
One of the four positive students had already been traveling home when they learned about their test results and is currently in quarantine at home, Rice said.
No commuter students, faculty or staff members were deemed at risk of COVID-19 exposure. Rice said that individual dorm rooms are the only locations on campus where students are allowed to not wear masks or face coverings, which might have played a role in the small number of students exposed.
“We were fortunate that the number of individuals who had to take part in contact tracing was very low,” Rice said. “That happened in large part because of the safety protocols we have on campus. Students have been very careful about wearing their masks in public.”
The recent quarantines mark the first time throughout the fall semester that students have tested positive for COVID-19 on the UMPI campus. A previous positive test result for an employee earlier in November turned out to be a false positive.
All UMPI students in quarantine have been connecting with family, friends and professors through the university’s online learning platform and video communication. Rice noted that more than 25 campus and community members are taking part in a “meal train” to provide daily meals and snacks to students, in addition to meals received from the campus dining services. One of those meals was a special Thanksgiving dinner from the Mapleton Lions Club.
“It’s been great to see faculty, staff and the community step up to help these students, especially since the students had hoped to be traveling home for the holiday,” Rice said.
Wednesday marked the final day of on-campus classes before the remainder of students left for Thanksgiving break. Unlike in the pre-pandemic world, students will not return to campus until the spring semester. They will complete the remainder of their coursework online.
On the final day of that break, the UMaine System announced that a non-residential UMPI student has tested positive for COVID-19 and is now in quarantine.
Looking ahead to the spring semester, Rice said that classes will begin one week later than normal — on Jan. 25 — to ensure that all students, faculty and staff members are tested for COVID-19 as soon as they arrive.
“We’re closely watching the surge in COVID-19 cases across the country and the increase in Aroostook County,” Rice said. “As with this semester, we will be prepared to go fully online if need be.”
NMCC is in the process of transitioning all classes online and reducing the number of employees on campus in response to the larger increase of COVID-19 cases in Aroostook County.
As of Wednesday, President Tim Crowley said that no more than 60 employees were working on campus at a time. Thus far no NMCC students, faculty or staff members have tested positive for COVID-19.
“Our instructors in the trade and nursing programs have really stepped up to increase lab times for students before Thanksgiving. After Thanksgiving, students will only have to watch lectures online,” Crowley said. “[During the last weeks of the semester] 90 percent of what we do on campus will occur online.”
Throughout the semester, NMCC has reduced the number of students in certain trade, technical and nursing classes and conducted all other courses fully online.
English and communication instructor Jessica Bartlett has found herself relying on email and video meetings more than ever to engage students in her courses and connect with them on a personal level. More than ever, she has seen how family and work obligations can affect students’ learning habits.
“I think we [NMCC instructors] have had to be more flexible with deadlines and really encourage students to take care of themselves,” Bartlett said. “We’ve had a lot of conversations about self-care.”
Currently, NMCC expects to begin its spring semester on Jan. 11. Bartlett said she will continue to offer her courses online. Despite missing the chance to see her students in person, she has gained even more respect for the work ethic that students put into earning their education.
“I know students who have gone to the library parking lot to get access to WiFi because they don’t have broadband internet at home. Many students are parents and caregivers for other family members,” Bartlett said. “Now is a time when having empathy and compassion for our students is especially important.”
