Tuesday, January 4, 2022

Dear MDC Family,

I hope this message finds you well as we welcome the start of 2022 and begin this spring term. I wish each of you and your loved ones a year filled with health, happiness and success. I look toward the New Year with immense optimism and gratitude for all that we have accomplished together.

With the increase in infection rates across our community and country, we must continue to do our part to prevent the further transmission of COVID-19. We are in this together, and each and every one of us plays an important role in protecting our own health and safety, as well as that of our neighbors and loved ones.

Therefore, in accordance with CDC Guidelines, we are advising you of the following recommendations and steps we are taking to ensure a safe and successful spring semester:

1. We encourage everyone to wear a mask when inside any MDC facility and outdoors when physical distancing is not possible — even if you are vaccinated.
2. Please continue to follow healthy habits, including best practices, such as frequent hand washing and staying home when not feeling well.
3. The College will continue enhanced cleaning protocols for its facilities including the regular disinfecting of offices, conference rooms, bathrooms, lobbies, classrooms, labs, libraries, fitness centers, elevators, escalators, stairwells, other high-touch surfaces and common areas. The College is in compliance with the International Building Code and ASHRAE standards for ventilation, making air quality at MDC safe.
4. COVID-19 testing remains available at our MDC campuses. Appointments can be scheduled at www.curative.com.
5. If you are not vaccinated, get vaccinated. Vaccines are readily available at no cost and have been demonstrated to be safe and effective against the COVID-19 virus. Even if you’ve had COVID-19, you should still get vaccinated. The College will extend the vaccination incentive program through February 1, 2022.
6. COVID-19 vaccination at North Campus is ongoing. While walk-ups are accepted, registering will likely reduce your wait time. Pop-up vaccine sites will be available at all campuses shortly. See more information on these temporary sites at the end of this email.
   • North Campus hours are 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. Register to be vaccinated at North Campus. 
   • Pop-up site information will be available at each campus and posted on www.mdc.edu/coronavirus.

As we embark on 2022, we will also continue to focus on supporting endeavors that align with MDC’s strategic priorities to elevate student success by reimagining the student experience, accelerating academic excellence and innovation, securing our future and cultivating a culture of care. Our enrollment efforts continue to be a top priority, and each one of you plays a critical role in the strategies that will help us achieve our enrollment goals.

One such effort is the expansion of Single Stop’s mental health counseling services through a partnership with Mantra Health, which now includes after-hours and weekend sessions to accommodate our students’ schedules. At MDC, we recognize our students’ well-being is essential in ensuring their academic success. Students now also have access to a new 24/7 crisis line: 1-888-983-0033, and we are establishing a faculty-led task force on student wellness and mental health.

On the academic side, we are committed to supporting faculty who strive to innovate. I’m proud to announce Round 3 of the Innovation Fund, which will award faculty members with up to $10,000 for projects that utilize Artificial Intelligence in ways that enhance teaching and learning. I am grateful to the many faculty who have signed on this spring term as early adopters of Canvas, MDC’s new Learning Management System. As implementation moves into high gear this year, we look forward to an inclusive, iterative process that supports our vision for a modernized instructional and student-learning platform.

We have already laid the groundwork for improving access and closing the equity gap with academic programs such as Rising Black Scholars and Presidential Scholars. And we have established Miami Dade College as the preeminent institution for training a future global workforce through partnerships with IBM, Microsoft, Amazon and SoftBank, among others.

In the coming months, thanks to the leadership and mentorship of our faculty, we will see the enhancement of some of MDC’s acclaimed programs, such as the life-changing experience of undergraduate research across disciplines. The spotlight will also shine on us once again with the 39th edition of the Miami Film Festival in March, where the world’s best emerging and established filmmakers are showcased to the community.

With everything that we have ahead of us, I am filled with tremendous confidence that we will continue to build on our academic excellence and student success even during these extraordinary times. I am energized by your passion and dedication to our students, and look forward to continuing to work with you all on our mission of changing lives through the power of higher education. Have a Happy New Year and a very successful spring term.

Madeline