Coronavirus (COVID-19)

COVID-19 is the disease caused by a virus strain that began spreading in people in December 2019. The virus is contagious and potentially fatal. It is suspected that it is transmitted through coughing and sneezing of infected individuals. Learn more about the coronavirus at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.

Reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death for confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure. If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever and symptoms, such as cough or difficulty breathing, call your healthcare provider for medical advice. Learn more at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/steps-when-sick.html.

• Practice social distancing.
• Avoid close contact with sick people.
• While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a disposable tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. If a cough or sneeze sneaks up on you and no tissue is available, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like the flu.

If you are sick with influenza symptoms, it is recommended you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone. You must take the time to recover and not spread illnesses to others. In the event of absences, please work directly with your instructor or supervisor. 

Social distancing means minimizing any congregating of large groups, canceling non-essential meetings or events, and maintaining a distance of six feet from others. View the Social Distancing Guidelines at Work from the Society for Human Resource Management for more information.

If there is a confirmed case of coronavirus involving a Blackhawk student, faculty, or staff member, the College does not intend to close campus locations. The College will follow the guidance of county and state public health officials. The College will continue to follow strict safety and cleaning protocols to keep the Blackhawk community safe.

For more information about outbreaks in the State of Wisconsin, please visit https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/outbreaks/index.htm.

Blackhawk is continuing to monitor what is happening around our nation and region regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19). All updates will be sent via email to Blackhawk students and employees. In addition, updates will be shared on our website (www.blackhawk.edu) and made available on our Coronavirus (COVID-19) web page (www.blackhawk.edu/coronavirus). Students and employees are also encouraged to sign-up for SAFE Alerts. 

• Issue a SAFE Alert message (emergency notification system for BTC students, faculty, and staff)
• Post information on our website (www.blackhawk.edu)
• Post information on Facebook (www.facebook.com/blackhawktech)
• Send notifications to the local media, but cannot guarantee coverage or listing. Please note: BTC is listed as Blackhawk Technical College, not Blackhawk Schools or Black Hawk Schools.

• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html  
• https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/disease/covid-19.htm
• https://dpi.wi.gov/sspw/2019-novel-coronavirus

The Rock County Coronavirus Response Hub provides information, maps, and resources about the coronavirus response in Rock County. For more information, please visit https://coronavirus-response-rockcountylio.hub.arcgis.com/. 

Facemasks are currently required inside all Blackhawk Technical College locations. Research has shown that facemasks slwo the spread of the virus. If you do not have a mask, one will be provided for you. If you are unable to wear a mask due to medical reasons, arrangements can be made for accommodations by visiting Campus Safety on Central Campus. Email CampusSafety@blackhawk.edu for more information.

BTC has seen an increase in the number of COVID-19 related investigations and is actively taking steps to increase testing. For its students and employees, the College has acquired and will provide the option of at-home test kits through the investigative process. Individuals will complete a lower nasal swab and mail in the specimen via a postage-paid UPS label. The results will be private and confidential.

In addition, the College is coordinating with the Wisconsin National Guard to offer free COVID-19 testing on campus. Testing will be offered on BTC’s Central Campus in Janesville beginning on Oct. 21 and will continue through Dec. 10. Testing will occur on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Drive-thru testing will be open to the community. No appointment is necessary, though pre-registration is recommended. Please pre-register at register.covidconnect.wi.gov. Due to limited testing supplies, up to 300 tests will be administered per testing day. There will be signs directing the community who will enter the testing site from Sunny Lane off County Road G. Please contact Rock County Emergency Management at (608) 758-8440 with questions about the community testing.

Testing is a cooperative effort between Blackhawk Technical College, Rock County Public Health Department, Rock County Emergency Management, and the Wisconsin National Guard. As a note, although we are confirming the dates above, it is important to recognize that these are subject to change based on needs identified by the COVID-19 Response Team as this response continues to evolve.  In addition, we may be able to scale up additional support as we move forward if the need is evident.

 Community Testing Information

Hundreds of laptops and Wi-Fi hotspots are ready to be deployed to Blackhawk Technical College students thanks to a cooperative effort between the College’s Library and Information Technology Services teams. The equipment loan program will allow students to borrow laptops and Wi-Fi hotspots at no additional charge to the student.

• Email library@blackhawk.edu
• Call (608) 757-7705
• Use Starfish student request (raise a hand) or advisor/instructor referral
• See the Equipment Loan Frequently Asked Questions Page

Learn more about the Laptop Loan Program here.

• Central Campus: park in Parking Lot K as well as the lot directly north of the Administration Building.
• Monroe Campus: park in the lot outside door MO-3.
• Hedberg Public Library: use password "community" and park in the covered parking lot for the strong connection. Learn more at https://www.hedbergpubliclibrary.org//covid19.html. 

 Any Blackhawk student in need can email btcstudentcupboard@blackhawk.edu to request a prepacked bag of food. The Student Cupboard team will follow up to arrange a time for you to pick up your food. You do not need to be a current confirmed user of the Student Cupboard to receive a bag. The Student Cupboard is currently offering curbside pick-up on Central Campus.

• View resources in Rock County at https://rockcountyresources.org/resource-categories/food/.
• View resources in Green County at http://www.swcap.org/pdf/SWComActionFoodPan1.pdf.

Did you know we provide free, online tutoring services? It’s true – Tutoring Services are available remotely via NetTutor. If you have any questions about NetTutor, or any other tutoring needs, please contact testingcenter@blackhawk.edu.

1. Login into MyBTC
2. Select Blackboard Courses (under Quick Links)
3. Click on the tools menu within your course
4. Click on "24_7 Online Tutoring" from the left
5. Follow the NetTutor prompts to upload your papers for review or receive tutoring help for specified listed courses

While the College is open for students, we understand that COVID-19 remains a threat in our community. Therefore, in addition to in-person services, our Student Services team continues to offer their services virtually.

• Academic Advising: Advisors and others are still available by email, phone, and Zoom. You can easily schedule an appointment with your Academic Advisor through Starfish (available through your MyBTC login). Once you are on Starfish, you can set up or update appointments with your advisor, connect to your advisor via email, and locate your advisor’s phone number. Your advisor should appear as one of your “Connections” in the “My Success Network” tab.
• Counseling Services: We're here to help you manage stress and anxiety, get linked to community resources, and apply for emergency funding. Counseling services are free and available for all current students. For more information, please contact Laura Becker, School Counselor and Case Manager, at (608) 757-7642 or counseling@blackhawk.edu.
• Technology Resources: Our Information Technology Team has you covered. There are training videos and resources available in the Student Technology Services Yuja Library (available through MyBTC). The trainings are designed to help you set-up and access Zoom meetings with your instructors and other college staff, including your advisor. You can even use Zoom to collaborate with other students and conduct meetings and study groups.

Blackhawk is closely monitoring the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation and is actively planning for the reopening of the college. The college has announced a staged plan to reopen. The detailed 7-Stage plan can be found here.

Effective Monday, March 1, 2021, Blackhawk will enter Stage 6 of our 7-Stage Reopening Plan. Facemasks will continue to be required inside all college buildings; including in all classrooms and labs. The College is open to the public, students, and employees. Stage 6 is similiar to Stage 5 with the exception of increased in-person gatherings. Events/activities with up to 50 can meet in-person in a space that allows for physical distancing is approved by Campus Safety.

• 211 Wisconsin: When you need help and don't know where to turn, 211 is your one-stop connection to the local services you need, like utility assistance, housing, food, elder care, crisis intervention, alcohol and other drug recovery and much more. To learn more, visit https://211wisconsin.communityos.org/.
• FindHelp.org: Find food assistance, help paying bills, and other free or reduced cost programs, including new programs for the COVID-19 pandemic. To get started, visit https://www.findhelp.org/.