Admissions
Academics
Student Life
Dear Campus Community,
The holiday season is only a couple of weeks away and the winter break is just around the corner. Before we know it, we’ll all be starting our 2021 classes. I thought it would be helpful to let you know the plans for the holidays and the new term.
Here’s the holiday schedule:
November 25 – 29 Thanksgiving Holiday for students, faculty, and staff
November 30 Classes Resume
December 12 Last Day of Classes
December 19 – January 3 Winter Break for students, faculty, and staff
January 4 Faculty and Staff return to work
January 13-15 New Student Orientation
January 18 Martin Luther King Day
January 19 2021 Classes Begin
The real question is what will happen on January 19 when classes are due to begin? As we all know, it is currently impossible to predict with a high degree of accuracy. At present, the number of new cases, hospitalizations, and deaths due to COVID-19 are on the rise. A second wave of infection is considered likely in the post-holiday cold and flu season. Given this information and the current guidance we have from local, state, and federal agencies, it is probable that classes for the WI21 term will be delivered in the same way that they are this fall term.
Should the situation worsen, and we are directed to fully close, we will suspend all on-campus activities including classes, curbside checkout programs, on-campus productions, and revert to fully virtual operation until we are permitted to reopen. For information on the latest state health guidelines, please click here for Los Angeles and here for Chicago.
Eventually, the situation will improve. As the infection rate slows and guidance allows, we will begin to move more activities back to our campuses, being careful to maintain the highest level of caution and taking all preventative measures. We will do so with the utmost regard for everyone’s comfort and safety. We will not, under any circumstances, place our students, faculty, or staff at risk by requiring them to be on campus if there is any risk.
In the meantime, please continue to take the safety precautions outlined by your local government, so that together, we begin to flatten the curve again.
Dear Columbia College Hollywood Community,
Around the globe, education is changing to embrace remote learning unlike ever before. At CCH we’ve spent two quarters as a virtual campus and it’s truly impressive to see how everyone has stepped up to make it work well. Despite a few challenges here and there, it has been a very smooth transition and I’m really proud of all the hard work our students, staff, and faculty have invested in making our online classes the best possible learning experience. It’s encouraging to see the ongoing dialogue of continuous review and improvement driving innovation and change in response to the pandemic.
Now that we’re nearing the midway point of the summer quarter, our thoughts turn to what the fall quarter holds in store. It is clear everyone would welcome the opportunity to return to campus, and we had hoped to reopen for the fall, but at this point that just isn’t realistic. Many of you have voiced your concerns about reverting to fully on ground operations, and we hear you. It just isn’t time – we can’t yet guarantee everyone’s safety, and that’s our top priority. Therefore, we will not require anyone to come to the campus; any on-campus activity will be voluntary.
As I said in my last letter, CCH is committed to reopening our campus facilities in a safe, practical manner. Information from the CDC, state, and local authorities changes constantly and does not present the clear, stable guidance necessary to ensure that it is time to be on campus together again. Until the authorities can provide solid, confirmed steps for a safe return, it’s not likely we’ll have the level of confidence necessary to reopen fully.
In the fall, we plan to continue offering students access to equipment with Curbside Checkout. Students will have limited access to campus facilities for productions and other activities. If it is determined it is safe and appropriate to have students on campus, a hybrid version of some courses will be offered. A description of hybrid classes follows.
We expect to rely heavily on the remote and MPD class formats as they provide the most options for students, faculty, and staff in the safest possible manner.
Our Campus Safety team has developed safety strategies which will be implemented once we are able to return to campus. All students, faculty, and staff will receive an operations manual based on state and federal guidelines for safety and trained on the procedures, ensuring that everyone understands and accepts their role in maintaining safe and sanitary conditions. A similar manual for production safety protocols is provided for student production crews.
The strategy includes infection prevention and control measures supported by programs to promote good hygiene. Increased cleaning protocols will ensure that classrooms and common areas are disinfected regularly. The equipment checkout department will sanitize all video and audio hardware between each use and hand sanitizer stations will be installed throughout the campus.
All areas will be evaluated and modified as necessary to ensure proper physical distancing, including reduced seating capacities and physical dividers. Signs reinforcing proper hygiene and physical distancing will be posted throughout. We will implement temperature screening as people enter the campus. If an illness is detected, we will execute an isolation and contact tracing procedure.
Some colleges have altered their calendars, shifting start and end dates for the fall. We have chosen to avoid the disruption this will cause. CCH will maintain the published calendar, ending the summer quarter on September 19, 2020 and beginning the fall quarter on September 28, 2020. It is possible that we may not return to the campus after the Thanksgiving break, depending on the conditions at the time. If it is deemed safest to finish the last two weeks of the quarter fully online, we will do so.
When deemed safe for classes to resume on-ground instruction, class meeting schedules will be staggered to minimize the number of people on campus at any time, allowing for the most effective physical distancing for students, faculty, and staff. To accomplish this, we will alter the start and end times, frequency, and duration of class sessions as well as utilize more time throughout the week and on weekends if necessary.
Definition of Course Types:
We continue operating a remarkable virtual campus during the pandemic. From exceptional guest speakers and career workshops to academic advising and financial aid appointments, all of our support services are available when needed. To minimize the risk of exposure, we will continue to offer these and other resources virtually until such time as it is safe to host on ground appointments.
Our Los Angeles campus works with Kapi Residences to provide student housing in Los Angeles. Kapi is utilizing the “American Campus Health Association (ACHA) Guidelines: Preparing for COVID-19” as the guideline for maintaining safe conditions in its student apartments. For cleaning and preparing apartments for student’s move-in, Kapi uses vendors/cleaning companies that work with CDC’s guidelines on the Covid-19 preparedness, and offers contact-free move-in and maintenance services. More information is available on their web site at https://kapihousing.com/cch/.
Flashpoint Chicago students who would like housing options will be able to work with Roosevelt University’s housing department. More information to follow in the coming weeks.
Finally, our ongoing goal is to provide a safe way to continue the high quality educational experience that our students have come to expect from CCH. We will ensure that our students benefit from the best instruction and resources we can offer. We will not let the pandemic delay or disrupt our students’ path toward a timely graduation.
The entertainment industry we serve has made it abundantly clear that there is and will be a demand for highly educated, well trained creative professionals. CCH students will continue to be first call selections, even more so because of their perseverance during the pandemic. Whether it’s a pandemic, a natural disaster, or just the normal trials and tribulations of creative media production, the ability to adapt and overcome is critical to success.
We will do our best to keep everyone updated as fall comes closer and more concrete guidance is provided by the CDC and other health authorities. It is our belief that higher education will be forever changed by the pandemic, and we plan to adapt in ways that take advantage of every possible opportunity.
Thank you for being a part of the CCH community.
Sincerely,
Bill Smith, President & CEO
Dear Columbia College Hollywood Community,
I am very pleased to announce a new agreement between Columbia College Hollywood and Roosevelt University that will positively impact the entire CCH community, particularly those on the Flashpoint Chicago campus. Beginning in August, Flashpoint Chicago will be moving it’s campus location from the Burnham Center into space on the Roosevelt University campus located at 425 South Wabash Avenue in Chicago. The collaborative nature of this venture will eventually allow for expanded academic offerings for Flashpoint students through electives from Roosevelt’s vast array of degree programs.
Both colleges will remain independent institutions with unique identities and will continue to award their respective degrees. Your degree will come from Flashpoint Chicago.
Roosevelt University was founded in 1945 and is also home to the Chicago College of the Performing Arts, a natural partner for our creative degree programs. The RU campus building on Wabash is the tallest educational building in Chicago (and 2nd tallest in the United States) and is in the heart of the vibrant South Loop neighborhood that is in close proximity to restaurants, Grant Park, the Art Institute of Chicago and multiple Chicago “L” and bus lines.
On site Flashpoint Chicago classes will be held following the health and safety guidelines laid out in Roosevelt’s Return to Campus plan along with corresponding state and local mandates. CCH students, following all above guidelines, will have access to RU campus amenities such as housing, food service, cultural and sporting events, fitness center, library, and all student resources open to the general RU population.
Once our institutions align academic schedules, CCH students will have the option to enroll in Roosevelt’s liberal arts and business courses, creating ladders into programs that complement your interests. Roosevelt students will be able to explore specialized CCH film, recording, and visual effects courses. The agreement will also support stronger career outcomes by encouraging new connections between our institutions and alumni networks.
As both the educational landscape and the film and media arts industries change, CCH will continue to lead the way with innovative programs, educational models, and partnerships such as this one that will provide CCH students with a unique and unparalleled educational experience and preparation for meaningful careers in the arts. After evaluating RU for many months I am convinced that we are collaborating with an institution whose mission, values and culture align with our own, and I believe that the creativity, independence, intellectual curiosity and caring of our students will add value to the RU physical community – as their students will to ours.
Very shortly we will be posting a more complete FAQ, and you will be getting more information from both Academic and Student Affairs Leadership in the coming days.
You can learn more about the RU campus and the new home of Flashpoint Chicago, the Chicago campus of Columbia College Hollywood here.
With regards,
Bill Smith
President & CEO
Dear Columbia College Hollywood Community,
It’s been quite a year. Since the onset of the coronavirus, our students, faculty, and staff have rallied to ensure that teaching and learning continues despite the pandemic, with outstanding results. The social upheaval fueled our voices and inspired creative works, allowing the faculty a unique opportunity to mentor our developing artists and storytellers as they evolve. It is an extraordinary time, and I thank all of you for your patience, commitment, and effort in moving forward together.
As we wrap up the spring quarter and our thoughts turn to fall, there are a lot of questions in front of us. Our students and faculty are anxious to get back to the equipment and collaborative work that is central to our industry. We all miss the personal relationships and mentorships that are part and parcel of an independent liberal arts college education where small classes are a cornerstone of the educational process. I think it’s safe to say that we’re tired of looking at screens all day!
CCH is committed to reopening our campus facilities in a safe, practical manner. While we’d love to hold our doors open wide to everyone, that’s just not realistic. As we wait for final guidance from the CDC, state, and local health authorities, we have developed a comprehensive strategy to reopen the campus in stages over the coming months.
The Campus Safety team developed our strategy for returning to the campus and are preparing an operations manual based on state and federal guidelines for safety. All students, faculty, and staff will be provided a copy of the manual and trained on the procedures to ensure everyone understands and accepts their role in maintaining safe and sanitary conditions for all.
The strategy includes infection prevention and control measures supported by programs to promote good hygiene. Increased cleaning protocols will ensure that classrooms and common areas are disinfected between class sessions. The equipment checkout department will sanitize all video and audio hardware between each use. Additional hand sanitizer stations will be installed throughout the campus.
All areas will be evaluated and modified as necessary to ensure proper physical distancing, including reduced seating capacities and physical dividers. Signs reinforcing proper hygiene and physical distancing will be posted throughout. We will also implement temperature screening as people enter the campus. If an illness is detected, we will execute an isolation and contact tracing procedure. Those who can work or attend class remotely will be encouraged to do so.
We are utilizing all of our resources to provide the most flexible set of options for our students and faculty. To facilitate continued teaching and learning, we will offer four types of classes:
Some colleges have altered their calendars, shifting start and end dates for the fall. We have chosen to avoid the disruption this will cause. CCH will maintain the published calendar, starting the summer quarter on July 6, 2020 and the fall quarter on September 28, 2020. Our class meeting schedules will be staggered to minimize the number of people on campus at any time, allowing for the most effective physical distancing for students, faculty, and staff. To accomplish this, we will alter the start and end times, frequency, and duration of class sessions as well as utilizing more time throughout the week and on weekends if necessary.
During the summer quarter, there will be limited access to campus resources. Students will be able to participate in Curbside Checkout in order to use the school’s equipment. Midway through the quarter, we plan to offer workshops, labs, and provide access to the facilities for production. We are also offering a carefully curated selection of special classes that lend themselves to online learning.
In fall, we will continue the Curbside Checkout program, expand access to campus facilities for productions, and hold a select group of classes on ground. This will include fully on ground as well as the on ground components of hybrid and MPD courses. We plan to return to campus to continue the on ground classes after the Thanksgiving break but may adjust as circumstances dictate.
We have been very successful operating as a virtual campus during the pandemic. From exceptional guest speakers and career workshops to academic advising and financial aid appointments, all of our support services are available when needed. To minimize the risk of exposure, we will continue to offer these and other resources virtually through the summer and begin to offer both on ground and online support in the fall.
CCH works with Kapi Residences to provide student housing in Los Angeles. Kapi is utilizing the “American Campus Health Association (ACHA) Guidelines: Preparing for COVID-19” as the guideline for maintaining safe conditions in its student apartments. For cleaning and preparing apartments for student’s move-in, Kapi uses vendors/cleaning companies that work with CDC’s guidelines on the Covid-19 preparedness, and offers contact-free move-in and maintenance services. More information is available on the CCH Student Housing webpage.
Our goal is to provide a safe way to continue the high quality educational experience that our students have come to expect from CCH. We want to ensure that our students can benefit from the best instruction and resources we can offer. We will not let the pandemic delay or disrupt our students’ path toward a timely graduation.
We will do our best to keep everyone updated as fall comes closer and more concrete guidance is provided by the CDC and other health authorities. It is our belief that higher education will be forever changed by the pandemic, and we plan to adapt in ways that take advantage of every possible opportunity.
Thank you for being a part of the CCH community.
Sincerely,
Bill Smith
President & CEO, Columbia College Hollywood
Los Angeles and Chicago
Dear CCH Community,
There will be no CCH Buzz email this week. Rather, we write today about the recent events that have impacted our world so dramatically. Our hearts break for the uncivilized acts of hatred and violence that lead to the loss of life, for the pain of the families of victims, for our cities, and for our country as a whole.
In the past few days, the news has been flooded with videos and images highlighting the dehumanization of American civilians. These images, videos, stories, and articles have taken a pervasive role in journalistic and social media and have given way to political speeches, civic and political action, and the coverage of civil unrest. It is difficult to process our feelings in the face of such overwhelming circumstances.
We recognize the civil and human rights of all. We have the obligation and the right to maintain a campus culture free of hate and discrimination, where we are actively anti-racist. Our school is protected under Federal Law as an educational environment where we can work and learn without facing discrimination for race, ethnicity, gender, religion, age, or sexual orientation. When we come to school, on campus or online, we must all feel safe, welcomed, and included. Inclusivity is tantamount to our mission and is inextricably interwoven into the very fabric of the creative industries we serve.
As storytellers and artists, many of us will utilize our skills to deliver important narratives of pain, justice, solidarity, truth, and understanding to the global stage. For the artist, self expression is critical to well being, yet it’s also incredibly important to find other opportunities for self care, self preservation, and healing, whatever that means to you.
In addition to COVID-19 creating an unprecedented time in global history, the current human rights issues and civil unrest are contributing to a very different world than many of us are used to. We are here to help you find support and to hold space for everyone in our community as we find our way through this period of upheaval.
LA Counseling Department:
Counselor – Laura Kaufman: lkaufman@columbiacollege.edu
Hours: Monday – Wednesday: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Counselor – Eddie Moses: emoses@columbiacollege.edu
Hours: Monday – Wednesday: 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. & Thursdays: 1 – 4 p.m
Chicago Counseling Department:
Counselor – Stephanie Owen: stephanie.owen@columbiacollege.edu
Hours: Monday – Thursday: 10:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
In a civil society, we are all responsible for justice, and we must support each other. CCH and FC will not stand for racial intolerance, and we must continue to work together to maintain a safe, inclusive, anti-racist environment for our college.
Cities are declaring states of emergency, shutting down businesses, and declaring curfews. We will do our best to stay informed of the actions impacting the Los Angeles and Chicago communities and make that available to you. Please take every precaution to keep yourself safe and informed.
Be part of positive change. Be strong, be safe, and let us be here for each other with respect, peace, and love.
Sincerely,
Bill Smith,
President, Columbia College Hollywood
Los Angeles and Chicago Campuses
Dear CCH Students,
Two weeks ago, I sent an email regarding the US Department of Education’s response to the COVID-19 crisis and the efforts put in place to support students and institutions. The CARES Act – Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund was developed to assist us through these difficult times, with funds being allocated to institutions based on their enrollment. CCH applied for and was granted eligibility into this program. We are very pleased and grateful that $702,919 is allocated for distribution directly to current CCH students.
I want to take a few minutes to update you on our progress with the CARES Act. I’m happy to report that we have completed the necessary regulatory processes and will begin distributing CARES Act funds to eligible students on May 29, 2020.
There are 760 eligible students, each of whom should expect to receive $911. CCH has set aside about $10,500 for students who are highly impacted by COVID-19 (e.g. those who require hospitalization) and need additional help above and beyond the one-time distribution. These situations will be examined on a case by case basis as we do our best to help those in our community most impacted by the crisis.
Direct deposit is the fastest method for the distribution of CARES Act funds. To help get money to you, your parents, or your legal guardians as soon as possible, we’re asking all students (or their appropriate recipient) to go to the online portal and update their direct deposit information by the end of the day on Monday, May 25, 2020.
Los Angeles students please click here to update your direct deposit information.
Chicago students please click here to update your direct deposit information.
If you are not able to receive funds via direct deposit, we will mail physical checks to the address in your student account. It will take slightly longer to receive the funds via check.
More information about the CARES Act can be found on our website or at the Department of Education.
I am humbled by the dedication and perseverance of our students, teachers, and staff during the deeply challenging circumstances we’re living in. It is an honor to be a part of this community that continually demonstrates a remarkable can-do attitude that reflects the best of the entertainment industry. Thank you for your outstanding commitment to excellence and to each other.
Sincerely,
Bill Smith
President and CEO, Columbia College Hollywood
Los Angeles and Chicago Campuses
Dear Students,
We are officially in the middle of an extraordinary quarter in extraordinary times. As states begin to lift lockdowns, the situation remains fluid and subject to modification. We intend to reopen the campus as soon as we can do so safely. I am writing to outline the criteria and protocols that will guide our preparations for the resumption of on-campus instruction.
The State of California remains under a mandatory Stay At Home order. The criteria set out in Governor Newsom’s five-phase plan for reopening the state suggests that the resumption of on-campus instruction is unlikely to occur until July at the earliest. However, some necessary support functions may resume before that.
The Academic Department has been developing plans for the delivery of summer quarter instruction.
The Operations and Facilities Department has been drafting a comprehensive plan to facilitate a broader campus reopening.
These plans promote the health and safety of our college community and incorporate appropriate guidance from local, state, and national health authorities. Our policies always reflect our measured judgment about what is in the College and its many constituencies best interest.
Our plans for resuming on-campus instruction, activities, and office work are moving forward on the premise that all classes and administration strictly adhere to mandatory practices such as safe social distancing, wearing masks, and regular disinfection. Executing our plan amid an ongoing pandemic will necessitate a re-design of all facets of everyday life at the college.
Currently, CCH’s Los Angeles campus summer courses will be offered primarily through virtual learning, due to the current and anticipated impacts of COVID-19. We will evaluate curricula to determine if limited exceptions for in-person activities will be possible.
We will continue our planning for fall instruction using the framework outlined by Governor Newsom’s five-phase plan, in consultation with our Academic, Operations, and Facilities departments. Any exception to virtual learning will have significant preventative health measures and contingency plans in place should we need to shift to alternate modalities.
We have finally completed the processes associated with the CARES Act and anticipate that funding will begin next week. Look for a separate email from President Smith with more details.
Summer 2020 Curbside Equipment Check-Out Program
We know how difficult it is without access to film and sound equipment during the Stay at Home order, and I’m excited to announce that the college is creating a new Summer 2020 Curbside Equipment Check-Out Program. You will soon have access to sanitized cameras and sound equipment to supplement your remote classroom experience, familiarize yourselves with gear, shoot footage, and produce short films in the safety of your homes! Details for this new program will be coming soon!
Our mission is to empower and support our community of creatives. To help ease some of the financial strains our students may be experiencing during these difficult and unprecedented times, CCH introduced a new scholarship program. You may be eligible to receive up to $7275 in new scholarship money, depending on the number of credits you’ve taken. To learn more, please visit our scholarship website.
Specially Designed Menu of Classes
The Academic Department embraces our new reality by offering a specially designed menu of classes, with a variety of choices and class meeting formats—some familiar, and some unique summer “specials” delivered this quarter.
The Academic Department has learned a great deal over the past quarter how to deliver a worthwhile virtual learning experience. Their knowledge, coupled with the valuable feedback you provided to your instructors and in the college’s recent surveys, is what ultimately led us to our summer class selection. Your opinions matter a great deal. We hear you, and we are responding accordingly.
Please stay tuned for further details regarding summer registration, which will be released tomorrow, Thursday, 5/21.
As we continue to evaluate our plans for reopening the campus, every decision we make represents our best effort to anticipate the contingencies that might impact our operations and everyday activities. We cannot fully anticipate every possibility because the pandemic’s course may take an unexpected turn. We will all have to live with a degree of uncertainty for the foreseeable future, and to accept that we must chart a way forward in the face of several “known unknowns”:
Establishing a COVID-19 risk-free environment will not be possible any time soon.
Even when a fully comprehensive reopening plan is in place, we will not know how every facet of the campus experience will look under space occupancy and social distancing protocols.
As is true for higher education institutions around the country, the pandemic is creating significant financial challenges for the college. While I believe that we are well-positioned to weather this storm, we will have to address new financial pressures associated with the pandemic in budgeting and planning.
There is much for us to discuss as a community. Since the resumption of spring quarter classes, the Student Affairs team has been meeting with student leaders to understand their perspectives. We have also gathered tremendous feedback from those of you that have participated in the Nuro Learning survey. Over the next several months, my staff and I will look to create multiple opportunities for our students’ voices to provide feedback.
I send you my best wishes and my hopes that you are well and staying strong. Here’s to being able to celebrate the successful reopening of our campus and enjoy one another’s (socially distanced) company soon.
Sincerely,
Kelly Parker
VP of Student Affairs
Dear CCH community,
Late last week Mayor Garcetti announced an extension to the Safer at Home order that runs until May 15th. While the current order for the city of Los Angeles is set to expire May 15th, Columbia College Hollywood has decided to keep our LA Campus building closed through the end of the Spring Quarter while the college continues to operate and hold all classes online. We believe this is the best way to ensure the safety and educational continuity for our students, faculty and staff.
We look forward to welcoming you back to on-campus learning when it is safe to do so and when you feel safe to return. We plan to return to the LA campus for the Summer Quarter on July 6, 2020. We will continue to provide updates as we are able.
Please continue to check your CCH email address often for updates.
HERE is information from the California State Public Health Officer and Director of the California Department of Public Health including what is open and what is closed in the State of California.
Helpful Resources
Updates from the World Health Organization
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
https://www.lamayor.org/COVID19Orders
Thank you all and please stay safe.
Kindest regards,
Patric Olmstead
VP of Operations
Dear Columbia College Hollywood Community,
We have been closely following the developments of the COVID-19 global pandemic since it was declared such on March 11th. We are grateful for how well you have come together as a community to weather this storm. We know that with so much information developing so quickly it can be difficult to keep up with what all of this means for you. At this time, we are still planning to welcome you to the CCH campus and resume in-person classes and staffing on Monday, April 20th. This is in accordance with the official “Stay at Home” order from Governor Newsom.
We know that you understand your safety is our first priority in providing an excellent arts education, and we want you to feel safe throughout your matriculation at Columbia College Hollywood. Toward that end, we will continue to offer virtual education as an option for the entirety of Spring Quarter for students who are unable or who do not feel safe returning to campus once the order has lifted.
We’re all writing this story together, and we thank you for continuing to do your best during this unexpected time of social adaptation and opportunity to challenge our creative, professional, and personal limits. We will continue to share updates as they develop.
Please continue to stay informed; some resources we find helpful are below.
Helpful Resources
COVID-19: Keeping Los Angeles Safe
Updates from the World Health Organization
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
California Department of Public Health COVID-19 Updates
Take care of yourself and each other.
Patrick Olmstead
VP of Operations
We compiled the following questions to provide answers to your concerns relating to Columbia College Hollywood, Flashpoint Chicago, and the coronavirus. We will keep this updated, and it will be accessible online from the blog linked to the red ribbon at the top of the website and directly on our homepage. Please email covid19response@columbiacollege.edu with additional questions.
Dear CCH Community,
Following Mayor Garcetti’s and Governor Newsom’s announcements yesterday evening, Columbia College Hollywood is extending our status of temporarily restricted access to the LA campus through April 19th. During this time no one will be on campus, and no access will be allowed. We would love to welcome you to the campus and resume in-person classes and staffing on Monday, April 20th. We are fully prepared to provide virtual educational services and remote staff support for as long as may be necessary.
HERE is information on the “Safer At Home” order. HERE is information from the California State Public Health Officer and Director of the California Department of Public Health including what is open and what is closed in the State of California.
We all miss being on campus, but we will continue the temporary shift to online learning for all classes through the first two weeks of the Spring quarter. Our faculty are working hard to deliver academic continuity for our students despite these current challenges. They are ensuring that lesson plans meet the required learning outcomes for classes that were originally designed to take place on campus. We are dedicated to maintaining educational excellence during this temporary shift in modality.
The CCH leadership team couldn’t be more proud of how every community member is coming together during this uncertain time. Students and faculty are adapting to virtual delivery of learning and teaching; staff are all stepping up to ensure our wonderful college continues to run virtually and efficiently; and we are all committed to getting through this together.
We ask that you understand that the date we reinstate access to campus may change or be extended due to situational developments. We will continue to follow local and national government guidelines and mandates and provide updates via your CCH email, our website, social media, and SMS via SchoolMessenger (see attached). We are also repurposing our weekly “News in the Arts” newsletter with resources for working, learning, and living under these new circumstances. Take care of yourself and each other.
Thank you,
Patrick Olmstead
VP of Operations
Dear CCH Community,
Due to the increasing concerns over the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19), and in the interest of the health and safety of our community, we will be temporarily eliminating access to the campus after 6:00PM local time tomorrow, Wednesday March 18th. We plan to resume campus access to all for the beginning of the Spring quarter, April 6th.
If you need access to the internet for your online classes, please click on this URL to access free internet from Spectrum for 60 days:
Information about free internet access in LA
Additionally, Xfinity WiFi hotspots across the country will be available to anyone who needs them for free – including non-Xfinity Internet subscribers. For a map of Xfinity WiFi hotspots, visit www.xfinity.com/wifi. Once at a hotspot, consumers should select the “xfinitywifi” network name in the list of available hotspots and then launch a browser.
If you need access to a loaner computer to participate in online classes during this time, please see the Equipment Room before 5:00PM Wednesday, March 18th. There are very few loaners so please only borrow one if you do not have access to a computer, first come, first serve.
For students who are scheduled to shoot their projects this week or next, please understand that your health and welfare and the health and welfare of our faculty and staff are of the utmost concern at this trying time, therefore we are cancelling all PW and Short Film shoots for the rest of the Winter Quarter. If you have equipment out please plan to return it Friday morning before 10:00AM to the school. Please don’t worry about completing your films, we are extending due dates on these projects and we’ll make equipment available to you in the first part of the Spring Quarter.
As a digital media arts community, we are fully prepared to maintain a sense of connectedness during this time of social distancing. We want to make sure our students feel like they are receiving academic continuity, our faculty has the tools to deliver that education, and our staff are equipped to support this process. If at any point any community member needs additional assistance, please reach out to your advisor or manager.
We are proud of the commitment, work ethic, and flexibility of the CCH community. We will get through this together.
We are particularly grateful to our faculty and staff for being able to come together so quickly during a challenging and changing time to accommodate the College’s need to provide virtual learning. Please stay safe and healthy. Take care of yourself and each other.
CCH Faculty & Staff,
During this challenging time, while we adhere to social isolation in order to slow down the spread of the Coronavirus, we are insisting that people work remotely. We also realize that there might be a reason for you to have to work in the office from time to time so we will be keeping the building open during business hours for minimal access. Operations/Facilities and IT will be on campus each day and there will be security. The building will be open from 8:30am to 6:00pm. If you need help with your remote computer please send a helpdesk to https://cchit.freshdesk.com/a/dashboard/default and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
Please get approval from your supervisor to come to the office and only if absolutely necessary. We’re also running shuttles next week so if you need something from the office that you’ve forgotten please let us know and we’ll arrange for it to be sent to you via shuttle.
Let’s please be diligent and set the example for the students. Stay healthy everyone and we’ll get through this challenge together (but apart!).
Kindest regards,
Columbia College Hollywood is closely monitoring the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and has a comprehensive plan in place to ensure the well-being and safety of our campus communities in, both, Chicago and Los Angeles. We understand this is a time of uncertainty for all of us as our country and global community prepares for and deals with the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19). The College’s leadership is working to preserve our first priority, which is the safety and security of our community.
Thankfully, at this time there are no reported cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on the Chicago or Los Angeles campuses of Columbia College Hollywood. We are committed to our social duty to help slow the spread of this virus. As part of our COVID-19 Preparedness Plan, individual announcements have been sent to students, faculty and staff with instructions.
At this time, the Columbia College Hollywood and Flashpoint Chicago have taken the following actions:
Thank you for your cooperation as we all come together to move forward with the health and safety of our community in mind. Communication is critical for everyone’s success during extraordinary circumstances.
Please keep monitoring our website, blog, and social media for the latest updates and continue to follow guidance to take care of yourself and each other.
Sincerely,
Bill Smith
President and CEO
Columbia College Hollywood
At CCH, we believe it is important to take a stand by demonstrating our willingness to promote and inspire systemic change. We must speak honestly and truthfully to the ugliness of racism that permeates throughout our society today. It may be an uncomfortable conversation for some, but it is an all-too familiar reality for anyone living in this country with black or brown skin. Hiding from it, ignoring it, or being silent about it will not make it go away.
Learn MoreAt CCH, we believe it is important to take a stand by demonstrating our willingness to promote and inspire systemic change. We must speak honestly and truthfully to the ugliness of racism that permeates throughout our society today. It may be an uncomfortable conversation for some, but it is an all-too familiar reality for anyone living in this country with black or brown skin. Hiding from it, ignoring it, or being silent about it will not make it go away.
Learn More