The The latest news from Luna Community College Second Volume 3, Issue 7 April 24, 2020 LCC remains committed to service despite changes By Rolando M. Rael, PhD President, Luna Community College s we continue to fight the A spread of COVID-19 not only in our state but around the world, we find ourselves grappling with challenges few of us could have imagined just weeks ago. At Luna Community College, we have had to make significant adjustments to our operations, but as a college we remain committed to serving our students and our communities. We will do what we can to ensure that our classes and support services remain accessible and vibrant, enabling students to keep pursuing their higher educational and career goals. Admissions continues to accept and offer are advised to visit our website, A brief overview of what is under process online applications and luna.edu, and to contact our way at Luna: transcripts as we look forward to the Recruitment and Admissions team The college has transitioned most Summer 2020 and Fall 2020 (see website staff directory). We will of its classes to a distance learning semesters. We remain in contact with be happy to answer your questions format, providing instruction and applicants throughout the process and help you take the first steps support online. Online tutoring and refer students to academic toward beginning your Luna services have been expanded to help advisers upon admission to the experience. students succeed in these classes and college. Recruiters are staying in The Office of Financial Aid overall. We will work with those contact with prospective students, continues to process aid for the classes unable to transition to an parents, counselors, and reaching out current academic year and preparing online mode of delivery, keeping the to those in the communities we serve. files for the upcoming year. The office best outcomes for students in mind. Those who are interested in learning The Office of Recruitment and more about what the college has to MORE: See Page 6 While only a few “mission critical” employees remain on campus during the COVID-19 “stay -at-home” orders, most faculty and staff are working remotely to provide instruction and support to students. Luna community takes time to reflect The following is a sampling of written of NIH, Dr. Anthony Fauci, said that he directors and instructors may require reflections shared by Luna Community wished that we never shake hands again. “social distancing.” When we gather at College students, faculty and staff as the That simple of act of touching and meetings, will we have to remain seated community and indeed countries all over the grasping another’s hand, which a month at least a seat apart? From all indications, world deal with the global pandemic COVID- ago if you didn’t would have been we may have to change how we interact 19. thought as socially unacceptable, may with each other from now on for fear of actually revert to the exact opposite. another epidemic. In reading on another Francisco Apodaca, STEM: In Have we flipped a perceived social norm time of respiratory disease, the Great considering how this extraordinary event on its head? Being a social person, this is Plague, it took society a couple of has impacted and changed my life, it a hard nut to swallow. generations before they would travel occurred to me that what I had In our setting at LCC, I enjoyed standing very far from their homes; people feared considered to be normal a month ago in the hall greeting students as they a resurgence of the dreaded disease. Will may never return. The isolation from arrived for class, doing a fist bump and we never get back to hugging friends? work and others may get back to some saying “Good morning; have a nice day.” I had hoped to work at least a couple of semblance of what we considered My “normal” routine may not be normal more years, since I feel that I am close to normal will never be “normal.” The head anymore. Sitting close to my fellow retirement, but that thought may have 2 A thick fog permeates the city of Las Vegas on a recent morning, as shown in this view from the Luna main campus. Many in the campus community miss the scenic vistas as well as interacting with fellow students, faculty and staff. changed. I may want to continue got ready to head to the Las Vegas everyday lives that we never truly isolation, living on a self-imposed Police Department. I couldn’t help but appreciate anything anymore; it’s all “island” away from society. I fear for my think about everything that I was going expected or it’s become the norm. We children and grandchildren. Will they to miss out on. Getting ready for the have been given this special lesson now, ever have what I had when I was delicious meal my mother prepared, and I hope it helps us all to not take growing up: social interaction, meeting helping hide the eggs for my little nieces anything for granted and appreciate all people, traveling and seeing all in and nephews, sitting on the couch, that we have and all that we have been person, not a virtual digital world? watching a movie with all my babies as given. I pray during this time God helps Flying in an airplane or taking a train they eat their entire basket of candy. us all heal and become better than what may never be en vogue again. Distant Instead I spent the day all alone, I we were. I pray God helps me become lands may really become “distant lands” received a video call from my brother better and heal. too far and too dangerous to travel to, and all the kids with my mother and not because of crime or war, but because father in attendance as well. I spent the Kimberly Baca, Humanities: of fear of disease. entire day emotional; I couldn’t help but Occasionally in life we lose sight of who Has this event changed me and my think of those less fortunate and who do and what is important to us. Our lives family? Unfortunately, yes. We may not have families. Not often are we able are so busy and fast-paced that we may never be “normal” again. Education may to switch views with someone else, but forget to call our mother, father or never be “normal” again; maybe we are during this time we’ve been given an siblings. Other times we are too truly becoming a virtual society where opportunity. We are able to see what we occupied with ourselves that we forget isolation is the key to life. take for granted each and every day. to be kind, considerate and loving to one Spending time with your family, going another. Life is too short to lose sight of Angelique Arguello, Wellness Center: to the grocery store with the shelves what is most important to us. We forget As I spent Easter Sunday all alone, I packed full of goodies, going to work, that our behaviors, good or bad, have an couldn’t help but reflect on the current going to the gym, getting a haircut, or impact on others. A smile instead of a situation. I woke up early Sunday something simple as going to a movie frown makes a difference. A “good morning, watching my boyfriend as he theater. We are so caught up in our MORE: See Page 7 College Scorecard: The U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard has the most reliable data on college costs, graduation and post-college earnings. Visit collegescorecard.ed.gov 3 Tuition hike approved college continue to fund quality fully understand their roles and Plan will keep instruction and service while functions. The board also agreed to Luna tuition low keeping costs relatively inexpensive establish an ad hoc committee to for students. review board policies, with while supporting “We want to keep building representation from administration, college growth strong programs for our students shared governance and the board that give them every opportunity to itself. The board tabled action on By Dave Kavanaugh succeed,” Rael said, “and this plan Policy 1520, sending a couple of Luna Community College will help support that mission. At proposed changes back to shared The Luna Community College the same time, it remains important governance for review and approval. Board of Trustees on April 14 to us that a Luna education stays Policy 1520 would designate a approved a plan that will gradually affordable for all.” specific place for representatives of increase tuition rates while keeping The cost per credit hour will go various campus constituencies to the college one of the most from $38 to $40 (in-district) this fall participate in future trustee affordable in the nation. under the plan approved by the meetings. By a 6-1 vote, the board board. The out-of-district rate will go Due to the restrictions on public approved a plan that will raise from $41 to $43 a credit hour, while gatherings imposed by state tuition by 6 percent each of the next the out-of-state rate goes from $91 to government in light of the COVID-19 five years starting this fall, in the $96 a credit hour. pandemic, the April 14 meeting was 2020-21 academic year. Among the other business held with only four board members While most other colleges and addressed in the April 14 meeting, physically present on campus; the universities have raised tuition rates the trustees discussed budget other three board members every year, Luna has avoided recommendations and the adoption participated via teleconferencing increases over time.