It’s your time to celebrate - you did it!

You made it happen!

We know that completing your certificate or degree wasn’t easy. For many of you, you balanced work, family and school to reach this point. For all of you, the spring semester was one for the books as everyone around the world dealt with the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent stay-at-home orders.

And while that was stressful, you can proudly say you took what was thrown your way and came out on top.

Now it’s time to celebrate - safely and with social distancing of course! There is no one-size-fits-all way to celebrate your achievement. You might want a simple dinner with your family or maybe a Zoom call with your distant relatives and relations. Regardless of what you choose, humans need to celebrate the big moments in life even if they look a little different from what you might have planned before. Do it your way!

At Chandler-Gilbert Community College, we celebrate you! Here’s a look at how we honor you now:

• You, your family and friends took to social media to celebrate the day. Here’s how that happened. 
• As Veronica Hipolito, vice president of student affairs, said you had grit and determination to get here and the things that matter most to us are worth working for.
• The team at Student Life know how hard it was to get to this point so it’s time to “Howl yeah!”
• And from the faculty (and Mos Def) and our president, Dr. Greg Peterson, our hats are off to you and your accomplishments.
• Governing board member Kathleen Winn implores you to celebrate your achievement, those who supported you and have faith in yourself.
• Make sure you check out your Digital Time Capsule.
• Even former President Barack Obama offered his congratulations for overcoming everything 2020 has thrown at you!

Go out and make the world a better place! We are proud of you!

And while you’re out there in the world, don’t forget to stay in touch. We want to hear about all of your new adventures. 

Follow us: 

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

First-of-its-kind AA in Arts Degree with Emphasis in Counseling and Applied Psychological Science

As the beloved Fred Rogers used to tell the children watching his show: “Look for the helpers. You will always find people helping.” A more apt prescription for our times couldn’t fit.

Helping people deal with the sudden changes brought on by COVID-19 laid bare the need for more “helpers” and Chandler-Gilbert Community College - along with Mesa Community College - are ready to  train you to be one of those “helpers” for our community. 

A first-of-its-kind in the nation Associate in Arts Degree with an emphasis in counseling and applied psychological science will launch in the fall 2020 semester, creating a pathway to positively impact your community. 

In Maricopa County alone there are nearly 200 openings a year for trained counselors. Are you ready to make an impact?

What can I do with this degree?

This new AA program will set you up for careers as clinical, counseling and school psychologists; counseling psychologists; educational, guidance, school and vocational counselors; substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors; marriage and family therapists; mental health counselors; rehabilitation counselors; and psychology teachers.

How does it work?

The program will provide the first two years of a four-year curriculum and is designed so you can transfer directly into Arizona State University’s bachelor of science in counseling and applied psychology program. The program will include counseling theories, skills, career and lifespan development, ethics and research methods and multicultural competence. 

Will I be license ready?

No, but the new program will prepare you to enter an undergraduate degree program and eventually graduate studies in counseling or counseling psychology. Graduates may however qualify for entry-level roles as social and human service assistants or psychiatric technicians at hospitals, rehabilitation centers or work in other behavioral healthcare delivery roles, supporting counselors and mental health professionals. For more detail on undergraduate and graduate-level coursework needed for licensing, please see the American Counseling Association for specific details. 

How do I apply?

Text our Virtual Enrollment Team for support with any questions you have. You can text us at 480.351.2221, and we can help you navigate the college admissions process and provide support as you explore which programs might be right for your academic future.

Take advantage of scholarship opportunities - The Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation has 100s of scholarships, and you can apply to all of them with just one application.

Graduates with at least a 3.25 unweighted high school GPA can also join our Honors Program and receive the President’s Honors Scholarship. This scholarship covers tuition and the registration fee for up to 15 credit hours during your first semester at CGCC. You can renew the scholarship up to three additional semesters by maintaining that 3.25 GPA at CGCC.

6 Tips for Graduating Seniors During COVID-19

High school students across the country are planning their next steps after graduation. We know you are facing many uncertainties during this time, so we want to provide you some tips to help you decide the pathway that’s best for you. 

1. Determine if you want to continue onto a university after COVID-19

If so, accept their admission and choose a deferred admission. This will allow you to enroll at the university in a future semester without having to apply again. Be sure to contact the admissions department at the university to ensure that any scholarships you were awarded will still be applicable if you defer your enrollment or enter as a transfer student.

2. Consider taking a “Visiting Year” at your local college - like CGCC

During a visiting year, you’ll take 30 general education credits at a community college before enrolling at a university. Not only will this reduce the total cost of your degree, but you’ll also be able to maintain the momentum from high school by continuing your education. 

Why CGCC?

- Our low $85/credit hour tuition will save you money while progressing towards your degree.

- We’re bringing courses to you as all of our summer 2020 classes will be delivered in an online format. When we resume in-person classes, you can choose to continue online or hybrid classes or take in-person classes at our beautiful Pecos or Williams campuses.

- Ease into college classes by taking a reduced course load.

- Take advantage of our flexible start dates to better fit your schedule.

3. Choose a school where your credits can transfer elsewhere afterward - Our partnerships with AZ public and private universities allow you to transfer with ease. This allows you to begin your college career at CGCC and seamlessly transition to a university to complete your bachelor’s degree. 

4. Choose a school with lots of virtual resources - Like us! We have tutoring, technical support, ask a librarian, enrollment teams, etc. For a list of updated department contact information, click here.

5. Text our Virtual Enrollment Team for support with any questions you have. You can text us at 480.351.2221, and we can help you navigate the college admissions process and provide support as you explore which programs might be right for your academic future.

6. Take advantage of scholarship opportunities - The Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation has 100s of scholarships, and you can apply to all of them with just one application.

Graduates with at least a 3.25 unweighted high school GPA can also join our Honors Program and receive the President’s Honors Scholarship. This scholarship covers tuition and the registration fee for up to 15 credit hours during your first semester at CGCC. You can renew the scholarship up to three additional semesters by maintaining that 3.25 GPA at CGCC.

For a full list of our summer courses, click here. 

To request more information about becoming a CGCC student, click here.

Your Spring Grades & Summer Courses

Like colleges and universities across the country, including most in Arizona, MCCCD is temporarily adjusting our grading policy in response to the COVID-19 pandemic response.

Except for courses or programs that require letter grades due to accreditation, dual enrollment, or other factors, all Spring courses continuing after April 9, 2020, will be converted to “P/Z” (credit/no credit). If you are in good standing at the end of the class, earning at least a “C,” you will receive a “P” (credit). You will also be given the option to receive the letter grade that you earned as well, more information about that process and the specifics “P/Z” (credit/no credit) is below.

Receiving a Letter Grade

If you are comfortable with your performance in a course and you prefer a letter grade, you must contact your instructor. You must contact your instructor using Maricopa email or Canvas messaging no later than one calendar week prior to the end of your course in order to request a letter grade in your course, otherwise, the P/Z grade will be posted to your transcript.

• If you are taking multiple courses, you may choose to receive a letter grade in any one class or all of your classes.
• If you do not inform your instructor that you wish to receive a letter grade, you will automatically be graded “P/Z” (credit/no credit).
• Whether you choose “P/Z” or a letter grade, you must complete the semester in your classes to receive a grade and credit for the course. 

About Pass/Fail Grades

• “P/Z” grades will not be calculated in your Maricopa GPA.
• AZTransfer has revised transfer policies for courses taken during pandemic response. For these courses, credits earned with a grade of “P” may be counted toward graduation, toward the AGEC (Arizona General Education Curriculum), and will transfer for program credit at our Arizona State universities, GCU, University of Phoenix, and others. If you plan to transfer outside Arizona, check with your transfer institution regarding 
• “P” grades will not satisfy course or program requirements where the requirement is a grade of “B” or higher.

Withdrawing

Even with the availability of “P/Z” grades, you may feel you are unable to continue with a class and wish to withdraw. We want to support your academic progress and hope you will stay with us to complete the semester. Please speak to your instructor about your wish to withdraw. You may be eligible for a tuition credit or partial refund.

• Once you connect with your instructor, contact our enrollment team here so that a representative can help you determine how withdrawing may affect your academic plan and/or your financial aid/scholarships/veteran benefits.

Before You Withdraw

• Withdrawing from class(es) can adversely affect students who receive special funding and eligibility circumstances, such as athletes, Veterans, and students receiving federal student aid, scholarships, grants, loans, or accessing employer education reimbursement plans.
• Students who withdraw from a course will receive a grade of “W” (withdrawn, passing) or “Y” (withdrawn, failing) on their transcripts and must repeat the course in its entirety to receive credit for it.

Summer Classes Online

Maricopa Community Colleges have been taking many preventative measures to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Because we cannot predict when current restrictions for our communities will ease, all Summer 2020 courses will be online/alternative delivery only.

We're Here to Help

We know this is a very challenging time, and we’re here to support you. We are adding more information to the Student FAQs and Community Resources regularly.

Can’t find the information you need online? Submit your questions through this online form so we can update the information for everyone.





We are all in this together and the Maricopa family is here for you. Even though we all are facing unprecedented circumstances, it is our goal to assist you in as many ways as possible -- both personally and academically.

At Home Tips and Activities for Parents

Parents, are you struggling to find the balance between work, school and time with your children? We’ve gathered some tips from the CDC to help your family stay healthy and continue learning during this time.

We also want to help keep your children entertained while you're completing your schoolwork.  Click here to download a Cody Coyote coloring page. Check back as we add more activities for you and your children.

Click here to download the full-size coloring page.

Keep children healthy

Watch your child for any signs of illness

• If you see any sign of illness consistent with symptoms of COVID-19, particularly fever, cough, or shortness of breath, call your healthcare provider and keep your child at home and away from others as much as possible. Follow CDC’s guidance on what to do if you are sick.

Watch for signs of stress in your child

• Some common changes to watch for include excessive worry or sadness, unhealthy eating or sleeping habits, and difficulty with attention and concentration. For more information, see the “For Parents” section of CDC’s Stress and Coping.
• Take time to talk with your child or teen about the COVID-19 outbreak. Answer questions and share facts about COVID-19 in a way that your child or teen can understand.
• Go to CDC’s Helping Children Cope with Emergencies or Talking with Children About COVID-19 for more information.

Teach and reinforce everyday preventive actions

• Parents and caretakers play an important role in teaching children to wash their hands. Explain that handwashing can keep them healthy and stop the virus from spreading to others.
• Be a good role model—if you wash your hands often, they’re more likely to do the same.
• Make handwashing a family activity.
• Learn more about handwashing and other everyday preventive actions.

Help your child stay active

• Encourage your child to play outdoors—it’s great for physical and mental health. Take a walk with your child or go on a bike ride.
• Use indoor activity breaks (like stretch breaks or dance breaks) throughout the day to help your child stay healthy and focused.

Help your child stay socially connected

• Reach out to friends and family via phone or video chats.
• Write cards or letters to family members they may not be able to visit.
• Some schools and non-profits, such as the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning and The Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, have resources for social and emotional learning. Check to see if your school has tips and guidelines to help support social and emotional needs of your child.

Ask about school meal services

• Check with your school on plans to continue meal services during the school dismissal. Many schools are keeping school facilities open to allow families to pick up meals or are providing grab-and-go meals at a central location.
• Read our East Valley Community Resources blog for a list of school districts offering free meal pickups.

Help children continue learning

Stay in touch with your child’s school

• Many schools are offering lessons online (virtual learning). Review assignments from the school, and help your child establish a reasonable pace for completing the work. You may need to assist your child with turning on devices, reading instructions, and typing answers.
• Communicate challenges to your school. If you face technology or connectivity issues, or if your child is having a hard time completing assignments, let the school know.

Create a flexible schedule and routine for learning at home

• Have consistent bedtimes and get up at the same time, Monday through Friday.
• Structure the day for learning, free time, healthy meals and snacks, and physical activity.
• Allow flexibility in the schedule—it’s okay to adapt based on your day.

Consider the needs and adjustment required for your child’s age group

• The transition to being at home will be different for preschoolers, K-5, middle school students, and high school students. Talk to your child about expectations and how they are adjusting to being at home versus at school.
• Consider ways your child can stay connected with their friends without spending time in person.

Look for ways to make learning fun

• Have hands-on activities, like puzzles, painting, drawing, and making things.
• Independent play can also be used in place of structured learning. Encourage children to build a fort from sheets or practice counting by stacking blocks.
• Practice handwriting and grammar by writing letters to family members. This is a great way to connect and limit face-to-face contact.
• Start a journal with your child to document this time and discuss the shared experience.
• Use audiobooks or see if your local library is hosting virtual or live-streamed reading events.

source: CDC

Additional Resources

• 18 Tips On How To Cope With Children During Quarantine via Forbes
• How to Master Working From Home—While Under Quarantine With Kids via Parents
• How to home-school during coronavirus quarantine: Moms, teachers share ideas, advice via USA Today
• Parenting During a Pandemic via The Atlantic
• Homeschooling Tips From Actual Teachers via The Cut

Get Connected: Hotspots, Public Wi-Fi & Cell Phone Tethering Tips

Now that our classes have transitioned to a remote learning format, we know internet access is more important than ever. We've compiled a list of public Wi-Fi hotspots in our area that you can access from the safety of your car. We've also provided instructions on using your cell phone as a Wi-Fi hotspot.

Public Wi-Fi

Click here to view locations in Google Maps.

• 2557 S Gilbert Rd
• 200 S Arizona Ave
• 290 S Arizona Ave
• 1935 S Val Vista Dr
• 1961 S Val Vista Dr
• 3510 E Baseline Rd
• 1914 S Power Rd
• 6810 E Guadalupe Rd
• 511 W Guadalupe Rd
• 1700 E Elliot Rd
• 1804 E Elliot Rd
• 9010 S Priest Dr
• 7102 W Orchid Ln

Free Wi-Fi at Businesses

These local establishments are known for Wi-Fi signals that may extend into parking lots and nearby outdoor spaces.

• Starbucks
• McDonald's
• Panera Bread
• Dunkin' Donuts
• Target

Public Wi-Fi Safety

• Don’t enter sensitive information. Use ‘https’ (secure) websites as much as possible. 
• Forget the network in your Wi-Fi settings when you are done working.
• Enable two-factor authentication on frequently visited sites when possible.
• Learn more: identityguard.com

Cell Phone Hotspots: iPhone or iPad

If you have an iPhone or an iPad with a connection to a cellular provider, you can set up a Wi-Fi hotspot anywhere and share internet access with a laptop or other mobile device. To set up/enable the Personal Wi-Fi Hot Spot built into your Apple iOS Smart Device, follow the instructions

below:

First, tap on the Settings icon on your home screen.

Then, in the Settings menu, tap Personal Hotspot.

In most cases when the Personal Hotspot screen appears it will already have the Personal Hotspot slider set to enabled (the button will be green); this is because the Personal Hotspot enables as the screen is opened. If however, the slider is not

enabled, tap it to turn it on.

Once the Personal Hotspot slider is enabled, it will be green and you may proceed to the next step.

If your Wi-Fi on your phone is not enabled, enabling the Personal Hotspot will prompt you if you wish to enable Wi-Fi; tap Turn on Wi-Fi to enable the connection so that will be able to connect your laptop or computer to this mobile Hot Spot that you have enabled on your phone.

The Wi-Fi Password will be listed below the slider.

On your laptop or desktop computer, you will be able to

connect to the Personal Hotspot using the instructions below(also appearing in the screenshot to the left). Please note, the name of your device may be something other than “Personal iPhone” depending on your particular setup:

TO CONNECT USING WI-FI

1. Choose “Personal iPhone” from the Wi-Fi settings on your computer or other device.

2. Enter the password when prompted.

Cell Phone Hotspots: Android

To set up/enable the Mobile Hotspot built into your Google/Samsung/LG or other Android Smart Device, follow the instructions below:

First, tap on the Settings icon on your home screen.

Then, in the Settings menu, tap the Connections icon.

Once in the Connections menu, scroll near the bottom of the

menu and tap Mobile Hotspot and Tethering.

From the Mobile Hotspot and Tethering menu, tap the Mobile Hotspot slider to enable this feature.

The Mobile Hotspot slider will turn blue once enabled.

With the Mobile Hotspot enabled, the instructions to connect to the hotspot will appear in the Mobile Hotspot menu as shown on the left:

Connecting with password

1. Turn on Wi-Fi on the device (PC, laptop etc.) you want to use internet.

2. Find My Hotspot in Wi-Fi network list.

3. Connect to My Hotspot by entering hotspotpassword as

the password.

4. Enjoy the Internet using your personal Mobile Hotspot.

As an alternative, there are also instructions using a QR code to connect, if that feature is enabled, though this is optional.

Below the instructions to connect, the password for the hotspot and Wi-Fi sharing (disabled by default) will also be listed.

At the bottom of this screen, a list of devices that are connected to the hotspot will be listed, though this will likely be empty (as shown) if this is your first time enabling this feature.

This and the next step are optional and are an alternative for the first steps of this process. You may also open the Mobile Hotspot menu from the icon on the Swipe Down menu if available.

From here, you may tap the Tethering or Mobile HotSpot item to set it up.

Cellular Provider Information

In response to COVID-19, most cellular providers have increased access to internet services. Here’s

a quick overview of the major providers in Arizona (as of April 1, 2020):

AT&T

• Waive domestic postpaid wireless plan overage charges for data, voice or text for residential or small business wireless customers incurred because of economic hardship related to the coronavirus pandemic.
• Keep our public Wi-Fi hotspots open for anyone who needs them.
• Not terminate the service of any postpaid wireless, home phone or broadband residential or small business customer because of their inability to pay their bill due to disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
• Waive any late payment fees that any postpaid wireless, home phone or broadband residential or small business, U-verse TV or DIRECTV customer may incur because of economic hardship related to the coronavirus pandemic.
• See https://about.att.com/pages/COVID-19.html for more information.

Cricket

• Adding data for new and existing customers to capped and unlimited voice and data plans for a limited time.
• Offering 2GB of data, with unlimited talk and text, for $15/mo.
• Waive the reactivation fee and the Automated Phone System fee that applies to service payments.
• Offer BridgePay, which lets you split your current bill into two payments, giving you an additional 7  days to pay. 
• See https://www.cricketwireless.com/support/fraud-and-safety/covid-19.html for more information.

Sprint

• Most consumer customers on metered data (not Unlimited) plans will receive Unlimited data for 60 days (or a minimum of 2 bill cycles).
• Sprint will provide an additional 20 GB Mobile Hotspot per month per line for customers that already have Mobile Hotspot in their plan for 60 days (or a minimum of 2 bill cycles).
• Sprint will also provide 20 GB Mobile Hotspot per month per line to any customer that has a capable handset and does not have Mobile Hotspot today for 60 days (or a minimum of 2 bill cycles).
• See https://www.sprint.com/en/landings/covid-19.html#faq-06 for more information.

T-Mobile & Metro by T-Mobile

• ALL current T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile customers as of March 13, 2020 who have legacy plans without unlimited high-speed data will get unlimited smartphone data for the next 60 days (excluding roaming).
• Starting March 20, 2020, providing T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile customers on smartphone plans with hotspot data an additional 20GB of smartphone mobile hotspot (10GB per bill cycle for the next 60 days) for each voice line. (TMobile Connect excluded).
• Working with our Lifeline partners to provide customers extra free data up to 5GB of data per month through May 13, 2020.
• See https://www.t-mobile.com/brand/ongoing-updates-covid-19#customers and https://www.t-mobile.com/news/t-mobile-update-on-covid-19-response for more information.

U.S. Cellular

• Eliminated overage charges for those of you on legacy plans, including Shared Connect and other postpaid and prepaid plans with data limits, so you can use the data you need without worrying about your bill.
• To further enhance your experience, if you are currently on a limited 2GB or 6GB plan, your plan will not be throttled to 2G speeds at those thresholds.
• Additionally, extra data provided beyond your plan will be delivered at speeds that are suitable for standard definition video quality.
• If you’re on an Unlimited Everyday or Even Better plan, we’ve provided you an extra 15GB of hotspot data to adjust to any shifting and varying work arrangements.
• See https://www.uscellular.com/covid-19#our-customers for more information.

Verizon

• Give 15GB of additional high-speed data for wireless consumer and small business customers that will be automatically applied to consumer plans from March 25 through April 30, 2020. No customer action is necessary.
• Offer a new affordable internet option for low-income households, starting April 3. Click for the latest news release.
• Waived late fees and overage charges for 60 days from March 16 to May 13 for customers and small businesses who let us know they are unable to pay as a result of economic hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and we will not terminate service to those customers.
• Current customers who have Lifeline service (low income) as of March 20 will have all billing charges waived for 60 days (two billing cycles) beginning with their March 22, 2020 bills.
• See https://www.verizon.com/about/news/covid-response-customers for more information.

Virtual Town Hall Meeting

Please join us for a virtual town hall meeting, moderated by President Peterson, at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8 and 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 9. A panel of student service experts will detail the resources available to students in this new online learning atmosphere. All students and parents/guardians are encouraged to tune in and learn how Chandler-Gilbert's commitment to student success remains unchanged as we transition to this new format.

Wednesday, April 8
4 - 5 p.m.
Click here to join the meeting, or call in:
408.418.9388
Access code: 965 428 969

Thursday, April 9
10 - 11 a.m.
Click here to join the meeting, or call in:
408.418.9388
Access code: 968 836 257