COVID19 UPDATE #13

DATE: April 20, 2020 at 4:30 pm
TO: Faculty and Staff

FROM: Dr. Richard Nelson, President
COVID19 UPDATE #13

As we end our fourth week under the Wisconsin’s Safer at Home Order, the number of new confirmed cases continues to grow, but the good news is that the growth closer to linear than to exponential.  The light blue line in the graph below shows Wisconsin has added roughly 100-150 cases per day since March 24, the first day of the Safer at Home Order.

Of course, we’re all anxiously waiting for a sustained decline in new cases, but we can be thankful that the rate of infection in the Northwoods remains low and that the state-wide increase has been relatively gradual in comparison to other parts of our country and the world.

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You no doubt already know that Wisconsin’s second Safer at Home Order has been issued. It will start when the first one expires this Friday morning, April 24, and extends until May 26. Both orders are posted on the DHS website https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/prepare.htm along with an FAQ page.

New to the DHS site today is a discussion of plans to reopen the economy and get people back to work. Called the Badger Bounce Back, the plan can be found at the URL above. An abbreviated summary is here: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/publications/p02653.pdf

Closer to home, the Nicolet community continues its remarkable work in support of our students. We expect to receive about $242,000 I n federal dollars from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, & Economic Security Act (CARES Act). Patrick and his team have been working tirelessly to meet student needs. They had awarded 137 students a total of $92,789 by late Friday and checks were expected to be in the mail today.

At the same time, the Nicolet College Foundation is making Student Emergency Assistance Awards. So far 23 students have received nearly $6,000 from this fund and seven students have received Juday awards totaling over $2900. Finally, I want to offer a big thank you to the Rhinelander Lions Club for their exceptionally generous donation of $1000 to the Emergency Assistance Award fund.

As I’ve noted before, we are financially strong and we’ll stay that way by delivering superior educational products and services to students, employers, and neighbors throughout the district. As this fiscal year winds down, we will continue to revise our year-end projections and refine our FY 2021 budget proposal. While some belt-tightening seems likely, we do not presently see the need for a reduction in force, and I can say in full confidence that every member of the Executive Leadership Team is committed to preserving jobs as a top priority.

Stay informed, stay safe, and thank you for all you are doing to support each other.

Richard