Throughout the COVID-19 global pandemic, Mountainland Technical College has taken a measured and informed approach to ensuring student, faculty, and staff safety. Thanks, in no small part, to the vigilance of our community, MTECH joins the rest of Utah in its transition back to full operations. 

Dear MTECH Students, Faculty and Staff:

Testing is available at our Lehi Campus beginning Tuesday, December 1, 2020, in the Trades and Technology Building, on the first floor during the following hours:
Tuesday through Friday: 9:00am – 3:00pm
Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday: 5:00pm – 8:00pm

• Adult students (those not in high-school) are asked to be tested every two weeks beginning December 1, 2020;
• High School students can participate in the free testing, so long as they have an approved and signed waiver from their parent or guardian;
• You will receive a text message later today directing you to a page on https://mtec.edu dedicated to answering your questions about the testing process, a registration form where you can pre-register for a rapid-test, and contact information for additional questions;
• After you complete the registration form, please feel free to visit our testing center during the times listed above. We do not currently offer pre-scheduled visits, only open testing times;
• Testing in Lehi is open to all students, regardless of which campus they regularly attend;
• You are asked NOT to come to our testing site if you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. Instead, call 800-456-7707 to be guided to an appropriate testing location;
• MTECH is using the BinaxNOW rapid test. A health professional will swab a nostril and insert  the swab into a card that indicates a negative or positive result;
• You will be notified, via the email address you enter upon registration, of your test result, likely within 1 to 2 hours; and
• Included in the email with your results are recommendations on ‘next-steps.’

Sincerely,
Clay Christensen, President
Holly Peterson, Vice President of Instruction
Kirt Michaelis, Vice President of Administrative Services
Joseph M. Demma, Vice President of College Relations

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Mountainland Technical College (MTECH) is committed to welcoming students back to campus and will promote a healthy environment using a combination of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)-guided behavioral expectations (e.g., face coverings, social distancing) and an ethic of personal responsibility, enhanced facility cleaning protocols, and comprehensive communications.

At MTECH, we know that no plan is perfect, nor should it remain fixed indefinitely. We expect that our policy will evolve as the status of COVID-19, and our understanding of best practices, develops.

The cornerstone of MTECH’s reopening plan is the same which
has governed our operations for three decades: ensuring the
health and well-being of our students, faculty, staff, and visitors.

It is important to remember that this public health crisis is evolving and our date of return could still change. I commit to being as transparent as possible with you, and will communicate information I learn to you as quickly and clearly as I can.

Also, our 2020 Graduation originally planned for May 16, 2020 is now tentatively scheduled to be held in the fall. We are currently working with the UCCU Center at Utah Valley University to secure a date in August and will update you when we learn more. You and your fellow classmates have worked very hard to earn your certificate and deserve to celebrate with your friends, families, and school staff in recognition of your significant achievement.

If you have any questions moving forward, please feel free to reach out directly to your instructor. I am confident that by working together we will emerge from this pandemic stronger than ever.

Best Regards,
Clay Christensen
President
Mountainland Technical College

Dear Students,

I hope this letter finds you and your loved ones doing well. These last several weeks have been challenging and I thank you for your patience and cooperation as we all follow the advice provided by public health experts who are working to keep COVID-19 from spreading.

Unfortunately, the COVID-19 global pandemic is still with us and Governor Herbert has directed that Mountainland Technical College maintain our current, closed status until June 1, 2020.

Over the next several weeks, our faculty and staff will continue to work tirelessly to ensure a safe return to classes and the world-class education and training you have come to expect.

I encourage you to visit https://mtec.edu. There, beginning next week, we will add important information in preparation for the college’s re-opening, currently planned for Monday, June 1, 2020. For instance, when we return, there will be certain health considerations, such as required facial coverings, in place to ensure the safety and health of our community. These health and safety considerations will be in compliance with CDC and Utah Department of Health recommendations and they will be communicated across our campuses and website.

It is important to remember that this public health crisis is evolving and our date of return could still change. I commit to being as transparent as possible with you, and will communicate information I learn to you as quickly and clearly as I can.

Also, our 2020 Graduation originally planned for May 16, 2020 is now tentatively scheduled to be held in the fall. We are currently working with the UCCU Center at Utah Valley University to secure a date in August and will update you when we learn more. You and your fellow classmates have worked very hard to earn your certificate and deserve to celebrate with your friends, families, and school staff in recognition of your significant achievement.

If you have any questions moving forward, please feel free to reach out directly to your instructor. I am confident that by working together we will emerge from this pandemic stronger than ever.

Best Regards,
Clay Christensen
President
Mountainland Technical College

Dear Mountainland Technical College community,

This afternoon, Governor Gary Herbert issued an Executive Order temporarily ceasing instruction and coursework at all of Utah’s Technical Colleges, beginning Monday, March 30, 2020 through May 1, 2020.

I respect the Governor and completely agree with and understand his directive.  As much as it pains me to close our college temporarily, maintaining the integrity of our high-quality programs does not coincide with a complete online-delivery model.  As a school, you look to us for instruction and training that exceeds expectations and our commitment to you is to deliver.  Online-only instruction is a valuable option for many education pathways, but for most of our programs, a meaningful hands-on experience is critical. 

Therefore, in order to comply with your expectations and ours, and in response to the Governor’s order, Mountainland Technical College will cease instruction starting Monday, March 30, 2020 and resume on Monday, May 4, 2020. Below are some answers to questions you may have:

Students

• No tuition will be charged, retroactively from March 16, 2020 until we reopen;
• Progress requirements are frozen and will pick up exactly where you left off when we reopen;
• Canvas is available for those who want to work ahead;
• No new starts; active students as of March 16, 2020 will be the first ones in class;
• For High School Students, we will work with school districts on grading;
• 2020 Graduation is likely postponed; and
• All probationary contracts are frozen. 

Employees

• There is still work to do to update curriculum and prepare for resumption of classes;
• Supervisors will develop work plans for their employees;
• Each employee will report on their plan with their supervisors; and
• If equipment is needed for working at home, coordinate with supervisor.

Facilities

• All Campuses are closed;
• Testing Centers are closed;
• Mountainland Cosmetology is closed;
• Cafeteria and Catering are closed;
• Tours are canceled; and
• On-site trainings and testings are postponed.

For faculty and staff, our work continues and we will take this opportunity to sharpen our skills, update our curriculum, and prepare to welcome students back to their world-class technical college.

Thank you all for your flexibility and perseverance as we adapt to and overcome this global challenge.  You are a valuable member of the MTECH family and we will get through this most successfully by pulling together and supporting one another.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact us through our website at: https://mtec.edu/contact/ or call: 801-753-6282.

Sincerely,
Clay Christensen
President
Mountainland Technical College

MTECH Staff and Faculty:

On March 18, 2020, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act was signed into law.  Please review the information below and see how it might apply to you, or those you supervise. 

• The new law takes effect on April 1, 2020 and will remain in effect until December 31, 2020.
• Eligibility: MTECH employees regardless, of the length of their tenure, are eligible for paid sick leave under the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act.
• Qualifying reasons for taking paid sick leave:

1. 1. The employee is subject to a federal, state, or local quarantine or isolation due to COVID–19;
   2. A health care provider advised the employee to self-quarantine due to concerns related to COVID–19;
   3. The employee is experiencing symptoms of COVID–19 and seeking a medical diagnosis;
   4. The employee is caring for a family member who is either subject to a federal, state, or local quarantine/isolation due to COVID -19 or has been advised to self-quarantine due to concerns related to COVID–19;
   5. The employee is caring for the employee’s child whose school has been closed or place of care is unavailable due to COVID–19 precautions; or
   6. The employee is experiencing any other substantially similar condition specified by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

• Benefit: Full – time employees receive 80 hours of paid sick leave.  Part time employees receive the equivalent of the number of hours they would work, on average during a two-week period.
• Paid sick leave does not carry over from one year to the next.
• Paid sick time ceases beginning with an employee’s next scheduled work shift immediately following termination of the need for paid sick time (i.e., qualifying need)
• For qualifying reasons 1, 2, and 3 (above), eligible employees will receive paid sick leave at their regular rate.
• For qualifying reasons 4,5, and 6 (above) eligible employees will receive paid sick leave at two-thirds of their regular rate.
• Use: All eligible employees may use paid sick time beginning on April 1st.
• Employers may not require eligible employees to first use other paid leave provided by the employer before using paid sick leave under the Act; this leave is in addition to any paid sick leave or PTO currently provided.
• Employers may not require employees to provide advance notice prior to the first workday on which the employee takes paid sick leave under the Act.
• FMLA Eligibility: On a temporary basis, an FMLA-covered employee includes all employees who have worked for the employer for at least thirty (30) days.
• Qualifying Reason for taking expanded FMLA leave: an eligible employee may take up to twelve (12) weeks of leave if he/she is unable to work (including telework) because the employee must care for his/her child who is under 18 years of age and whose school or place of care has closed due to the COVID–19 public health emergencies
• Benefit: A qualifying employee may take up to 12 weeks of leave.  An employee is entitled to receive from the employer two-thirds  of his or her normal wages for the number of hours he/she would be regularly scheduled to work, up to a maximum of $200 dollars per day and $10,000 in total per individual and no more than $12,000 total aggregate per employee and $2,000 dollars per day per employer.

Thank you for your attention to this important information.  If you have any questions, please contact Justin Browning in the Human Resources department jbrowning@mtec.edu. 

To the Mountainland Technical College community,

In order to help minimize the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19):

Mountainland Technical College campuses are closed for face-to-face instruction beginning March 16, 2020 until March 30, 2020.  

Online instruction will be available beginning Wednesday, March 18, 2020.

Facilities 

• All Campuses are closed, with the exception of the Thanksgiving Point Campus, which is open on a limited basis, Monday thru Thursday, 9am – 12pm.
• Testing Center is closed.
• Mountainland Cosmetology is closed.
• Cafeteria and Catering are closed.
• Tours are canceled.
• On-site trainings and testings are postponed.

Students

• All new student start-dates are postponed until further notice.
• Registration for new programs are closed until further notice.
• In-class instruction is canceled until Monday, March 30, 2020.
• Online instruction will be available through Canvas beginning Wednesday March 18, 2020.
• You will be contacted through email or Canvas, by your instructor, prior to March 18, 2020 with details regarding online instruction.
• If you have questions, please contact your instructor through Canvas or email.

If you have questions, please visit: https://mtec.edu/contact/ or call: 801-753-6282

To the Mountainland Technical College community,

In order to help minimize the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19):

Mountainland Technical College campuses are closed for face-to-face instruction beginning March 16, 2020 until March 30, 2020.  

Online instruction will be available beginning Wednesday, March 18, 2020.

Facilities 

• Campuses are open, on a limited basis, to Faculty and Staff only. 
• Testing Center is closed.
• Mountainland Cosmetology is closed.
• Cafeteria and Catering are closed.
• Tours are canceled.
• On-site trainings and testings are postponed.

Students

• All new student start-dates are postponed until further notice.
• Registration for new programs are closed until further notice.
• In-class instruction is canceled until Monday, March 30, 2020.
• Online instruction will be available through Canvas beginning Wednesday March 18, 2020. 
• You will be contacted through email or Canvas, by your instructor, prior to March 18, 2020 with details regarding online instruction.
• If you have questions, please contact your instructor through Canvas or email.  

To the Mountainland Technical College community,

Today, Utah Governor Gary Herbert announced that all Universities and Colleges have been directed to prepare plans to minimize the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) by maximizing distance learning instruction through online courses and to postpone or cancel all large, school-related gatherings.

Mountainland Technical College is not one of the schools affected by this order. At this time, you should continue your studies as usual. All MTECH campuses remain open during their regular business hours.

While MTECH is not currently subject to this directive, we are looking at ways to support our community in this environment. Therefore, we are postponing any large events and school-related out of state travel until further notice. We are also working to expand our ability to deliver our courses online.

As this situation remains fluid, please note that plans are subject to change and we will immediately communicate with the entire MTECH community if that occurs. Again, these remain proactive measures taken out of an abundance of caution.

As always, If you have reason to suspect that you could potentially have been exposed to COVID-19, your first step should be to contact your local health department and medical provider.

For more information, please visit the following links:

• MTECH Updates: https://mtec.edu/coronavirusupdate
• Utah Department of Health Updates: https://coronavirus.utah.gov/
• Centers for Disease Control Updates: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
• World Health Organization Updates: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

Thank you for your patience. The safety and security of every member of the MTECH community remain our highest priority.

Sincerely,

Office of the President
Clay Christensen
2301 West Ashton Blvd. Lehi, Utah 84043