Coronavirus (COVID-19): Campus Response
As a small, private, non-profit institution of higher education, Dunwoody College of Technology is committed to changing lives by building opportunities for graduates to have successful careers, to develop into leaders and entrepreneurs, and to engage in “the better performance of life’s duties.” We value collaboration, inclusion, curiosity, and inspiration as we work together in times of crisis and change. Together we are taking action, and preparing to meet the challenges of this pandemic head on.

Automotive students in the the Warren building automotive labs wearing masks for safety measures during COVID-19 pandemic.
Dunwoody Safe
The Dunwoody Safe plan is a comprehensive approach to delivering hands-on education, in a safe, physically-distanced way due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It incorporates the College’s Preparedness Plan, its Return to In Person Instruction planning, and the preparation for a Fall 2020 start that includes:
- Access to hands-on, in-person instruction in our labs, shops, and studios
- In-person and virtual support for students
All aspects of the plan meet or exceed recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and the Minnesota Department of Health. The College also solicited feedback on its fall planning from students and employees.
The Dunwoody Safe plan is one piece of Dunwoody’s overall approach to creating a safe campus environment for our students, employees, and visitors. Information about the College’s Public Safety & Security measures can be found online at dunwoody.edu/public-safety.
Together, Dunwoody is living up to its “Born to Do” motto, as it works to keep our students, employees, and visitors safe, while still delivering the high-quality education Dunwoody is known for.
The College is utilizing its small class sizes, low student-to-teacher ratios, and large lab spaces to restructure its physical environment in ways that will safely allow for hands-on activities in small group settings.
No large campus community can guarantee a COVID-19 free environment, and the steps described in this plan recognize that reality. Dunwoody expects all students, employees, and visitors to assume responsibility for their own health and safety and act in a manner that demonstrates respect for those around them.
Putting Safety First
The health and safety of the Dunwoody Community is our top priority, and is reflected in the following key measures the College is taking, including:
- Asking all individuals to take responsibility for their own health both in and outside of Dunwoody, and to follow the guidelines and expectations set forth in the Dunwoody Safe plan.
- Implementing campus-wide health and safety protocols that include health screenings, requiring face coverings and/or the use of other Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), social distancing, and the cleaning and sanitization of campus surfaces and equipment.
- Reconfiguring physical spaces to allow for safe, physically-distanced activities in small-group settings.
- Restructuring classes and schedules to meet safe capacity and building usage, as required by the State.
- Providing support and engagement in new virtual ways to accommodate students’ needs.
- Providing the same, high-quality education Dunwoody is known for in new safe and innovative ways.
- Preparing for contingencies and changes to the pandemic situation.
CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Information
CRRSA Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF II) Information
More Information
Testing
The Minnesota Department of Health is making at-home saliva tests available to all Minnesotans and is urging those18-35 to get tested.
The saliva test checks whether you have COVID-19 right at the time you get tested and can spread it to others. It is not an antibody test that looks for whether you have had COVID-19 in the past, MDH says.
If you would like to get an at-home test, click the link here.
For more information about at-home testing, click here.
Visit the Minnesota Department of Health for other testing options.
Enhanced Cleaning & Safety
Beginning back in March, Dunwoody began implementing new standards for a clean and healthy environment. These have included:
- Sealing the floors in areas of the buildings to make them impermeable and easy to disinfect, to prevent the spread of viruses.
- Using a new backpack unit to spray a commercial grade disinfectant in all areas of the buildings, including classrooms, offices, labs, common areas, and restrooms. This disinfects the air, which helps kill any airborne virus.
- Sanitizing surfaces by wiping down all areas of the building including computers, keyboards, desks, equipment, and elevator buttons on a daily basis. Frequently touched items in common areas are sanitized several times a day.
Reconfigured Physical Spaces & Schedules
Dunwoody recognizes the unique challenges presented by delivering hands-on education in a COVID-19 environment. As such, College faculty, staff, deans, and managers have been preparing for a variety of scenarios to deliver Dunwoody’s curriculum in new and innovative ways.
Changes to Dunwoody’s labs, shops, and studios have been made to allow for safe, physically-distanced hands-on learning in small-group environments. These changes have included:
- Installing protective shields or barriers in areas of the building as needed, including in lab spaces.
- Investing in additional equipment and tools to reduce sharing between individuals.
- Creating take-home learning activities to allow for hands-on learning – from home.
- Installing touch-free handles at the doors of the West Entrance of the main building.
- Moving from group activities to individual learning in hands-on, lab settings.
- Determining traffic flow to maintain social distancing in hallways and common spaces.
To minimize the number of individuals on campus at any one time, Dunwoody is reworking its schedules to create smaller learning groups.
The College is leveraging its existing technology, including its Learning Management System, to deliver lectures, demonstrations, and one-on-one support, including tutoring, in online formats.
Visiting Campus
Health Screenings
All students, employees, and visitors to the Dunwoody campus will complete a thermal temperature check and affirm they are symptom free prior to entering the building.
Asking Everyone to Do Their Part
- Stay home if you are sick
- Wash your hands
- Cover your cough or sneeze
- Social distance
- Wear a mask
Guided by the Experts
Dunwoody’s guidelines, actions, and protocols all meet or exceed guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Minnesota Department of Health.
COVID-19 FAQ
How can I avoid contracting COVID-19?
Here are the guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC):
- People can help protect themselves from respiratory illness with everyday preventive actions.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick. - Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others.
What should I do if I have flu or cold symptoms?
First, you should stay home.
Second, you should monitor yourself for the symptoms identified with COVID-19. That includes fever, cough, and shortness of breath.
What should I do if my symptoms suggest I could have COVID-19?
Please contact your primary health care provider.
I'm feeling anxious about this situation. What can I do?
Students can use Talk One2One, which offers FREE, confidential 24/7 support for any problem that can be challenging their emotional health, well-being, or focus. The number is 1.800.756.3124. No issue is too big or too small.
Employees can call our Employee Assistance Program at 800.316.2796 for confidential consultation and resource services. Or visit mutualofomaha.com/eap.
In addition, The College offers Learn to Live, a free 100% confidential online program. Visit https://www.learntolive.com/partners and enter the code DUNWOODY.
Also see the CDC information about mental health and coping during COVID-19.
What if I can’t connect to the internet, have accommodation needs, or have other logistical issues with virtual learning?
Please contact Student Affairs at studentaffairs@dunwoody.edu.
Resources for Internet Access
The following is a list of internet service providers that are offering free or discounted options to help alleviate financial burdens during this time:
- Comcast is offering two months of free service to new customers, and available to eligible low-income households. More Information
- Comcast is also offering access to all Xfinity Wi-Fi hotspots, for free, to anyone who needs it. More Information
- Find a hotspot near you. More Information
- CenturyLink is offering telephone and internet service for eligible low-income households. More Information
- City of Minneapolis has opened their Wi-Fi for free temporary internet access. More Information
- Cellular Service: If you have cell service, including a data plan, you can use your phone as a hotspot for your laptop. Check with your service provider for all available options. You can also use your cell phones mobile applications to gain access to many of the services required for your education, such as, Canvas, Launchpad, and Office 365. See the IT Resources section in Launchpad for directions on how to install the mobile applications on your cell phone.
- Local Restaurants, Coffee Shops, or Dunwoody: Even though the majority of these places are not open, you can often access the Wi-Fi when near the location, such as, from the parking lot.
Is there a plan for the fall if another outbreak closes things down again?
While Dunwoody’s plan is to continue offering on-campus labs this fall, it will comply with any orders issued by the State of Minnesota. In the event that another Stay at Home order is issued, Dunwoody is prepared to transition its lab activities to an online format if needed, with the intention of resuming in-person activities as soon as the order is lifted.
Is there a plan in place for if a student gets sick? Will the people they came in contact with have to quarantine?
In the event of a student or employee testing positive for COVID-19, the College is prepared to perform contact tracing and will notify all individuals known to have come in close contact with the individual. Those individuals may be required to quarantine for 14 days before being allowed to return to campus.
What if I get sick? Is there a plan to help so I do not get behind or penalized for missing school?
In the event that a student becomes ill during the course of the semester, they should notify their faculty who will then work with them to develop a plan to make up any lost or missing time to ensure they are able to complete their semester.