Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
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June 4, 2021
As of May 31, 2021, Governor Wolf lifted all remaining COVID-19 mitigation orders except for the mask mandate, which remains in effect through June 28, 2021.
Triangle Tech is pleased to announce that we will return to full time, in-person classes for the start of the Summer 2021 semester on June 29, 2021. Students will attend in-person classes Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 2:30 pm.
Triangle Tech will continue to adhere to PA Department of Education, PA Department of Health, and CDC guidance. Accordingly, the COVID-19 Health and Safety Plan has been updated and continues to support a healthy, safe, and inclusive learning environment in accordance with all agency guidelines.
Revised practices effective for the return to classes on June 29, 2021;
- Vaccinated students and employees are no longer required to wear face masks, although they may continue to choose to do so.
- It is strongly recommended that unvaccinated students and employees continue to wear face masks as a safeguard and out of an abundance of caution.
- Temperature checks and daily attestation signatures will no longer be required.
- Routine handwashing and utilizing hand sanitizing stations continues to be encouraged.
- Students, staff, and faculty should continue to social distance to the extent it is feasible and practical.
- Routine cleaning and sanitizing of high touch areas will continue.
- Students and employees that are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or have a fever of 100.4 or greater should not report to school and contact the Director or their Supervisor.
- Students and employees that test positive or are exposed to a positive case should contact the Director or their supervisor and follow PA Department of Health and CDC guidance on quarantine and/or isolation.
Please refer to the updated Triangle Tech Group COVID-19 Return to School Health and Safety Plan for a complete list of health and safety practices.
Triangle Tech Group COVID-19 Return to School Health and Safety Plan
Updated July, 27, 2020
Many students have inquired about when they will receive their Hybrid Class Schedule. Every student will be given their own individual Hybrid Class Schedule upon arrival at school on the morning of July 28, 2020.
Hybrid Delivery of Instruction is in effect at all of our School Campuses Beginning July 29, 2020:
Last Thursday, Allegheny County and the City of Pittsburgh were identified by the White House Coronavirus Task Force as so called “hot spots” where COVID-19 cases are rapidly increasing.
Immediately upon learning of this designation, Triangle Tech staff began to take the necessary actions to implement hybrid delivery of instruction. In response to this designation and out of an abundance of caution, Triangle Tech is taking the following action in the interest of keeping our Students, Faculty, and Staff safe and healthy.
Effective on Wednesday, July 29, 2020, Triangle Tech will begin the Hybrid delivery of instruction. This means that students will attend classes in-person on alternating days and will attend on-line classes on alternating days. One day in-person, next day on-line and so on.
By adopting the hybrid approach, we will reduce the number of students who are in-person at the school by 50% daily. The students will also stay exactly on track toward each student’s planned graduation date with no delay unless of course the Government takes future action which may delay our planned completion date.
As always, Triangle Tech will continue to comply with all Pennsylvania Department of Health and CDC guidelines regarding Higher Education Institutions that are operating during COVID-19 under the Governors “green” designation.
Updated July 21, 2020
Message to Triangle Tech Community.
As we continue to live with the impact of COVID-19, I hope you and your loved ones are safe and healthy.
I first want to express my appreciation to our students who made the unexpected transition to online learning and have now returned to in-person learning. You should be proud of your decision to persevere and stay in school to keep learning for a brighter future, all the while exhibiting true strength as you deal with your own personal worries and frustrations.
To our faculty, I thank you for your dedication to our students and for your expertise in continuing to deliver instruction during this time, all while exhibiting true strength as you also deal with your own personal worries and frustrations. Your students could not have done it without you.
I want to thank our administrators and staff, who behind the scene continued to work in our school buildings, while others never stopped working from home, as they too, were dealing with their own worries and frustrations.
Not only are all of you dealing with your own personal worries and frustrations, you are persevering. This has not been easy for any of us. Now more than ever, we must continue to be cautious and act responsibly regarding our own safety and the safety of others. Now is the time to think of our entire community so that we may progress forward with the hope of returning to life, as we knew it.
We at Triangle Tech are tremendously grateful to the people serving on the frontlines of COVID-19 in essential services. This includes healthcare workers, first responders, grocery store clerks, gas station attendants, postal employees, delivery drivers, auto mechanics, and so many more. Not only are they ensuring we have essential care, supplies, and services, but they are often doing it while interacting with members of the public who could potentially make them ill.
We all know how great the risk of contracting COVID-19 is to all age groups and demographics. That is why following safety guidelines is no longer just a personal concern, but now we must consider our own impact on other members of the community. Consider the following thoughts about shared values, instead of disagreements, as a reason to practice safe behaviors, including wearing a mask.
I encourage each of you to focus on shared values, rather than disagreements. It is important to you and Triangle Tech that community members wear masks. Whether it is to protect immune-compromised people, control the spread, or because you or a loved one has been directly impacted by COVID-19, the underlying values behind wearing a mask should be a concern to each of us for our family, community, compassion, and respect.
It’s not about the individual – it’s about the community. Remember your decision as an individual affects those you might not have thought about, such as people with disabilities who are unable to wear a mask, or other compromised people.
So, in the interest of our shared values, it is important to wear a mask, wash your hands, monitor your temperature, social distance, sanitize your work space and most importantly act to protect the health of other people as well as it is to protect your own.
I cannot underestimate my gratitude for your dedication and my respect for your efforts. Let’s not forget that we are all essential to each other.
Sincerely,
Timothy J. McMahon
Updated June 5, 2020
Triangle Tech Group COVID-19 Return to School Health and Safety Plan
Student Return to School Memo
Updated May 9, 2020
Please be advised that all Triangle Tech students have been sent a very important email from Mr. McMahon, the President of Triangle Tech. Please be sure to check both your personal email accounts and Triangle Tech email accounts for this very important message.
Updated April 14, 2020
Message to Triangle Tech Students: Financial Aid
Triangle Tech understands that the Coronavirus pandemic has impacted the lives of our students in many challenging ways. As you may or may not be aware, the CARES Act was recently signed into law to get support to those most in need as quickly as possible, including college students whose lives have been disrupted and who may be facing financial challenges and struggling to make ends meet.
Triangle Tech has received notification from the U.S. Department of Education that funds have been allocated to our schools for use in providing emergency grants to our students to help cover expenses related to the disruption of campus operations as a result of the Coronavirus, including eligible expenses under the students cost of attendance (COA) such as food, housing, health care, child care, and technology. Triangle Tech is in the process of applying for these funds and is still gathering the information necessary to properly award these emergency grant funds to eligible students.
All Triangle Tech students will be contacted this week by their Financial Aid Advisor to identify their individual need for an Emergency Grant. Students who are awarded an Emergency Grant will receive an Award Letter stating the amount of the Emergency Grant, and must sign an acknowledgment that funds will only be used for eligible expenses such as food, housing, health care, child care or technology expenses. Upon signed student acceptance of the award, the funds will be disbursed directly to the student.
Triangle Tech is very invested in your success as our student. It is our hope that these emergency grants will help to alleviate some of your financial hardship during this difficult time.
Sincerely,
Catherine A. Waxter
Executive Director of Financial Aid
The Triangle Tech Group
Updated April 3, 2020
Message to Triangle Tech Students: Distance Learning
Triangle Tech has just been notified by UPS and FEDEX that due to disruptions and volume of deliveries, our shipment of Chromebook's and headsets with microphones for our students to use for online classes are not going to arrive as scheduled.
Because of these delays, Triangle Tech faculty will contact students on April 6, 2020, by way of personal email, to provide students with the information needed for WebEx teleconferences. An orientation to online classes and other important information will be shared at that time. Students will receive an email with a call -in number and a meeting code that will allow access to the particular class each student needs to attend.
We anticipate that computers and headsets will be delivered to each school during the week of April 6-10, 2020. Each shipment is coming separately so they will arrive on different days at each particular school.
Once we have received the equipment, we will schedule a grab and go day at each school for the purpose of issuing a new Chromebook and headset to each student and to allow students to pick up any necessary textbooks, etc. that may be at the school.
Students will be given a schedule prior to the grab and go day so they can come to the school and stay in compliance with the 10-person limit on group events.
Given the current situation, we believe that all students will be fully equipped for participation in online classes as originally planned on April 14, 2020.
I assure you that faculty will contact you on April 6, 2020, by way of personal email, to relay the details of WebEx teleconferencing. Starting on April 14, 2020, you will continue online by way of the Google Classroom platform.
As I have said previously, we are not just in this for the short term. We plan to resume in-person classes as soon as the Coronavirus passes. We urge you to stay confident that you will reach your goal of earning your AST degree and beginning your professional life in a solid career.
We currently plan to begin the June 2020 semester on time as scheduled.
Triangle Tech's management team, staff and faculty continue to work diligently with your best interests in mind. Our primary goal is your success.
We hope you and your loved ones are staying safe and healthy during this difficult time.
Sincerely,
Timothy J. McMahon
President
Updated on March 26, 2020
Message to Triangle Tech Students:
As we continue to deal with the impact of the Coronavirus crisis, I hope you and your loved ones are staying safe and healthy. While the school suspended in-person classes on March 17, 2020, the school administration has been hard at work preparing to continue your education by way of online delivery.
Our primary goal is to keep you progressing toward graduation with minimum delay and expense.
Triangle Tech staff and faculty are making preparations to quickly launch online instruction for as much of the curriculum as possible. Online classes are scheduled to begin on April 6, 2020.
Our students are our primary priority. Meeting your needs is the very reason that Triangle Tech exists.
Soon, Triangle Tech will be in touch with you directly to provide details of your participation in on-line classes.
In order to provide you some certainty about your education, I assure you that you will be able to attend classes from your home very soon.
Also, you will be able to progress through your remaining semesters with minimal delay as long as the Coronavirus doesn't cause further delays. Currently we plan to start the June 2020 semester on time as scheduled.
We are not just in this for the short term. We plan to resume in-person classes as soon as the Coronavirus passes. We urge you to stay confident that you will reach your goal of earning your AST degree and beginning your professional life in a solid career.
Triangle Tech's management team, staff and faculty are working with your best interests in mind with your success as our goal.
We believe in you.
Timothy J. McMahon
President
Updated on March 16, 2020
After careful consideration, we have concluded that based on information received overnight from the Pennsylvania Department of Education and based on various local requests for voluntary suspension of business for two weeks, Triangle Tech administrators have decided for the benefit of the Triangle Tech community to suspend classes for two weeks in the interest of mitigating the spread of the Coronavirus.
Beginning tomorrow, Tuesday, March 17, 2020 classes at Triangle Tech will not be in session. Students and faculty should plan to return to school or work on Tuesday, March 31, 2020.
Continue to check Triangle Tech’s website for coronavirus updates throughout this period.
Updated on March 15, 2020
Triangle Tech continues to observe the situation regarding the spread of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). We are actively monitoring guidance provided by local government and public health officials, and are following protocols issued by governmental authorities and agencies in the locations where we operate schools.
All of Triangle Tech’s programs are designed with the majority of instruction being “hands-on” in labs and shops. Due in part to this educational requirement, and the fact that our students live off campus, all of our schools remain open at this time on the regular schedule. This decision is subject to change based on developing information, or the reporting of confirmed cases.
We have augmented our normal cleaning procedures, along with existing hand sanitizers already installed throughout each school building. Our cleaning protocols include hand washing hygiene and increased disinfection of high frequency student and employee common touch points. As always, the safety and well-being of our students, employees, guests and vendors is our top priority.
Governor Wolfe has mandated closure of all higher education institutions in Montgomery, Chester, Delaware and Bucks counties. The Governor went on to say that this is a very fluid situation and changes may be likely on a daily basis for the immediate future and that the State will monitor the spread of the virus and will make further closure decisions based on what health officials are recommending at the time. Triangle Tech is following the lead of the Governor and will certainly close if mandated to do so by the Governor in any county where any one of our schools is located. We continue to be confident that our schools are safe at this point and we believe the safety of our students, faculty and staff continues to be intact.
In addition, the Pennsylvania Department of Education is holding an emergency meeting tomorrow, March 16, 2020 to issue further guidance to private licensed schools as to guidelines for continued operation. Triangle Tech administrators will be in attendance at that meeting. Following the events of the meeting, I will issue a further update if necessary.
To ensure we are reacting in the best interest of our entire school community, the school continues to practice preventative measures along with planning for potential actions as the situation evolves and new information becomes available. Our administration has initiated the planning process in anticipation of a possible public health related school closure. TT is currently in the process of negotiating a consortium agreement to deliver our courses online where possible. While at this time we do not have any indication that such a response will be required, it is our strong belief that we are obligated to take action now to ensure our students are afforded every opportunity to complete the current semester and to advance to subsequent semesters in order to graduate on time in the event the public health concerns preclude our normal operations.
We continue to follow the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Pennsylvania Department of Health in our efforts to protect our school community. Triangle Tech students or employees who present with flu-like symptoms should not come to school or work until they are fever and symptom free for 24 hours.
Of course, if you are affected by the closure of your child’s school and must stay at home to stay with your child, you may apply for a leave of absence in accordance with Triangle Tech’s standard leave of absence policy. Also, if you are not confident that it is not safe for you to continue to attend as we continue to conduct in-person classes, then you may apply for a leave of absence in accordance with Triangle Tech’s standard leave of absence policy.
We have heard several instances of rumors and hearsay making its way back to the administration, and we hope to provide some clarity and direction. I strongly encourage each of you to disengage from believing rumors and reach out to us directly for current information, as hearsay is particularly harmful during times of quickly changing information and media publicity.
If you have questions you may contact the following Triangle Tech administrators:
Timothy McMahon Sofia Janis Deborah Hepburn
President VP of Human Resources Director of Compliance & Education
tmcmahon@triangle-tech.edu sjanis@triangle-tech.edu dhepburn@triangle-tech.edu
Information from the Centers for Disease Control may be found at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/colleges-universities/index.html
Sincerely,
Timothy J. McMahon
President
Updated on March 13, 2020
Triangle Tech continues to monitor the Coronavirus situation to ensure we are reacting in the best interest of our entire school community. While there are presently no confirmed cases in the area, the cases in Eastern Pennsylvania make it imperative that the school continues its preventative measures along with planning for potential actions should a case arise locally. We continue to follow the guidance of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Pennsylvania Department of Health in our efforts to protect our school community. Our administration has initiated the planning process in anticipation of a possible public health related school closure.