Name: N.C. Central chancellor talks preparations for safe return for students
Uploaded: 2020-08-21T21:30:02-0400
Duration: 529019
Description: WRAL's Gerald Owens spoke with the chancellor at N.C. Central about his university's plans to keep students safe during the coronavirus pandemic. Students are scheduled to return to class on Monday.

We are under a level 2 risk for severe storms Thursday. Damaging winds and isolated tornadoes will be possible as a powerful front crosses our area. This is the same front that is producing severe storms across the Midwest.

WRAL Weather Alert Day issued for Thursday, damaging winds & isolated tornadoes possible

The damage and deaths wreaked by these storms in the past 60 years has become legendary in North Carolina's history. Where are the worst hurricanes in North Carolina?

Count down the most destructive hurricanes in NC history

Hurricane Hazel

On average, women gain 5 to 10 pounds in the years before menopause, when reproductive hormones are fluctuating as the body prepares to stop ovulating.

How to manage weight gain during menopause

Weight loss

WRAL's Gerald Owens spoke with the chancellor at N.C. Central about his university's plans to keep students safe during the coronavirus pandemic. Students are scheduled to return to class on Monday.

THERE'VE CLOSED COMMUNAL DINING FACILITIES AS WELL. >>> NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY HOPES TO AVOID THE SAME FATE AS UNC, CHAPEL HILL AND NC STATE, STUDENTS HAVE BEEN MOVING IN FOR THE PAST SEVERAL DAYS, CLASSES ARE COMBINATION OF IN PERSON HYBRID AND ONLINE. FACE COVERINGS ARE REQUIRED AND STUDENTS HAVE BEEN WARNED BY THE UNIVERSITY TO AVOID LARGE SOCIAL GATHERINGS ON AND OFF CAMPUS. AN EMAIL SENT TO STUDENTS INFORMED THEM THAT THEY COULD FAST, FACE A CLASS TO MISDEMEANOR FOR ATTENDING OR THROWING A PARTY. 1200 STUDENTS THAT ENROLLED THIS SEMESTER ARE FRESHMEN. THE CHANCELLOR JOINS US LIVE RIGHT NOW AHEAD OF THE SEMESTER AND I KNOW THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT AND EXCITING TIME FOR YOU, AND BUSY AS WELL. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING WITH US. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, FOR INVITING ME. >> Reporter: ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING HAPPEN AT OTHER COLLEGES? >> YES I THINK WE ARE ALL CONCERNED, THERE IS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TREPIDATION THAT WE ALL EXPERIENCE, BECAUSE YOU WELL KNOW, THE THINGS THAT -- OUR PLAN IS AS GOOD AS WHAT WE KNOW TODAY. OF COURSE WHAT IS GOING ON IT CHAPEL HILL AND NC STATE, IT IS UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE MOST OF THESE CLUSTERS ARE OCCURRING OFF CAMPUS WHERE YOU HAVE THE GREEK LIFE, THROWING LARGE PARTIES, LARGE EVENTS. FORTUNATELY FOR US, AS A MUCH SMALLER CAMPUS THAN IN C STATE AND CHAPEL HILL, WE DON'T HAVE THE DENSITY THAT THEY HAVE AND WE ARE ALSO FORTUNATE THAT WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF GREEK HOUSES OFF-CAMPUS WHERE THESE EVENTS ARE OCCURRING. MOST OF OUR STUDENTS LIVE ON CAMPUS AND AS WELL AS YOU KNOW WE JUST OPENED TWO NEW RESIDENTIAL HALLS SO WE ARE ABLE TO MANAGE THE MOVEMENT AND ACTIVITIES MUCH MORE EFFECTIVELY. THEN THOSE STUDENTS WHO LIVE OFF CAMPUS. WE ARE ALSO IN VERY CLOSE CONTACT AND COMMUNICATION WITH OUR GREEK LIFE TO LET THEM KNOW THAT SHOULD THEY ENGAGE IN ACTIVITIES THAT ARE CONTRARY TO COVID GUIDELINES THEY COULD BE SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS BASED ON OUR CODE OF CONDUCT. AND THAT MAY INCLUDE THE SUSPENSION OF THOSE CHAPTERS ON CAMPUS. SO THIS IS WHAT WE ARE DOING TO TRY TO MITIGATE AND TRY TO PREVENT THE KIND OF CLUSTERS THAT ARE HAPPENING AT CHAPEL HILL AND NC STATE. >>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT TRACKING INFECTIONS, THE DASHBOARD FOR KNOWN CASES ON THE CENTRAL CAMPUS CURRENTLY HAS 13. ARE THESE ONLY INFECTIONS DIAGNOSED BY YOUR HEALTH STAFF ON CAMPUS AND HOW DO YOU TRACK CASES DIAGNOSED OFF-CAMPUS? >> ON OUR CAMPUS AS YOU WELL KNOW WE HAVE CONTRACTED A THIRD- PARTY VENDOR, APEX SOLUTIONS, AND THEY ARE INTEGRATED WITH OUR STUDENT HEALTH DEPARTMENT ON CAMPUS AS WELL AS OUR DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND THEY DO ALL OF OUR TESTING AND ALL OF OUR TRACING. THEY GET RESULTS BACK WITHIN 24 OR 48 HOURS AND THAT ENABLES US TO DO RAPID CONTACT TRACING. RIGHT NOW AS YOU MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE OPENING, WE'VE BEEN ALLOWING STUDENTS INTO THE RESIDENCE HALLS FOR THREE WEEKS. BECAUSE WE DIDN'T WANT TO USE THE TRADITIONAL MOVE-IN METHOD WIRE WE DO THIS IN A 1 TO 2 OR DAY BASIS WITH A LOT OF FOLKS ON CAMPUS, SO OUR STUDENTS HAVE BEEN MOVING BACK IN AT A RATE WE CAN MANAGE AND THEY ALL HAVE TO GO THROUGH WHAT WE CALL PRESCREENING BEFORE THEY COME AND THEY HAVE TO REPORT IF THEY HAVE ANY SYMPTOMS OR ANY CASES BEFORE THEY GET TO CAMPUS. AND SO, WE ALSO IMPLEMENTED WHAT WE CALLED A GRAB AND GO AS WE MOVE STUDENTS IN. TWO DAYS PRIOR TO THE START OF MOVE-IN STUDENTS COULD DRIVE THROUGH, DROP THEIR BELONGINGS AND WE WOULD HOUSE THEM FOR THEM UNTIL THEY COME BACK TO CAMPUS. THAT HAS HELPED US TREMENDOUSLY TO MITIGATE THE DENSITY AND THE CROWD. WE ALSO LIMIT OUR STUDENTS TO ONE PERSON ACCOMPANYING THEM TO CAMPUS AS WELL AS LIMITING THE VOLUNTEERS ON CAMPUS SO IT'S BEEN MUCH EASIER FOR US TO MANAGE OUR POPULATION, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE LARGE DENSITY THAT YOU FIND ON THE LARGER CAMPUSES. >> THIS WEEK WE HEARD FROM HOUSEKEEPERS AT YOUR UNIVERSITY AND OTHER SCHOOLS IN THE AREA WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR SAFETY. THEY DELIVERED A PETITION EARLY THIS WEEK SAYING THAT THEY FEEL LIKE WORKING CONDITIONS ARE NOT SAFE. WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE COMFORTABLE AT CENTRAL? >> AS YOU WELL KNOW WE ALL HAVE TREPIDATION AND SOME PEOPLE ARE JUST VERY CAREFUL RETURNING TO WORK. AND WE FIND THAT ACROSS THE SYSTEM. AT CENTRAL I BELIEVE WE'VE DONE VERY WELL. WE'VE PUT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES IN PLACE WHEREBY ANY EMPLOYEE INCLUDING HOUSEKEEPERS OR FACULTY AND STAFF, IF THEY HAVE WHAT WE CALL IMMUNOCOMPROMISED PEDICLE CONDITIONS, THAT ARE RELATED TO COVID AND THEY WANT EXEMPTIONS, WE PUT A PROCESS IN PLACE WHERE THEY CAN ACTUALLY FILL OUT THAT FORM TO OUR HR OFFICE AND HR WILL REVIEW THAT AND IF THEY MEET THOSE CONDITIONS THEN OF COURSE THEY ARE EITHER ALLOWED TO TELL HER WORK OR THEIR ACCOMMODATION, IS ACCOMMODATED. SO WE ARE CONSTANTLY, -- WE CONTINUOUSLY ON A DAILY BASIS ARE LOOKING AT OUR PLAN AND LOOKING AT WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR FACULTY AND STAFF AND STUDENTS ARE SAFE ON CAMPUS. SO WE ARE RESPONDING TO ANY CONCERN BROUGHT TO US EITHER BY HOUSEKEEPING EMPLOYEES OR ANY OTHER STAFF MEMBERS ACROSS THE CAMPUS. WE'VE INVESTED A LOT INTO OUR PREPARATION, WE'VE ACQUIRED A LARGE STOCK OF PPE TO INCLUDE MASKS, GLOVES, AND FACE SHIELDS THAT CAN BE USED AND WE ARE USING ALL THE CDC GUIDELINES AS WELL AS THOSE PROVIDED FOR US BY THE UNC SYSTEM. SO I'M CONFIDENT THAT WE HAVE A PROCESS IN PLACE BY WHICH ALL EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE ANY CONCERN AT ALL, WHETHER PERSONAL OR HAVING TO DO WITH CONDITIONS THAT WE'VE PROVIDED, THAT WE'VE BEEN RESPONDING RAPIDLY TO THEIR CONCERNS. >> AND OUR STUDENTS PROVIDED THE MASKS AS WELL? >>> YES, STUDENTS ARE PROVIDED THEM, THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID VERY EARLY ON IN APRIL, AND MAY, WE ACQUIRED A LOT AND WE ALSO FORTUNATELY, SOME OF OUR ALUMNI DONATED LARGE SUPPLIES OF PPE FOR US. SO WE HAVE PLENTY OF THAT. AND WE HAVE ACTUALLY INSTALLED PLEXIGLASS IN ALL OF THE FRONT OFFICES, AS WELL AS AREAS WHERE OUR STAFF DEAL WITH THE PUBLIC TO BE SURE AND WE'VE ALSO PUT COVID-19 SIGNAGE ALL ACROSS THE CAMPUS IN OUR RETAIL SHOPS AND DINING HALL, IF YOU WANT TO VISIT THE DINING HALL NOW YOU WOULD BE VERY PLEASED, WE HAVE MOVED SEATS AROUND AND INSTALLED LEXI GLASSWARE FOOD IS SERVED SO THEY HAVE THE OPTION OF TAKING MEALS TO THEIR ROOM WHEREBY THEY DON'T HAVE TO SIT DOWN IN THE DINING HALL, SO WE'VE DONE ALL OF THOSE THINGS, AND IN THE CLASSROOM WE HAVE LIMITED CAPACITY TO LESS THAN 40%. FOLLOWING CDC GUIDELINES SO THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN 3 TO 6 FEET BETWEEN STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM AND AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF OUR INSTRUCTIONS ARE REALLY ONLINE NOW. 65% OF ALL OF OUR INSTRUCTION IS ONLINE. AND WE HAVE 30% THAT ARE HYBRID. WE ONLY HAVE 4.5% THAT ARE FACE- TO-FACE SO WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO REDUCE DENSITY, TO KEEP CONTACT DOWN BETWEEN STUDENTS. >> YOU HAVE A LOT TO THINK

Gerald Owens

Jason O. Boyd

N.C. Central chancellor talks preparations for safe return for students

North Carolina Central University,back-to-school,coronavirus,coronavirus NC rebound,coronavirus learning,school

WRAL-TV News Broadcasts: Watch each newscast live or watch the most recent newscast on demand.

WRAL Late News 

Get the latest WRAL WeatherCenter Forecast whenever you need it, including the DUALDoppler5000 and the 7-Day Forecast.

I'm meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner. We are looking at some unsettled weather for the next several days with the most powerful storms arriving by Thursday. We do have a level one risk for severe storms today, but our coverage looks pretty minimal. Any isolated cells that pop up could produce some wind damage. We take a look at futurecast. There are some scattered light showers out there for us this morning. That's likely to be with us up until around 10 or 11 o'clock. Notice some holes in the clouds here and there by two or three, we begin to see a few isolated cells up. Some of those could produce some damaging winds, maybe a tree or two down. But notice that that coverage is not terribly widespread, looking more likely in our northern counties than anywhere with that particular round. We have another chance for scattered storms Wednesday, Thursday and again on Friday, but the weekend is looking really nice. So level one today and tomorrow, here's a look at Wednesday's coverage. We have the potential for damaging winds and some heavy rain and then Thursday is a w weather alert day. We have the potential for some isolated tornadoes, a good chunk of the state in that level two risk for Thursday around the area this morning, we're seeing some damp conditions in spots, especially say Durham temperatures are in the upper sixties and that's where we'll stay all the way up until lunchtime. Then we'll climb into the low eighties. It's going to be a warm day today. 87 in Raleigh, 86 Durham, 89 in Fayetteville, we're going to see some sunshine peaking through, but there'll be a few scattered storms as well. The humidity plays a big part in the next several days. Weather steamy as you're heading out today. And then we're gonna take it all the way to tropical for Thursday before that front comes through and then behind the front, we drop it nicely back down to, uh, refreshing for Saturday and Sunday. So for Mother's Day, it's looking good again. Thursday is a WRL weather alert day over the weekend. Highs are back into the seventies closer to normal with, uh, some sunshine Saturday and a small chance of a storm for Mother's Day.

WRAL WeatherCenter Forecast

Nightly N.C. Education Lottery drawings during the 11 p.m. News.

Good evening. I'm Gail Hurd. Welcome to tonight's joining for Monday, May 6th, 2024. Well, let's get started tonight with our Carolina pick three. Our first winning number is a three. Our second number is three again and our third number tonight is a six at our pick three. Fireball number is eight. Join me for tonight's joining is our auditor from mcconnell and Jones L LP. Now let's move to the Carolina pick four. Good luck. Everyone who's their first winning pick four number, it's a zero. Our second number is two. Third number is six and our fourth number tonight is three and our pick for a fireball number is also two. Well, turning now to the Carolina cash five. No one was the top price tonight. Tomorrow's top prize is estimated at $418,000. Good luck. Everyone who's at first winning cash five number. It's the number one. Our second number is four third number tonight is 22. Our fourth number is 26 and the final number in our cash five this evening is nine, the North Carolina education lottery has contributed over $10 billion to education. Thanks to your support. Get your winning numbers right here every night in your exclusive station for the North Carolina Education lottery. Thanks for playing. Have a great night.

Evening Pick 3 Pick 4 and Cash 5

Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday Powerball drawings, as shown live on WRAL.

Good evening, America. I'm Michelle Isles. Tonight. We've got another life changing jackpot for you in an estimated amount of $214.9 million. Get your tickets out. We'll start things off tonight with the number 60 right after that America. We have 56. Let's congratulate better late than never of Maryland who won $50,000. Your next number up tonight is seven. That's followed by 24 and we'll round it out tonight with 23 now for your winning powerball number. Good luck, everyone. It is 25 and your power play multiplier is two. Let's take another look at those winning numbers. Remember there are multiple ways to win. We'll see you back here Wednesday night. Good night, everyone. It's time to play America's favorite jackpot.

Powerball Drawing

Wake County residents are expected to learn more on Monday about how much their property tax bills will increase and how much the county will allocate toward public schools.

Wake County leaders discuss property tax hikes, money for schools during budget presentation

Daytime Pick 3 and Pick 4 drawings are held at 3 p.m. daily. They can be seen as live or on-demand video.

Good afternoon. I'm Luis Fernandez. Welcome to this afternoon's drawings from Monday May 6th, 2024. Let's get started with Carolina pick three. The first pick three number is six. Second is six and the third is six and our pick three fireball number is three. Joining me for this afternoon's drawing is our auditor for mcconnell and Jones L LP. Now let's move to Carolina pick four. The first pick four, number is six. The second is seven. The third is six and the fourth is six and our pick four. Fireball number is five. The North Carolina Education lottery has contributed over $10 billion to education. Thanks so much for your support.

Daytime Pick 3 and Pick 4 Drawing

Loved ones are gathering for a memorial service for Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas M. "Tommy" Weeks Jr.

GRACE WAS DRIVING WITH A REVOKED LICENSE AT THE TIME. >> RIGHT NOW, FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE SAYING A FINAL GOODBYE TO ONE OF THE OFFICERS KILLED DURING THE SHOOTING IN CHARLOTTE LAST WEEK. WR IS NO KLEIN IS HERE WITH HOW THOSE WHO KNEW HIM BEST ARE REMEMBERING DEPUTY THOMAS WEEKS. KNOW, JEFF, WE HAVE HEARD A LOT ABOUT DEPUTY U.S. MARSHAL THOMAS WEEKS KNOWN BY THOSE WHO KNEW HIM BEST AS TOMMY. THE MEMORIAL SERVICE HONORING HIS LIFE AND SACRIFICE STARTED THIS MORNING AT ABOUT 10, 30. IT CONTINUES AT THIS HOUR. THIS IS A LIVE LOOK INSIDE. WE JUST HEARD FROM HIS WEEK WIFE KELLY WHO SPOKE ABOUT WHO HE WAS AS A HUSBAND. SHE SAID HE ALWAYS WANTED TO HOLD HER HAND. WEEKS IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE AND 4 CHILDREN. HE WAS WITH THE U.S. MARSHAL SERVICE FOR 13 YEARS. ALSO WORKED 8 YEARS FOR CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION. I WANT TO PLAY NOW PART OF HIS WIFE'S EULOGY. SPEAKING ABOUT TOMMY HAS JUST A GREAT FATHER. >> HE WAS A LOVING FATHER. TO NOT ONLY TO HIS KIDS, BUT ALSO HIS STEPCHILDREN. HE ENJOYED EVERYTHING FROM WATCHING. PATRICK WHEN HE WAS PERFORMING. TO HIS NIGHTLY GOOD. NOT HUGS AND I LOVE YOU TO ACT. HE WOULD MAKE DUNKIN DONUTS RUNS FROM MCKINSEY EVEN AFTER MOM SAID NO. ANY TO BRADY TO DC TO SEE US FIRST CAPITALS GAME YEARS. U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL MERRICK GARLAND ALSO SPOKE AT THE SERVICE REFLECTING ON WHAT HE'S LEARNED ABOUT TOMMY FROM HIS COLLEAGUES. >> OUR OWN SAID AFTER HE SPOKE WITH WEEKS, HIS WIFE ON THE PHONE LAST WEEK, SHE ASKED WHAT HE NEEDED FROM HER TO SUPPORT THE MARSHAL SERVICE DURING THIS TIME LAST WEDNESDAY, PROCESSIONAL KERRY WEEKS, BODY FROM THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE TO THAT FUNERAL HOME IN MORRISVILLE. WE HAVE INFORMATION ON THE OTHER 3 OFFICERS KILLED THAT DAY AND WHO THEY WERE. YOU CAN FIND THAT OVER ON WRAL DOT COM. SO SAID WE'RE TALKING ABOUT

Memorial service for Deputy US Marshal killed in Charlotte

Tuesday and Friday Mega Millions Drawing.

>> ACROSS AMERICA WITH MEGA JACKPOTS, IT'S MEGA MILLIONS. >> GOOD EVENING. A MAJOR WOFFORD IS FRIDAY MAY 3RD AND TONIGHT'S MEGA MILLIONS JACKPOT IS AN ESTIMATED AT NEAR TICE 284 MILLION DOLLARS TO WIN THE JACKPOT. YOU MUST MATCH ALL 5 WHITE PLUS THE GOLD MEGA BALL. SO GET YOUR TICKETS. OUR FIRST NUMBER TONIGHT IS 13 AFTER THAT. YOU HAVE 53. THAT'S ALL MY 15 UP NEXT IS 56. AND FINALLY, 6 ENOUGH YOU'RE MAKING. YOU'RE MAKING ALL NUMBER IS 11 OR 13. 53 15, 56 6. AND THE MEGA BALL IS 11 NOW FEELING MATCHES ALL 6 NUMBERS. TUESDAY'S JACKPOT COULD BE MORE

N.C. Central chancellor talks preparations for safe return for students

More On This

N.C. Central chancellor talks preparations for safe return for students

NCCU students cautious about safety as they prepare to return to class

NCCU staff file petition to get university to do more to protect them during pandemic

Related Topics

More Videos

WRAL Late News

WRAL WeatherCenter Forecast

Evening Pick 3 Pick 4 and Cash 5

Powerball Drawing

Wake County leaders discuss property tax hikes, money for schools during budget presentation

Daytime Pick 3 and Pick 4 Drawing

Memorial service for Deputy US Marshal killed in Charlotte

Mega Millions Drawing