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Alerts & Notices

for College of San Mateo, Cañada College and Skyline College

Poor Air Quality Update #3 for SMCCCD

Please be advised that Cañada College, College of San Mateo, Skyline College, and the District Office will resume normal operations on Thursday, September 21, 2023, at 5am. 

San Mateo County has seen the Air Quality Index (AQI) level drop below 151 (unhealthy) for a sustained period. Air quality will continue to be monitored and any updates will be communicated. 

N95 respirators are available at campus public safety offices, health centers, and bookstores. 

Poor Air Quality Update #2 for SMCCCD

Dear SMCCCD Community, 

San Mateo County is experiencing sustained unhealthy Air Quality Index (AQI) levels. Cañada College, College of San Mateo, Skyline College, and the District Office are closed today for day and evening in-person instruction and services.
 
All day and evening in-person classes are canceled today, Wednesday, September 20. All offices and in-person services are closed. Remote services and online instruction will continue as scheduled.  

A decision regarding operations tomorrow, Thursday, September 21, will be made by 6 pm this evening. 
 
SMCCCD Emergency Services relies on air quality data sources, including AirNow, PurpleAir, and IQ Air, to calculate an average reading and ensure accurate assessment.  

All essential employees scheduled to work on campuses or at the District Office today/tonight should still come to work. The campuses are still open, and office spaces are accessible. N95 respirators are recommended when working outdoors and are available at Public Safety. 

For all other employees scheduled to work on campus or at the District Office, today will be a remote workday. All meetings and appointments should be converted to virtual meetings if possible and appropriate. If you have questions about your work assignment, please contact your supervisor. 

Official updates will continue to come from SMCCCD Emergency Alerts through AlertMe and SMCCD Alert email. Emergency Alerts are also posted on the SMCCCD Emergency Notification site. 

Poor Air Quality Update #1 for SMCCCD

The San Mateo County Community College District is actively monitoring air quality in the Bay Area and will provide regular updates to our community. To ensure accurate assessments, we rely on a combination of air quality data sources, including AirNow, PurpleAir, and IQ Air, to calculate an average reading.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) for Skyline College stands at 167, while the College of San Mateo has an AQI of 150. The air quality is deteriorating at both locations, and has now reached the “Unhealthy” category on the AQI scale, posing health risks for everyone present at these sites.

College of San Mateo and Skyline College

All current outdoor classes/events at CSM and Skyline College need to be curtailed, and all scheduled outdoor classes/events are cancelled for the evening of September 19th, 2023 due to poor air quality. All indoor instruction will continue as scheduled.

Athletic Centers will message their fitness communities, and essential workers on site shall modify their work assignments per supervisor’s discretion for health/safety.

Cañada College

Cañada College remains in the “Moderate” at 86. All indoor and outdoor activities/operations will continue as planned.

We will update the campus communities before 7:00am tomorrow September 20, 2023

Bay Area to see poor air quality, potential PG&E outages Wednesday as heat builds

View the full abc7News article here

August 30 – August 31, 2023

 A heat wave and a heat dome will build up pollution in Bay Area skies on Wednesday in a significant way.

That means ground-level concentrations of ozone are expected to be in the unhealthy range, especially for seniors and young children, with hazy skies dominating the scene in the East Bay. On Wednesday afternoon, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District warns against strenuous exercise. Polluted air is shortening human lifespans more than smoking tobacco, according to a new study from the University of Chicago.

This could be the first PSPS event of the year, and the first one in two years.

PG&E may be forced to preemptively cut off power to a total of 8,000 customers starting 3 a.m. Wednesday primarily east of the Mendocino National Forest through Redding and north of Lake Oroville. Very few shutoffs are in the Bay Area.

Current air quality around the three college campuses is moderate and still remains healthy. However, some isolated geographical locations are approaching unhealthy levels. The San Mateo County Community College District will monitor and notify the campus communities if the air quality index exceeds 100.

Updated 10:00 am PDT, August 30

Skyline College Will Reopen for In-person Classes and Business Operations at 5 p.m., today, Monday, July 10, 2023

UPDATE: 7/10/23 at 2:45 p.m.

Dear Skyline College Community,

Power has been restored to campus and Skyline College will reopen for in-person classes and business operations at5 p.m., today, Monday, July 10, 2023.

Online classes will continue as regularly scheduled.

Thank you for your flexibility and patience.

Skyline College Will Reopen for In-person Classes and Business Operations at 5 p.m., today, Monday, July 10, 2023

Dear Skyline Community,

Crews are currently restoring power to the Skyline campus and in-person classes and business operations will remain closed this afternoon. Skyline College campus will reopen for in-person classes and business operations at 5 p.m., today, Monday, July 10, 2023.

Online classes will continue as regularly scheduled.