Worcester Business Journal

10 Worcester Business Journal | August 17, 2020 | wbjournal.com Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans have provided a necessary lifeline in today's economy. Unfortunately, too many businesses were unable to access funding. At Cornerstone Bank, we're committed to supporting our community any way we can. That's why we worked closely with local businesses to provide the PPP resources they needed. Our loan officers rolled up their sleeves—even after hours— processing almost 700 PPP loans for $75+ million. After all, we believe our community's success is impossible without the success of our business neighbors. In trying times, choose a bank that delivers. cornerstonebank.com • 800-939-9103 Charlton • Holden • Leicester • Rutland • Southbridge • Spencer • Sturbridge • Warren • Webster • Worcester NMLS #403295 "My loan officer helped us get a PPP loan quickly, without confusion." - Valerie Agos, Bookkeeper, Charlton Furniture "I had a PPP loan within one week, so I could pay my employees." - Joe Amico, Owner, National Facility Services, Inc. In Trying Times, Choose a Bank that Delivers. College plans Central Massachusetts colleges are making adjustments — sometimes drastic ones — to keep their campuses safe but resume opera- tions as best they can amid the coronavirus pandemic. A look at how each college is planning its fall: Anna Maria College, Paxton Yes Yes Yes No Yes. Semester starts Aug. 24. Assumption University, Worcester Yes Yes Yes No Yes. Semester is being broken into two terms. Becker College, Worcester Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes. Semester starts Aug. 24. Clark University, Worcester Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes. Classes online after Thanksgiving. College of the Holy Cross, Worcester No Yes Yes Yes Yes. Classes online after Thanksgiving. Dean College, Franklin No N/A N/A No Yes. Classes start Sept. 9. Fitchburg State University Yes Yes Yes No No Framingham State University Yes Yes No No No MCPHS University, Worcester Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes. Classes online after Thanksgiving. Mount Wachusett Community College, Gardner Yes N/A No No Yes Nichols College, Dudley Yes No Yes No Yes. Classes online after Thanksgiving. Quinsigamond Community College, Worcester No N/A No No No UMass Medical School, Worcester Yes N/A Yes No No Worcester Polytechnic Institute Yes Yes Yes No No Worcester State University Yes Yes No No No Classes on Housing COVID Tuition/fee College campus? changes? testing? changes? Schedule changes? Notes: Data as of Aug. 12. Testing is required for some students at Assumption, and will be conducted on a weekly basis at Worcester State. College of the Holy Cross and Quinsigamond Community College are planning on-campus laboratory access but will primarily be online. Tuition changes include waived planned increases from previous year. Assumption did not adjust tuition but created a financial aid relief fund related to the pandemic. Housing changes include reduced capacity and changes to visitor policies. Sources: Respective colleges except for a small amount of laboratory work. Mount Wachusett Community College in Gardner will hold a majority of courses online, but not all. QCC makes it clear it doesn't want students in its buildings unless it has to be. "Please do not come to campus," it says in a message to new students on its website. QCC President Luis Pedraja said in a podcast with the Worcester Business Journal in July the college's plans were complicated by the fact commuter students would be coming and going be- tween campus and their families or jobs. "ey're going to their home and their jobs or whatever social environments where they are, and then they're coming in," Pedraja said of commuter students normally. "ey're working adults in many cases, or parents." Mount Wachusett, whose guide to reopening spans 43 pages, estimates it will hold about 85% of its classes online. Classrooms will be empty for an hour in between classes for cleanliness considerations, but is one of few not planning to require or offer testing. Instead, the school is reinforcing expectations and policies, and has an agreement in place with Heywood Hospital in Gardner to utilize its services if needed, Vander Hooven said. "We need to be hyper focused on that," Continued from Page 9 Vander Hooven said of emphasizing health policies, adding testing could still bring infected students to campus. "e whole concept of having people tested at the door will not change that they were at your door." W

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