Wor-Wic Community College is now welcoming people to campus on a limited basis while preparations for the fall term are being finalized.
Before determining what types of classes to offer this fall, the college surveyed current credit students and applicants who haven’t registered yet and asked about their class format preferences. Thirty-eight percent said they want classes on campus with social distancing, 32% said they want online classes and the remaining 30% indicated that they would prefer hybrid or virtual options.
This information was shared with a group of faculty members and instructional leaders who were tasked with changing class formats to meet social distancing requirements while maintaining the highest academic standards and quality of instruction. The end result of this academic planning was the development of six different credit class formats, including on-campus, online, virtual and three different types of hybrid models:
- On Campus — Students and instructors meet on campus on set days and times. Instruction could be livestreamed half of the time in order to meet social distancing requirements.
- Online — Students complete their coursework online anytime, but assignments have specific deadlines.
- Virtual — Students and instructors meet in different locations via video conferencing software on set days and times.
- Hybrid (On Campus/Online) — Students meet with instructors on campus on set days and times and complete the other half of their coursework online anytime.
- Hybrid (On Campus/Virtual) — Students and instructors meet on campus on set days and times and in different locations via video conferencing software on other set days and times.
- Hybrid (Virtual/Online) — Students and instructors meet on set days and times in different locations via video conferencing software for half the time, while the other half of the course work can be completed by students online anytime.
As part of the planning for a safe return to campus, the college has instituted new procedures for all students, employees and visitors to adhere to while they are on campus. Before being allowed to park their cars or enter any buildings, everyone will be greeted at a checkpoint manned by public safety staff who will take temperatures, ensure the satisfactory completion of a health self-assessment tool and make sure they have a face covering to wear.
Students are being encouraged to arrive early for classes to allow adequate time to get through screening, get parked and get to class.
All classrooms, labs and resource centers are being set up for physical distancing. There will be six feet between students and between students and instructors in a typical classroom and there will be fewer students in the classroom than usual.
In those courses where students have to physically interact with instructors and/or other students (e.g., lab work, clinical practice), personal protective equipment (PPE) will be supplied and will be required to be used.
Students will be responsible for cleaning their desks and workspaces with college-provided supplies when entering and leaving class.
To ensure a positive and safe experience on campus, the facilities department will be supplementing the disinfecting that students will be doing when they enter and leave their classrooms. High-touch surfaces will be disinfected regularly with a cleaning agent that kills the coronavirus on contact. Disinfecting machines and handheld devices will be used to disinfect classrooms, office spaces and common areas three times per week. Building attendants will continue to clean and disinfect those areas as well as address high-touch surfaces as part of their daily and nightly routines. Hand sanitizing stations and disinfectant wipes can be found in classrooms and hallways all over campus.
Some student services will be handled remotely by employees who will continue to telecommute. However, just like with the variety of teaching options that will be available, services – career exploration, financial aid, enrollment coaching and academic advising — can be accessed in person or online. Students can even receive help with some of these steps over the phone.
Employees will work with students however they feel most comfortable.
Appointments are encouraged for either in-person or virtual visits as soon as possible. The earlier students get registered, the better the chances are that they will get their desired classes in the preferred format on the days and times that best meet their needs.
To support student success, the college will continue offering in-person tutoring on campus, as well as online tutoring, known as Brainfuse, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Electronic library materials are also available 24/7 and on set days and times in the resource centers on campus. Students who need special assistance due to a disability can meet with a counselor to discuss any accommodations needed for them to be successful.
Visit https://youtu.be/igP9ZACjxM0 to view a video of Wor-Wic’s fall 2020 reopening plan.
In this changing environment, plans remain fluid and the college will make adjustments as needed to remain compliant with best practices recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Maryland Department of Health and local health departments.