In an email to the community yesterday, President Hammond announced NCC students will return to school for the fall semester on Aug. 24 as planned. However, undergraduate students will not return to campus after Thanksgiving break and will take final exams online.
These plans come in accordance with the State’s transition into Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois plan. Nationwide, over 63% of colleges plan for an in-person model according to The Chronicle of Higher Education.
Academic Instruction
NCC will embrace a “learn from anywhere” approach. Technology will become even more paramount, and the range of online classes will be expanded. For example, students will be allowed to attend classes fully online, fully in-person or through a combination of both.
All in-person classes and labs will require a six-foot minimum distance with masks. Students are to expect semester schedule updates. Students may attend classes in-person on some days and remotely on others “in order to maintain physical distancing requirements,” according to President Hammond.
Residence Life
Residence Life will welcome students back to campus with additional safety and spacing measures. For instance, common areas and community bathrooms in all residence halls will be regularly cleaned and wall-mounted hand sanitizer dispensers will be installed in common and high traffic areas of the residence halls.
All building elevators will have new capacities and stairwells and building entrances and exits will become single-direction use only.
Room and suite vacancies will be filled and “housing assignments are subject to change in response to the shifting COVID-19 context and relevant guidance,” according to the Office of Residence Life.
Should students wish to opt out of campus housing, the deadline to cancel for Fall 2020 is July 15. After this deadline, there will be a $750 cancellation fee.
Dining services will also continue. However, all buffet-style service will be “discontinued until further notice.” The college also hopes to refine COVID-19 testing and tracing.
More information and resources can be found on the college’s new website here.
Contributing writers: Allison Rott and Jack Plewa
