HAMLET –Richmond Community College is rolling out a plan for the 2020-2021 academic year as the fall semester start date quickly approaches. When fall classes begin Aug. 19, there will be safety precautions in place for the security of employees and students, and the College has adopted new instructional options born out of the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

After reviewing the experiences from the spring and summer semesters and receiving input from staff, faculty and students, the president of RichmondCC, Dale McInnis, and his leadership team have worked on the plan for fall that prioritizes safety and optimal learning.

“The past four months have been a challenge for our country, state and communities,” McInnis said. “I am proud of how our college has adapted and worked through the obstacles the pandemic has placed on us. Our experience with face-to-face classes this summer has been successful and well-received by both faculty and students.”

The College is taking the following measures to keep students, employees and the community safe:

• Ensuring social distancing in classrooms by reducing class size when needed.

• Including classroom safety expectations in course information provided by instructors to students.

• Supporting Gov. Roy Cooper’s mask requirement in public areas and where social distancing is not practical.

• Following local health department and CDC guidelines for notification and sanitation-related to reducing risk and potential spread of the virus.

“We are providing a safe learning environment, and we are using instructional methods that provide the best opportunity for our students to be successful,” McInnis said.

The fall schedule includes course delivery formats that will include but not be limited to:

• Traditional Format: face-to-face class instruction.

• “Anytime Online”: Online instructional model that gives the students the most flexibility and convenience for meeting the course requirements within instructor prescribed parameters.

• “Real-time Online”: Use of virtual programs to allow classes to meet at a scheduled time and be broadcast interactively to enrolled students, providing them with structure and immediate feedback.

• Hybrid Format: A combination of face-to-face and online instruction.

Several programs at RichmondCC are offered 100 percent online, including University Transfer-Associate in Arts, Business Administration, Accounting & Finance, Early Childhood Education, Criminal Justice Technology, Healthcare Management Technology and several Information Technology programs.

While not all classes are designed for online delivery, RichmondCC learned this spring the College must have a plan for all contingencies. In the event the College or a particular traditional class cannot meet as planned, all feasible classes will have an online option ready, and instructors will be able to switch to an online format on short notice.

“Communicating to our students, employees, and the community about our classes and our services will remain a priority,” McInnis said. “As long as we remain open, we will continue to serve our students and be focused on providing high demand programs that lead to high salary careers. Our college is dedicated to providing a high-quality and individualized education at a great value.”

Wylie Bell is the director of marketing and communications at Richmond Community College.