STCC plans mix of on-campus low-density labs and online courses for fall
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Springfield Technical Community College this fall will offer a combination of on-campus low-density labs using social distancing protocols as well as online instruction.
Dr. Geraldine de Berly, Vice President of Academic Affairs, outlined summer and fall semester instruction plans in an email shared with the campus community today.
Instruction plans were made in light of the Commonwealth’s four-phased approach to reopening the Massachusetts economy.
Dr. John B. Cook, STCC President, said students will continue to receive a high-quality educational experience from the most affordable college in the city.
“Our efforts to adapt given the COVID-19 pandemic have been comprehensive,” Cook said. “I am confident this plan offers the best set of options for our students; the decisions we made were difficult, but thoughtful, and were driven by the health and well-being of STCC students, faculty and staff.”
STCC, the only technical community college in Massachusetts, offers upwards of 90 programs, many of which are unique to the region. In addition, students avoid student loan debt, and find opportunity and more in STCC’s multiple bachelor’s degree transfer options. The college is known for its state-of-the art laboratories and equipment in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs, as well as a nationally recognized patient simulation facility used by students in its acclaimed health programs.
“STCC has no intention of becoming a fully online institution. The pivot to online is driven by a health pandemic,” de Berly said. “COVID-19 has forced the college to adjust, and we do hope in the future to return to the robust utilization of campus facilities which include our labs, specialized equipment, unique technologies and the rewarding in-person experiences STCC faculty generate with and for students.”
STCC will offer fully online Summer Session classes, which begin today. Some online classes may include virtual meetings between instructors and students while the remainder will be “asynchronous” – not delivered in real time, an approach that affords flexibility.
Some programs in the School of Health and Patient Simulation (SHPS) will include low-density, on-campus labs that could begin as soon as June 8 as part of a Phase 2 pilot, and will include necessary social distancing, personal protective equipment and sanitizing protocols.
I am confident this plan offers the best set of options for our students; the decisions we made were difficult, but thoughtful, and were driven by the health and well-being of STCC students, faculty and staff.Dr. John B. Cook, STCC President
For the fall semester, SHPS will deliver courses and programs using a combination of low-density instruction and online, with gathering size set in accordance with state and federal social distancing guidelines. Programs in the school include nursing, dental, respiratory, medical imaging, rehabilitation studies and medical laboratory technician.
The School of STEM will offer courses that include online, online with video conferencing in real time, and on-campus low-density labs. Programs in the School of STEM include fields of study such as engineering transfer, computer and IT security, mechanical engineering technology, energy systems, optics and photonics, electrical engineering technology/robotics, architecture building technology, graphic design, and digital media.
All courses in the School of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies (LAPS) will be taught online. Administrators decided to convert all classes in LAPS to online as a response to the need to limit campus density and population. Many of the classes in the School of LAPS are lecture-oriented, which lend to the decision to go fully online, Vice President de Berly said. Two-year programs include business transfer, criminal justice, early childhood education, urban studies, applied psychology, social work and more.
In certain instances, STCC will use “synchronous” teaching strategies, which means students gather with their instructor at a specific date and time through video conferencing. But most of the classes will be taught using an asynchronous approach, which gives students greater flexibility to set their own hours to complete their studies and assignments.
“Many of our students have childcare obligations, work commitments, and a host of other complicated circumstances,” Cook said. “We know that our students benefit from having flexibility in their classwork, and online is yet another way STCC lives its mission of ensuring access to higher education.”
Cook said he was impressed with the way the faculty transitioned during the spring semester when the COVID-19 emergency forced the college to make sudden adjustments.
STCC offers professional development resources for faculty, including support and training through the Center for Online and Digital Learning.
“I applaud our faculty for their resiliency over the past several months,” Cook said. “They showed tremendous dedication and commitment to our students, and were resolved during an unprecedented time in our history as an institution. I truly appreciate their efforts to help students transform their lives.”
Interested in applying to STCC? Visit stcc.edu/apply or call Admissions at (413) 755-3333.
About Springfield Technical Community College
Founded in 1967 and located on 35 acres of the Springfield Armory National Historic Site, STCC is a major resource for the economic vitality of Western Massachusetts. As the only technical community college in Massachusetts, STCC offers a variety of career programs unequalled in the state. STCC’s highly regarded transfer programs in business, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, liberal arts, and STEM fields continue to provide the most affordable options for students pursuing a four-year degree. With an annual enrollment of about 7,000 day, evening, weekend, and online students, STCC is a vibrant campus rich in diversity.
For more information about STCC, visit www.stcc.edu. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter (@S_T_C_C) and Instagram (@stccpics).
MEDIA CONTACT:
Jim Danko, (413) 755-4812, jdanko@stcc.edu