Summer 2021 Semester Instruction
Student Information for the 2021 summer Semester
This summer semester may look and feel different from past semesters due to steps that we are taking to ensure a safe and productive academic environment. Our plan for the delivery of instruction and possibly the academic calendar may require changes if we need to shift our strategy to meet changing conditions.
The safety, health, and well-being of our campus community will always be our highest priority. We have strategies in place to continuously monitor changing healthcare issues that would determine if or when a change in campus activities may be required.
Delivery Methods and Classroom Utilization
Guided by the health and safety of our campus community, and understanding the need for operational enhancements to promote the use of masks, social distancing, and other health and safety measures as recommended by public health officials, we realize that it will be necessary to provide options for instructional delivery.
Therefore, we will use multiple instructional delivery methods for the summer semester based on nationally-recognized models of instructional delivery. We are focusing on three primary options, recognizing that a shift to another delivery method later in the semester may be necessary. There will be on-campus instruction and off-campus instruction this summer. Off-campus instruction will be provided via the Blackboard Learning Management System (BB) and video-conferencing software such as WebEx, or Microsoft Teams–both synchronously and asynchronously. Decisions about which methods will be used for specific classes will be made locally by deans and department chairs, with input from the respective faculty members regarding how to create the right balance of course offerings using these different instructional delivery models.
The expectation is that face masks will be worn for in-person classes and that social distancing protocols will be followed.
- Seated/Hybrid. A course designed for on-campus in person learners only. These courses will have online components through BB in addition to scheduled seated class meetings. In some cases, students who are attending in person may rotate by day of the week to give on-campus students equal opportunity to be in the classroom in person.
- Virtual – Classes are synchronous, technology-enhanced and fully interactive remote learning using live lectures via WebEx. These classes will meet on scheduled days/times, similar to a seated class. Your instructor will project live instruction at the scheduled class time. Virtual classes offer the benefits of face-to-face instruction in an interactive, online group-learning environment. Students may be required to come to campus at designated times for tests or labs if stated in the schedule.
- Online Only. An online course is taught asynchronously. The class is available fully online 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week. There are no scheduled meeting days/times. Class assignments are completed based on an instructional class calendar provided by faculty.
Maximum Flexibility
In an effort to maximize flexibility for faculty and students, we will offer different instructional options because we believe that these options will encourage excellence while also providing flexibility. This flexibility will be crucial to our ability to include students who would not otherwise be able to enroll and make timely progress towards their degree.
In-person instruction is being reconfigured to include social distancing provisions. These changes mean that classes may be smaller and may meet in larger spaces. Large classes or programs may be split into smaller sections, receive instruction via seated/hybrid, online, or consist of a combination of both. Our goal is to offer as much flexibility for students and faculty as possible.
Recognizing that each school is different, our deans and department heads will work with their faculty members to determine the delivery option that best fits each course offering given the following general guidance:
For all courses, decisions regarding instructional modes should be based on the following considerations:
- Program and curricular goals, as determined by our faculty and department heads/directors.
- Special conditions and needs (e.g., equipment, access to materials, synchronous or asynchronous options).
- Appropriateness of the instructional delivery mode for the course being taught.
- Adjusting classroom schedules to allow for additional time between classes and to accommodate the cleaning of buildings between classes while maintaining physical distancing.
We are confident that we will be able to continue providing the highest level of instructional quality. We will communicate with you, our students, our community, and our employees on a regular basis and will share decisions and rationales as our college continues to monitor presence of COVID-19.
Note: While enrolled at CVCC, all students should have regular, reliable access to a personal, Internet-connected computer in order to successfully complete their coursework. (Desktop and laptop devices are preferred, but tablets will also function in most cases. Cell phones are not recommended to complete online coursework.) The instructional delivery is similar to on-campus, face-to-face classes, just without the students being in the physical classroom. Virtual learning instruction allows students and faculty to communicate, interact, and work together in real time while being in socially distant locations. Virtual learning is facilitated via Internet-based, video-conferencing technology (e.g., WebEx, Microsoft Teams, etc.).