Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Camp Community College is open for business, but classes may look a little different than in the past.

“COVID-19 has certainly changed our business model,” said President Dr. Dan Lufkin. “Our commitment to providing a quality post-secondary education, while keeping our students, faculty and staff safe has never been more important than it is today.”

Asynchronous and synchronous online courses at Camp, including dual enrollment courses, will remain online through summer and fall. In addition, most of the currently scheduled face-to-face classes will become synchronous hybrid courses.

“If we find that we will need to limit the number of students who are on campus, students will be assigned which days to physically attend class and which days to participate via Zoom,” said Vice President of Academic and Student Development Dr. Tara Atkins-Brady. “This will also prepare our students and faculty if we need to move classes to all online later in the semester.”

Classes requiring face-to-face, hands-on experiences like welding, HVAC and nursing clinical training will be offered in a hybrid setting. “We will follow the recommended guidelines, observing the social distancing practices,” said Atkins-Brady. “Our goal is to offer as much as we can in online and hybrid settings, and offer the hands-on courses in a responsible way that prioritizes the health and safety of our community.”

Summer classes got under way May 26, with a second five-week summer session beginning June 30. With registration under way for fall 2020, enrollment is on the upswing. Classes begin Aug. 24.

Lufkin noted there are reasons why more parents and students may be considering enrollment at community colleges this fall.

“First, there are questions as to whether many four-year institutions will allow students to live on campus in the fall and, for those that do, parents and students are concerned about the safety of doing so,” said Lufkin.

“Secondly, economic conditions have made the affordability of a community college education more appealing than ever, especially given the fact that many students planning to take classes at those four-year colleges may be doing so online and at home.”

Lufkin said until that time that things get back to some semblance of normalcy, Camp will continue to offer quality, affordable education in the safest way possible.

“Since the beginning of this pandemic, our college has practiced an abundance of caution and social distancing, in addition to following state and federal safety guidelines,” he said. “We will continue to do so, and will only return to our previous teaching models once government and health officials deem it safe to do so.”

For more information, visit www.pdc.edu or call 569-6700.