Southern Maine Community College will have more students taking classes and living on campus this fall as it offers a more traditional college experience for students while still maintaining safety protocols.
SMCC announced Friday that it will offer more face-to-face instruction in the classroom and expanded opportunities to live in our residence halls in the fall. The College also plans to have in-person student support services on campus.
“We expect our College to be busier this fall than it has been at any time during the past year,” said SMCC President Joe Cassidy. “We are pleased to offer more courses on campus, with safety protocols still in place. The past year has been challenging for students and faculty alike, and we are excited that we are moving forward toward being able to offer a more traditional college experience for students this fall.”
Following the outbreak of COVID-19 in Maine last March, SMCC implemented a comprehensive health and safety plan to protect the well-being of people on campus. In-person instruction has been limited to students enrolled in programs where hands-on instruction is required to meet learning standards.
For the Fall Semester, the College’s safety requirements will remain in place. Students, employees and visitors will be required to wear masks on SMCC property, both indoors and outdoors, while maintaining physical distancing. They will also be asked to use the College’s COVID-19 screening app so the College can enforce health protocols.
While on-campus offerings will be expanded, the College will continue to offer numerous online classes for students who prefer the flexibility and convenience of remote learning.
SMCC will continue to follow the guidelines set forth by the Maine CDC in determining what is safe and appropriate as the Fall Semester approaches, Cassidy said.
“As more Mainers get vaccinated, we are optimistic that things are moving in the right direction,” he said. “Expanding our on-campus course offerings is a vital step and in the best interest of the entire SMCC community.”
For more information about SMCC’s Fall Semester plan, please visit the College’s COVID-19 information webpage.