Southern Maine Community College will offer most of its courses online during the Fall Semester, with smaller numbers of in-person classes for academic programs that require hands-on learning.
The College announced Thursday its plans to reopen the college to limited hands-on instruction and some resident students in the fall. With protective measures in place, SMCC will allow some students to take in-person classes in Automotive Technology, Culinary Arts, Emergency Medical Services, HVAC/Plumbing, Nursing, Precision Machining, Radiography, Biological Sciences and other select trade and health science programs where hands-on instruction is essential.
“We are pleased to be offering a full schedule of classes to students this fall,” said SMCC President Joe Cassidy. “This approach prioritizes our commitment to the health and safety of our employees and students and our further commitment to delivering top-rate educational experiences for our students. Keeping our College both healthy and educationally vibrant is a goal we all share.”
SMCC transitioned to online classes in the Spring Semester following the COVID-19 outbreak in Maine in March. The College is continuing to offer online courses this summer.
For the Fall Semester, SMCC has adopted a plan to prevent the spread of the virus and protect the well-being of people who are on campus. Those measures include, but are not limited to, face-covering and social-distancing requirements; reduced occupancy levels and modified traffic-flow patterns in College buildings; and single rooms for all resident students.
In its commitment to educational excellence, SMCC has upgraded its cloud-based learning management systems, added new tools for teaching and learning and provided enhanced training for faculty who are teaching remotely. It is also providing robust support services to ensure that students succeed.
Other elements of the Fall Semester include:
- Residence halls will be available for the fall, but will be limited to students who have to take in-person classes on campus or are homeless. All residents will be assigned single rooms.
- Athletic competitions will not be held this fall. The Athletics Department is working on a plan to allow for all student-athletes to compete at some point during the Spring Semester.
- Most employees will continue working from home.
- Student Life. A full slate of virtual activities will be offered for student engagement. These include Student Senate and student club meetings, TedTalk presentations, Open Mic sessions, leadership programs and more. There will also be some socially-distanced small-group in-person events, drive-in movies, and other outdoor events.
- Dining facilities will be available on each campus for residents, commuters who are on campus, employees and visitors.
Registration is now open for the Fall Semester, with classes scheduled to begin Aug. 31. For more information about attending, please visit the SMCC Get Started webpage.