College plans for reopening after virus shutdown

Lorain County Community College is looking ahead in offering support to students and the community as Ohio continues to grapple with the impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

LCCC President Marcia J. Ballinger said June 17 in a presentation to Lorain County commissioners that plans are in place for the fall semester.

The College reopened with restrictions May 18 in coordination with the state of Ohio’s Responsible RestartOhio plan as phase one.

Phase two began May 26 and the fall semester begins Aug. 24.

LCCC has established four course delivery models:

• Online – no set schedule (recorded)

• Online Live-Conference

• Blended (part online, part face to face)

• In person

Ballinger said in-person will make up about 20 percent for the fall term, and the College is taking steps to ensure larger classrooms will be utilized to allow for proper social distancing, and that masks will be required.

LCCC will offer an additional $500 supplemental scholarship for students who were planning to go to a four-year university, but feel safer staying closer to home during the pandemic.

All of the credits earned are guaranteed to transfer to a four-year institution, Ballinger said.

“We want to be that launch pad for students who have been so disrupted and be understanding of that,” she said.

Following voters’ approval of LCCC’s operating levy April 28, Ballinger said the College wants to continue abiding by its core mission.

“We are very committed to ensuring that we are here for our community, going forward, and in this economic downturn, and in the pandemic to be that resource, to be that partner and to really lean in, as I said, very hard to what our core mission at Lorain County community college is, which is teaching and learning,” she said.

When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down much of the state’s economy in March, LCCC quickly transitioned to about 1,000 course offerings online along with much of its business operations.

“Timing is everything, and it just so happened that this occurred during spring break,” she said. “And so, faculty were able to work all the way through spring break, to make those changes. We moved our operations for both the College as well as our student support services, so that everything could be done remotely.” As a result of the continued wraparound services and engagement, Ballinger noted only three percent of students withdrew during the spring semester.

LCCC saw a 35 percent increase in the use of its campus food pantry, Commodore Closet., she said

Through the Fab Lab, the College created more than 22,000 pieces of personal protective equipment with its 3D printer that was donated to local hospitals including Cleveland ClinicAvon, Mercy Health Lorain Hospital, Mercy Allen Hospital in Oberlin and UHElyria Medical Center.

Ballinger