Lakeland moves forward

Community college plans in-person, then remote classes

Lakeland Community College recently announced plans moving forward to offer in-person classes this fall, along with a variety of remote and hybrid options.

According to the school, the fall semester will begin Aug. 22.

However, in-person classes will end Nov. 25, with the remainder of the semester’s instruction — including final exams — being delivered remotely when classes resume after Thanksgiving break on Nov. 30.

Officials noted the revised schedule is intended to limit the number of people on campus following Thanksgiving holiday travel.

Virtual info sessions — “Smart Choice for Fall” — are planned for July 14 from 10 to 11 a.m. and July 16 from 6 to 7 p.m. Topics include quality education for less, credit transfer, financial aid and scholarships, honors program, and pathways to bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Register at https:// bit.ly/smart-choice-fall2020.

In addition, over 500 traditional in-person classes are available for fall semester, representing 39 percent of Lakeland’s total course offerings. In-person classes can be found by searching the college’s online class schedule at lakelandcc.edu/schedule with “lecture” as the schedule type.

Lakeland first suspended on-campus instruction on March 11.

“These new protocols ensure that we continue to keep high-quality education accessible to those who seek it,” said Laura C. Barnard, executive vice president, provost and chair of the Lakeland Smart, Safe, Strong Task Force. “Providing a safe learning experience is of the highest importance to us. The safety and well-being of our students and employees is our top priority.”

According to Barnard, the guiding principles of the “Lakeland Smart, Safe, Strong” task force are to follow guidance from federal, state and local health experts (Lakeland Smart); accept social responsibility for

the safety of ourselves and others (Lakeland Safe); and adapt to change with empathy and creativity (Lakeland Strong).

As such, there will be notable differences during fall semester to support physical distancing and hand hygiene:

• Students, staff and faculty will be required to wear a mask or face covering

• Entrances and exits of buildings with multiple doors will be marked as one-way

• Chairs and desks will be arranged at least six feet apart in classrooms, conference rooms and study areas

• Restrooms and elevators will have limited occupancy

• Hand-sanitizer stations will be located at entrances and high-traffic areas

• Employees and students will have access to cleaning products to wipe desks and

counters as needed; hightouch surfaces will be sanitized throughout the day, and individual room and area cleaning will be conducted during closed hours

• Frequently visited office areas and some instructional settings will have Plexiglas barriers

• Signage and visual cues will indicate where to stand and wait for service

The task force is also developing a phased transition back to on-campus operations. Detailed guidelines for students, faculty, staff and supervisors will be provided soon.

Before returning to campus, all employees and students will be asked to sign a Code of Personal Responsibility acknowledging their commitment to safety, the school confirms.

Additional information on each of these requirements will be available at a later date.