HVCC freezes tuition; maps out fall semester plans

TROY, N.Y. » In response to COVID-19, Hudson Valley Community College has developed plans to serve students safely this fall, while maintaining the educational quality and affordability they expect and deserve.

SUNY approved those

Staff report

plans on Monday, which are outlined below.

In addition, the college has chosen to freeze tuition at the 2019-20 rate of $2,400 per semester (plus fees) for New York State residents, minimizing financial obstacles for students and increasing access to higher education for all (see 2020-21 Tuition and Fees). Payment plans are available to students, and Financial Aid Office remains ready to assist anyone with questions related to aid, scholarships and grants.

Fall instructional plans are as follows:

• More than 1,600 course sections are being offered this fall. The majority of courses will be held online or in a remote learning format, with a limited number of on-campus/in-person lecture courses, labs and hybrid classes.

Courses held on campus/in person will be conducted in accordance with social distancing and public health requirements.

Contingency plans will allow courses with an oncampus/in-person component to be shifted to online or remote instruction, if necessary.

• The semester will begin on Monday, Aug. 31 and end on Friday, Dec. 18, as originally scheduled.

For more information, see the Fall 2020 webpage.

A longtime leader in distance learning, HVCC is well prepared to manage online and remote coursework this fall. The college has offered more than 20 degrees and certificates in a completely online format, approved by the New York State Department of Education, for many years. Professors teach online courses that meet state and national standards for excellence, and dedicated online learning support staff, online tutoring and evening and weekend support through the SUNY Helpdesk are available to assist students.

“Academically and financially, Hudson Valley is a smart choice for students who may be uncer- tain about their fall semester plans,” President Roger Ramsammy stated.

“The college has been a leader in distance learning for decades, and the adjustments we’ve made this spring and summer have only strengthened our ability to serve our students through online and remote learning options. Our faculty members have participated in extensive training, and our outstanding support services will remain available to help students in any way we can,” Ramsammy added.

In order to protect the health and safety of their community upon returning to campus, the college has developed a COVID-19 Re-Occupancy Safety Plan and supporting protocols. Safety plans and procedures were created in compliance with NYFORWARD guidance for reopening industries and specifically designed to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission amongst the college community. These plans are outlined on the college’s COVID-19 information webpage.