NPC extends campus closure, postpones commencement

National Park College on Tuesday extended the closure of its physical campus through May 1, with students completing the semester online, and said it was postponing the spring commencement ceremonies.

“The health and safety of our students and employees is our first priority. We are also committed to helping our students successfully complete this semester online, ” President John Hogan said. “We will continue to persevere in a virtual environment for as long as necessary, and we look forward to reopening campus as soon as it is safe to do so.”

Melony Ritter, director of marketing and public relations, said there have been no confirmed cases of the coronavirus on campus.

She said the college continues to operate under Level 3 of the campus Communicable Diseases Pandemic Plan. Employees will still work remotely during the closure of the physical

campus.

“Prior to May 1, NPC will reassess the situation and notify the college community of any changes to the plan,” she said.

Information about new commencement plans will be provided “as soon as details are available,” the college said in a news release.

The release said NPC continues to operate under Level 3 of the campus Communicable Diseases Pandemic Plan due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the plan’s handbook, its main focus is to provide a coordinated and comprehensive response to a communicable disease pandemic to help ensure the continuation of education and services. An outbreak of a communicable disease could affect normal college functions for six to eight weeks and may require the closure of the college.

Students enrolled in health sciences clinical, technical or lab-based coursework may receive special instructions from faculty regarding completion requirements, Ritter said.

The spring graduation ceremony has been postponed and will be revisited at a later date. Information about new commencement plans will be provided as soon as details are available, she said, noting students who have successfully completed the necessary coursework and all graduation requirements listed at http:// www.np.edu/graduation, and have applied for graduation will be awarded certificates and degrees.

“Students who cannot successfully complete the coursework because of limited access to labs, shops, clinical sites or illness will be held harmless and awarded an incomplete,” Ritter said. “Those students will be allowed to work with their faculty member(s) in accordance with the college’s incomplete policy to finish their coursework.”

According to the college’s “campus updates” page on its website, Wi-Fi access is available to students in campus parking lots and they should communicate any technology needs to their instructor.