New Durham Tech Fall operations plan includes face covering requirements, access to student support services
Durham Technical Community College is committed to balance safety, accessibility, and equity as it continues to reopen services and teach classes this fall, the College said in its 2020 Fall Guidelines: Phase 2.1 Transition Plan released Friday.
For the upcoming fall semester, more than 80 percent of all credit courses will be available completely online (remote). The College also will offer some hybrid (a mix of remote and some time on campus) and seated (mostly on campus with social distancing and safety precautions) courses.
To ensure a safe environment for in-person instruction, Durham Tech will require face coverings for students, employees, and visitors who visit a Durham Tech campus location. The College also plans to allow space for social distancing, including lab and student workspaces, at least six feet apart.
The Fall Guidelines are expected to continue through the end of the year.
The updated Transition Plan accompanies an announcement earlier this month on the College’s plans to hold hybrid and fully online courses this fall.
“Durham Tech’s goal is that all students will persist and succeed. Now, more than ever, it is the College’s responsibility to provide equitable access for those in our community who do not have reliable technology and internet access and the ability to be fully online at home,” said Durham Tech President J.B. Buxton. “To assist, the College will offer campus access to essential support services consistent with health guidelines and wi-fi in safe and sanitized environments.”
In efforts to keep Durham Tech services and programs open to the community, the College will expand its capacity for the number of individuals visiting each campus to accommodate fall courses as well as limited student support operations. As a part of the process, the College will allow students to visit campus for support services by appointment as well as limited access to Main Campus on a walk-in basis.
College leadership are also working to identify and communicate locations across campus where students may access wi-fi and wait for classes or activities during the reasonable time before and after these activities.
Those who wish to access the campus as a walk-in must check in using campus protocols as outlined in the College’s detailed resource guide, “What to Expect When Returning to Campus.”
Students who are enrolled in a hybrid or seated course that meets on campus this fall may access the campus where the course is scheduled, during the specific times that the class meets on campus, in the specific location for the class, and a reasonable amount of time before or after the class. Students enrolled in these courses should not visit campus at other times unless specifically requested by the instructor.
The College will allow students to resume clinical, work-based learning, and/or fieldwork as allowed by the clinical, work-based learning, or fieldwork site at off-campus sites.
For on-campus instruction and services, the College’s Facility Services Department will coordinate multiple daily cleanings of high-touch surfaces in public spaces, including before and after shifts. Appropriate cleaning sprays and other materials also will be provided by Facility Services as needed. The College also coordinates disinfecting all open locations by professional cleaners on a set and routine schedule.
Read the full 2020 Fall Guidelines: Phase 2.1 Transition Plan for more information.
Fall registration is now open and students can begin registering for Fall 2020 classes. The courses that are now listed in the fall schedule as "online" are finalized and will not change. Students should continue to monitor their ConnectMail email accounts for important updates.
For questions about registration, complete the Get Answers form for a quick reply from our ConnectCenter. To submit questions or feedback to the COVID-19 task force, email covid19@durhamtech.edu.