Rochester Community and Technical College
Volume 91 - Issue 1 - September 2020
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When COVID comes to class
Instructors make adjustments to flatten the curve
By Samantha Olson Assignment Editor
By Faith Boyum Managing Editor In effort to safely conduct classes in the COVID era, instructors of hands-on classes have needed to make several modifications. As a result, science classes, vet tech classes and many other courses have undergone changes this semester. “It’s different and it takes creative thinking to bring that hands-on component,” said Dr. Teri Hill, who teaches chemistry classes. Many of the changes she has made to her classes revolve around the labs, which are an important part of learning chemistry. For example, lab sections are smaller than before. There is a sign-up sheet for students who wish to do labs in person, and only 12 students can use the lab space at a time. The rest of the students perform the experiments at home, using the science kit they purchased for the class. Hill has also made some of the labs virtual, and the students watch a video of the experiment being done. In addition, lab sections are more fluid. A student may sign up for a different lab section than they registered for in order to maintain social distancing. Cathy DesLauriers teaches vet tech courses, which also require hands-on experience. Like other instructors, she has limited the size of lab sections and the number of students in a lab room at a given time. Students work within the same groups for each lab. However, since much of the learning is done working with animals, it is not always possible to social distance. This is why they wear personal protective equipment (PPE). So far, it is early in the semester, but it has impacted both instructors and students. “It’s not business as usual,” Hill said.
RCTC president offers words of encouragement
Photo courtesy of RCTC Veterinary Technician Program
RCTC’s Veterinary Technician Program is among a handful of on-campus classes that requires hands-on experience. Both Hill and DesLauriers have found that online learning is not many of their students’ preferred mode of instruction. Some students find the mixture of online and inperson components confusing, too. For Hill, she has found that she has needed to update many of her lab tutorials, since so much of the lab experience is being done virtually. For DesLauriers, online lectures are different because she cannot point out details in pictures or videos she is showing to the class. Students also do not have the opportunity to ask questions as they think of them during lecture, although they do have the opportunity to ask clarifying questions dur-
ing lab time. “Our program is a very hands-on, closecontact program and very detail oriented. Skills are better achieved when practicing with various students versus the same set of students. The students learn better when working with different skill levels,” DesLauriers said. Things may not be entirely back to normal next semester, either. Hill said that in the spring, the setup for science classes is similar to this semester. They are offering more online and hybrid classes than they have in the past, and class sizes will be smaller as well. “Once you uncork the bottle, it doesn’t go back on,” Hill said.
President Boyd, can you give a brief statement of encouragement and positivity to the students about this school year? “My encouragement for student/faculty is a quote from Hall of Fame legendary college basketball coach John Wooden, which states, ‘Things work out best for those who make the best of the way things work out.’ “We must all keep the faith, keep taking one step at a time and to keep moving forward. Online classes may not be the preferred option for some, but again, if it keeps people safe and helps students continue down the path of completing their courses, just do it. “That being said, I am concerned with the lack of interpersonal communication that exists as people are isolated during this pandemic. College is all about community and connections, and there are many resources available to assist those suffering from depression or anxiety. “I encourage our students to check in with their counselor or advisor and reach out to them about available resources. The pandemic impacts all of us. It can be lonely. I get it. My advice is to find ways to still connect with others in a safe, socially distanced manner. We need each other.” Has enrollment at RCTC increased or decreased this year? And by what percent? “RCTC saw its best summer enrollment in four years, with over 1,600 students attending classes during this past summer. RCTC is also leading all Minnesota State Colleges and Universities with a 3% enrollment growth for this fall semester, currently serving over 5, 100 students. “Of particular interest is the number of students preferring to enroll in either completely or blended online learning classes compared to face-to-face. “Although students are signing up for those options, I’m a strong proponent that in some cases, face-to-face must still be an option because people learn at different levels and through different modes of instructions.” ...continued on page 3
RCTC an appealing option for local students By Amaya Travis General Reporter RCTC has many students attending classes, and serves more than 4,000 students. But how many of them are from the local areas? In other words, does RCTC have a high enrollment rate because students chose to stay local and attend RCTC rather than go to another school? According to Alicia Zeone, Director of Admissions, about 60% of students were from Rochester in spring of 2020. But the question still remains, does
RCTC see these high enrollment numbers due to students choosing to remain local? Zeone says the answer to this is both yes and no. While a lot of students are from Rochester, there are also record numbers of Post Secondary Enrollment Option (PSEO) students, many of whom are from outside the Rochester area. Jazmine Hammel, an RCTC student, states that she typically sees students from Rochester or the surrounding area but has had multiple transfer students in past classes.
What are some other reasons people may gravitate towards RCTC, though? What makes RCTC special? There are a number of programs, which RCTC offers, such as PSEO, as Zeone and Hammel both mentioned. The diverse selection of university programs and courses are no doubt a big deciding factor for potential students, Zeone said. For Hammel, though, staying local was indeed a perk, but not a big decision maker for her when considering colleges. She stated that she started by going into
the PSEO program. She appreciated the smooth transition of PSEO credits, which is why she chose to continue her education with RCTC. “Thanks to the devoted staff and availability of resources at RCTC, I am close to completing my degree,” said Hammel. Between the many programs, resources and staff, RCTC is a a viable higher education choice. Zeone and Hammel made it clear that students and staff come first, and the staff will continue to implement practices to keep everyone safe.