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May 27, 2021
News
NEWS BRIEFS Spring And Summer The spring 2021 semester ends June 11. The summer 2021 term will run from June 21 through July 29. Registration for the summer term will remain open through June 21. Classes will remain online until the start of the fall 2021 semester.
Fall Semester The fall 2021 semester begins Aug. 23. Registration begins June 7. For more important dates and deadlines, visit: https:// www.rcc.edu/academics/ dates-and-deadlines.html.
Summer Math Institute Riverside City College is hosting an online summer math institute that will offer the MAT-36 and MAT-136 trigonometry classes, and M AT- 1 2 a n d M AT- 11 2 statistics classes. Students who participate in the institute are eligible to receive a loaned laptop with a hotspot, a Summer Math Institute Scholarship of up to $1,000 and free tuition. Participating first-time freshmen are guaranteed enrollment in RCC’s Promise Program. Students will also be eligible to apply for the CARES Act HEERF Student Aid Grant if enrolled in the institute. For more information visit: https://www.rccd.edu/ summer-institute/Pages/index. aspx.
Commencement Ceremony T h e c o l l e g e ’s 2 0 2 1 Commencement Ceremony will be held virtually June 11. An optional drive-thru celebration will also be held June 3. Graduates will be able to drive through the Parking Structure and briefly step out of their vehicles to receive their diploma cover and have their photo taken with a college official. Congratulations to the Class of 2021!
Correction In our last issue, we ran a story about Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton winning the Spanish Grand Prix. That story was incorrectly edited to state that Lewis made history in 2016 by becoming the youngest ever to win a Grand Prix at 18 years old. M a x Ve r s t a p p e n w a s actually the youngest ever to win a Grand Prix at 18 years old.
DANIEL HERNANDEZ | VIEWPOINTS
The Riverside Community College District plans to open its three campuses in full capacity this upcoming fall.
Administrators lay out fall back-up plans
Chancellor’s forum details next semester’s instruction, support services BY DANIELA RAMIREZ STAFF REPORTER
A Riverside Community College District town hall May 19 covered Plan B for campus reopenings as it relates to instruction and academic support. Safe return principles based on current COVID-19 trends, including the decrease in cases and increase in vaccinations, will apply immediately come fall if the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines permit. RCCD’s Plan A, announced in March, would offer instruction as it was pre-pandemic: 80% oncampus and 20% online. Sanitizing stations and cleaning supplies will be available on campus. Extra curricular activities, events and sports will return with Plan A. The Board of Trustees passed a resolution May 18 that directed the district to work with the colleges and take necessary actions to prepare for a full return to in-person instruction and operations in the fall. But Carlos Lopez, Moreno Valley College vice president of Academic Affairs, said the district is looking at the situation realistically. “We may not have zero restrictions when we come back in the fall,” he said. “We may have distancing requirements that remain in place. As a result of that, all the colleges are in the process of creating backup schedules.” Back-up plans will be in full effect if Plan A is not permitted
by CDC guidance. According to Lopez, 6-foot social distancing requirements may not allow full capacity in classrooms. Observations indicate that capacity is likely to be at less than 50% in Plan B. In the backup plan, 40-50% of course sections will have an on-campus component. The district is exploring streaming technology for hybrid classes. Lopez said courses difficult to teach online, such as lab sciences, performance arts, and some career and technical education classes, will continue as scheduled during the spring and summer terms. Courses may shift, though. “They may shift to a fully online format or may shift to a hybrid format,” Lopez said.“Some classrooms may change. We might move those hybrid or fully on-campus classes to other classrooms, because they might have a larger capacity, so that we could serve more students.”
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In some cases, courses may have to be split into two or three class sections in order to maintain enrollment. “If a student is enrolled in a class, we don’t want to turn a student away,” Lopez said. “We will find a way to offer that class.” Samuel Lee, Norco College vice president of Academic Affairs, said library and computer lab resources will continue in limited in-person and online mode in the backup plan. Safety signage and plexibarriers will be placed in campus facilities, and entering and exiting buildings will be facilitated by personnel in Plan B. Large events will be moved online and a virtual front desk will be implemented. An app may be provided for student self-checkout. Reservations for study rooms will continue. Students will also have access to printing commons. Kristine DiMemmo,
We want to make sure we’re planning for additional resources that support not only the remote learning that we’re finding is very successful, but also supports the on-site learning that we want to provide our students.
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-Kristine DiMemmo
Riverside City College interim vice president of Planning and Development, said overtime hours for classified and student workers will be provided in order to ensure students receive as much support as possible. There will be expansion in remote collaboration using Zoom, Cranium Café, Canvas and more. “Our goal as a backup plan is to make sure we continue to serve our students in that online environment,” DiMemmo said. “We want to make sure we’re planning for additional resources that support not only the remote learning that we’re finding is very successful, but also supports the on-site learning that we want to provide our students.” Chancellor Wolde-Ab Isaac said the best strategy to get back on campus safely is for everyone to get vaccinated. Once the Food and Drug Administration grants full registration to the available COVID-19 vaccines, Isaac said the intent of the district will be to make vaccines mandatory. “Safety remains the most important consideration for us,” Isaac said. “Safety is not negotiable.” Vaccines will continue to be provided to all staff and students on all three of the district’s campuses. The decision about whether or not Plan B will be implemented for the fall semester will be decided by mid-summer this year.
