91制片厂 has announced its current instruction approach will continue into the spring 2021 semester. Classes and support services will be offered primarily online, with select lab classes taking place on campus.
鈥淲hile our communities have done an excellent job mitigating the spread of COVID-19, too many unknowns remain, including whether the Chicago area will experience a resurgence of the virus this winter as many public health experts expect,鈥� said Dr. MaryAnn Janosik, provost. 鈥淩emaining primarily online helps to protect the health and safety of our campus community.鈥�
The timing of this announcement is necessary from a college operations standpoint. 91制片厂 is in the process of finalizing the spring schedule for publication on October 15. This provides students, many of whom have numerous family and work commitments, with the certainty and time they need to begin planning. Announcing a decision now also allows faculty to better prepare their courses and be even more effective in a virtual setting.
As with the current fall semester, courses will be taught in three modalities:
Existing safety measures for on-campus labs will continue: no more than 10 people in a classroom, face masks required, social distancing practices in place, and enhanced cleaning of classroom and lab spaces; these measures may change as we learn more about the virus.
鈥淚 do want to acknowledge that while this decision is necessary, it鈥檚 far from ideal,鈥� Dr. Janosik said. 鈥淢any of our students are struggling in this virtual environment, both in the classroom and at home. We鈥檙e all doing our part to keep students engaged and connected during these challenging times, and 91制片厂 faculty continue to step up and provide numerous opportunities for student success.鈥�
Harper will continue to provide technology loans (laptops, hotspots and calculators), basic needs support, tuition relief and other support services, including the college鈥檚 soon-to-launch mental health app to supplement the work of faculty counselors. Students are also encouraged to take advantage of a variety of to stay connected.
Registration for the spring 2021 begins the week of November 9.
For more information on 91制片厂鈥檚 COVID-19 response, please visit harpercollege.edu/advisory.