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FRANKLIN

Paul D. Camp Community College plans to offer most classes virtually during the spring 2021 semester.

In the meantime, all students may continue to access services and resources remotely, including admissions and financial aid assistance, advising, tutoring, career coaching, library services, the bookstore and technology services.

Camp also said wi-fi has been established or upgraded in the parking lots of all the college’s locations in Franklin, Suffolk and Smithfield. “And while faculty and staff are welcome to return to the building, they will still need to work with their supervisor and the Office of Public Safety prior to their visit,” the college said.

The decision about the spring is in concert with a recent announcement from Dr. Glenn DuBois, chancellor of Virginia’s Community College system, according to Camp officials. “This is the safest way for us to offer our students a continuous course of study during these challenging times,” said Camp President Dr. Dan Lufkin. “We will continue to follow guidance from our public health agencies.”

For classes such as nursing, emergency medical services and welding, which require in-person and hands-on learning, the college is providing these educational programs “as safely as possible with the required social distancing established, and even more in some cases, and wearing masks,” said Lufkin. “Everyone who comes into the college signs in so that we know who is in the building, including faculty, staff and students.”

According to Tony Clark, Camp’s interim director of institutional advancement, the college has more than 1,100 students enrolled for the fall semester. However, “because the vast majority of classes and programs are currently being offered through various online platforms, we are not tracking by campus location,” Clark said. The college is following guidance from the governor, health officials and the Virginia Community College System. “When it is deemed appropriate to return to in-person learning, we plan to fully reopen all of our facilities to students and staff,” Clark said.

Dr. Tara Atkins-Brady, Camp’s vice president of academic and student development, said the class schedule will include asynchronous online classes and synchronous hybrid classes with virtual meetings at regularly scheduled times. In asynchronous classes, the instructor and students don’t meet together as a group at the same time.

Open registration for spring classes starts on Oct. 26. Call 757-569-6700 or visit pdc.edu for more information.

NATE DELESLINE III is a staff writer at The Smithfield Times. Contact him at nate.delesline@smithfieldtimes.com.