Fall Registration 2020 online

Story by Laura Canida

With uncertainty amid the coronavirus pandemic, Clackamas Community College has decided that classes will continue online in the fall.  

The fall registration date has moved to June 1 to allow faculty more time to move classes online. According to an-all staff email from Tim Cook sent on May 12, this will also allow the college to more clearly define which classes will be remote and which ones are online. 

“Remote” means classes will be taught at a set time and day each week with students attending virtually at the same time with instructors and students.

 “Online” means there is no dedicated time and day to meet as a class, and students can go online for class when they want. 

“We are working with the curriculum and planning team to ensure these distinctions are clear so students can make informed decisions about their classes and their schedules,” Cook said in the email.

Some businesses and areas across the state started reopening on May 15, however, there is still uncertainty regarding when Clackamas County will begin to reopen and to what degree. Because of this, the Executive Team decided to keep fall term online, with some exceptions for particular programs. 

“The decision to remain online is not an easy one as we would like to open our doors and see our campuses filled with staff, faculty, and students again. But we need to provide as much certainty as we can to our students now, so they can plan for the fall” said Cook.

College Safety Director, Tom Sonoff, was asked by Cook to assemble a team, that includes faculty and staff, to plan on how the college can open safely when the time is right.  

If businesses start to open up and regulations for social distancing are loosened, there is the potential to move to a face-to-face format. The school will continue to monitor this closely.