HAMPTON ROADS, Va. - Most of Tidewater Community College’s class schedule will be online this fall, with some classes being taught with a combination of online and in-person instruction. Fall classes begin Aug. 24.
Career and technical courses, as well as some academic courses that require hands-on instruction, will be taught online and supplemented with on-campus sessions.
Over 400 sections of classes including automotive, health professions, welding, veterinary technology, culinary arts, music, visual arts, electronics technology and other programs, will have on-campus components. You can browse classes at this link.
The college says it's complying with health and safety guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Virginia Department of Health. Its Fall 2020 Reopening Plan was recently certified by the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia.
Faculty, staff, students and visitors must wear face coverings, use hand-sanitizer and complete a health self-assessment when they enter all college buildings. Signs will remind all to practice physical distancing and healthy hygiene.
“We have put a lot of thought into the safe reopening of our campuses to minimize the spread of COVID-19,” said Michelle Woodhouse, interim vice president for academic affairs. “Students should be confident that they can finish what they start this fall, whether they are studying remotely or coming to campus.”
Woodhouse says the college will work with students who have concerns about in-person learning.
"We try to just really meet their needs to see do we have to do some specific independent study type situations to see how do we work to socially distance those situations."
Other local universities like Norfolk State and Old Dominion are also implementing hybrid classes; meanwhile, Hampton University plans to continue remote-only learning for the fall semester.
The plan is subject to change based on the state’s responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.
While TCC says it will do its best to insure safety, it plans to end all in person instruction before the thanksgiving holiday when flu season will be ramping up.
Current and new students and their families can use TCC’s virtual student support services to prepare for the coming fall semester. Assistance is available with admissions, academic advising, financial aid, tuition payments and more.
For those without access to technology, TCC will open Virtual Student Support Rooms beginning Monday, Aug. 3. These rooms are equipped with computers and internet access and will link directly to TCC’s virtual resources. Students will also be able to obtain I.D. cards, drop off documentation, and access computer labs.
“The digital divide is real, and we realize that not all of our students have access to the technology needed to use our virtual services,” said Karen Campbell, interim vice president for student affairs. “This gives us the opportunity to serve everyone.”
Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays and 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday. For a complete list of open buildings and drop box locations, visit here.
For further assistance, call (757)-822-1111 or email enroll@tcc.edu.
