HAMPTON ROADS, Va. - Virginia's community colleges will continue to offer most classes online for the spring 2021 semester.
Chancellor Glenn DuBois announced the decision Friday in a statement to all students.
"With the threat posed by the pandemic still very much upon us, this approach represents the safest and most prudent choice we can make to serve you this spring. We will continue to follow the science in this matter and take guidance from public health agencies," DuBois said.
DuBois says the decision is due to wanting to minimize disruptions in student's academic year.
Similar to the fall semester, the colleges will continue to offer hands-on courses, that cannot be offered remotely. Those in-person classes that are offered will require mask-wearing, social distancing, and other public health guidance.
According to DuBois, not all virtual classes are the same. Some classes are structured to gather at specific times on tools like Zoom and others offer a chance for students to learn material at their own pace by completing assignments or take exams by specific deadlines.
Several of the colleges are still adding campus Wi-Fi hotspots, mostly in parking lots.
DuBois says staying online is the “safest and most prudent choice” with the continued pandemic and the traditional cold and flu season arriving.
