WSCC making plans for fall semester.

WSCC making plans for fall semester.

VICTORY TOWNSHIP — Like most community colleges around the country, West Shore Community College moved to online-only instruction in March, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and college officials are expecting to resume limited campus operations by early June and a full array of class options for the fall semester. All summer semester classes will be offered online.

“We look forward to welcoming our students to the campus again this fall,” said WSCC President Scott Ward. “But there is a great deal of work to be done before then and we’re working to put the necessary protocols and safety measures in place to make that possible. Maintaining the safety and well-being of our campus community is always our top priority and the college will adjust all plans based on the current status of the health crisis.”

A task force, which has been meeting daily since mid-March, is reviewing various fall semester operating scenarios, but Ward stressed they are most focused on taking the necessary precautions that will allow students and college staff to return to the campus safely.

“We are being cautiously optimistic, and we will follow state and federal guidelines to protect our campus community. What those precautions and protections might look like is the focus of the task force.”

In the meantime, WSCC personnel are working remotely and continuing to assess the pandemic’s impact. The college has established many online support services to assist students with specific needs resulting from the pandemic such as online advising, counseling and tutoring.

“I am very proud of our students, faculty and staff who responded, with very short notice, to this new learning environment and we want to be reunited only when it is safe to do so.”

Ward added, “We know many people in our community are anxious, and some of them are hurting. We are assessing the needs of their college-bound students and we want to be there for them every step of the way.”

The summer semester begins June 1 through July 24. The fall semester runs from August 26 and ends on December 13.

Registration for the College’s summer and fall semesters is currently underway for first-time, returning, and guest students and will continue to the first week of each term’s classes.