Some Jefferson College students could see their spring semesters extended as a result of scheduling changes made to address health concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.
The college’s spring break was scheduled for March 14-22. However, college officials have extended the break through March 29.
As of Monday, staff members were expected to return to work on March 30, according to a March 13 written statement from Jefferson College President Ray Cummiskey.
In the meantime, all college classes, including all clinical rotations at area hospitals, are canceled, and all buildings will remain closed to students and employees.
In addition, all previously scheduled college events and activities are now canceled through April 30.
During the extended spring break, faculty and staff members are expected to work from home planning for instruction to be held online and for other ways to continue college operations, the college reported.
Beginning March 30, all instruction will move to an online format until further notice, officials said.
Roger Barrentine, the college’s director of marketing and public relations, said students who will be most affected by an extended semester are those taking classes that cannot be handled online, like police academy classes and classes that require lab work.
“We will fit instruction within the remaining time in the semester where possible,” Barrentine said Monday.
“In some cases, we may be required to extend the semester beyond the original end date. That will be on a course-by-course basis.
“What we ideally hope is for classes being done online to wrap up on existing schedules. For classes not readily adaptable online, we may need to extend the semester.”
Barrentine said Monday the Jefferson College graduation ceremonies scheduled for May 16 had not been rescheduled, but that could change in the coming weeks.
Barrentine said all staff members will be paid through the March 14-29 closure period.
If the closure goes beyond March 29, officials will need to make more decisions concerning pay, he said.
“All adjunct and full-time faculty will be compensated through the end of the semester,” he said. “We’re doing everything we can to keep the well-being of our hard-working employees and their families at the center of these decisions. “
For more information, go to the college website at jeffco.edu/covid-19.
