Highland Community College Announces Precautions

Highland Community College is preparing for the fall 2020 semester. They are welcoming back employees, students, and visitors to the campus. On July 7, the College announced its Phase 4 Campus Safety Precautions. They are asking everyone to social distance, wear a mask, self-monitor, and use proper hand hygiene practices.

The COVID-19 Pandemic also affected activities at Highland Community College. They had restricted visitors on campus. They asked most of the workforce to work from home as they ended the spring semester through distance learning. The May commencement ceremony was also presented virtually. The college entered into Phase 3 on June 8 following the recommendations from the Illinois Community College Board, Stephenson County Health Department, Illinois Department of Public Health, and Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

The college allowed classrooms with no more than 10 people to meet. “Throughout the summer, our in-person labs were able to complete while using safety precautions during Phase 3,” said Christina Kuberski, Highland Community College President. “From this, our Emergency Management team and faculty could decide how to offer services and courses safely to students during Phase 4, which we’re optimistic will last into the fall semester.”

In-person and remote services are offered by Highland. Due to the flexible service, everyone is allowed to determine their comfort level. However, wearing a mask and practicing social distancing is a must on campus. Kuberski said, “We want to make sure everyone’s needs are met while preparing for the fall semester, so if someone wants to attend campus for services like the bookstore, financial aid, or advising, they can do so.”

The college is also offering flexible options for classrooms as well. Remote learning is also an option for students. They can use Zoom™ real-time classrooms, a combination of Zoom™ and in-person classroom, entirely in-person or completely online.