The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is bringing more change for Lake Michigan College. The school already pushed back registration and delayed the start of the summer semester by a month, and now LMC president Dr. Trevor Kubatzke says all summer classes will be done by remote learning for the first time in the school’s history.
“All the projections that we’ve seen and guidance we’re getting is that packing 30 students into a small classroom isn’t going to be available for the summer, so we had to come up with a new scheme,” Kubatzke tells WSJM News, adding parts of the plan are still being developed.
“We say remote learning because it’s not all going to be just your typical online learning. It could have some campus activity in small numbers. That’s what we’re working on right now”
He says the resumption of courses involving lab work, such as welding, is completely dependent on the lifting of the “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order from the governor.
“Our faculty will be working on scheduled times for students to come in so we can social distance in those labs. So instead of 18 people in the welding lab, we’ll make sure there are only six at a time to they can spread out and get their hours in.”
Kubatzke says the decisions being made now are based on the best information available, but they’re also making contingency plans.
“One scenario is possible that they’d be able to finish that class in the fall if they are here. If they are going to be going on to other institutions, we are looking at other ways. Some of those hands-on classes, you just can’t do them remotely.”
The summer term will begin on Monday, June 8 and end on Thursday, August 20. LMC continues to accept new applicants for the summer and fall semesters. Course registration dates for the summer and fall semesters open on Monday, April 27 for veterans and to all other students on Tuesday, April 28. The college continues to offer most of its services to current and prospective students remotely during regular business hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday. The re-opening dates for LMC’s indoor exercise and childcare facilities is yet to be determined.
