Spring classes to remain mostly online for State Center Community College District

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Classes at colleges under the State Center Community College District (SCCCD) will remain mostly online for the spring 2021 semester, Chancellor Dr. Paul Parnell announced on Thursday.

RELATED: COVID-19 pandemic impacts enrollment numbers for Central California colleges

The decision will impact their more than 68,000 students at campuses in Fresno, Clovis, Reedley, Madera, and Oakhurst.

Most students at Fresno City College, Reedley College, Madera Community College, Clovis Community College and Oakhurst Community College will continue learning from home, except for those taking laboratory classes requiring in-person instruction.

With a virtually empty campus, it's hard to imagine Fresno City College is in its third week of the fall semester.

Outside of picking up a book store order, first year student Casey Kouyate is attending Fresno City college online.

It's a challenge she's embraced.

The Clovis East Grad plans to transfer to Fresno State after her second year, but hopes she'll get some type of campus experience at Fresno City.

"The face-to-face one-on-one contact can be the difference for a lot of people," says Kouyate.

While many students are finding success distance learning, there are a handful of programs that are held on campus, like nursing as well as the police and fire academies.

"We're about 10 people per class so we're very socially distanced," says first year Jarred Acosta.

Acosta says the flexibility of online classes gives him the opportunity to balance school work and a job.

The announcement to digitally learn in the spring semester. was not a decision taken lightly by SCCCD and one they started considering in the summer.

Now they're working to address a number of challenges students face including the digital divide.

The campus is in the process of distributing laptops and WiFi hot spots.

While the campuses are empty, they're not forgotten.

Other plans in the works include a new parking structure for Fresno City College, a new police and fire academy in southeast Fresno, and a 40-acre center in west Fresno, that could break ground as soon as next month.

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