Middlesex County College is planning a fall semester with most classes being offered remotely.

“So that students can continue their education while mitigating the risks of exposure to COVID-19, we are modifying our fall 2020 schedule of course offerings to reduce the number of on-campus classes,” said College President Mark McCormick. “We anticipate a 90/10 percent split, with about 90 percent of classes offered online and 10 percent on campus.”

Linda Scherr, vice president for Academic Affairs, said MCC is offering classes in different formats to provide flexibility for students.

“The formats give students choices about their learning, while emphasizing health and safety practices to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” she said.

Many of the courses will be converted into what the College is calling “Remote Live,” which are classes held at a scheduled day and time using video conferencing. Students interact with the professor and fellow students in real-time, although some sections may include assignments for students to complete on their own instead of meeting for every scheduled class session.

“The second half of our spring semester was conducted using Remote Live, and it was very successful,” Dr. McCormick said.

Traditional online courses will also be offered. In these, the student works when it is convenient, and completes assignments by the due date. There are no required weekly meeting times and course materials and assignments are submitted online.

“This mode is a good option for students who prefer a flexible schedule and have effective time management skills,” Dr. McCormick said.

Some programs – such as nursing, dental hygiene, fine arts, radiography, engineering, and culinary arts – include courses that require in-person instruction and those courses will be offered in a hybrid format, with about half of the sessions online or Remote Live and half in person.

“All on-campus instruction will adhere to strict health and safety protocols in compliance with state and local guidance,” he said.

For all fall courses, students will need access to a computer or tablet with microphone and the internet. For students without access to a computer, the College has laptops available for loan. Please contact student_services@middlesexcc.edu for details.

“We want to ensure that students receive the education they need and deserve while at the same time protecting their health and safety,” Dr. McCormick said.