By: Amanda Lee
Dear Bladen Community College Family,
My message today is one of continued gratitude. Thank you, to our faculty and staff working diligently to adapt to remote, online classes, sustaining our vital educational mission through the implementation of a virtual campus. Thank you, to staff members who are working from home and on campus performing those essential tasks necessary to keep the college operational and safe. Thank you, to our students who are embracing a new learning experience and adjusting expectations along with the rest of us as we continue our work during this uncertainty. Thank you, to our community which has supported us as we have worked through the rapid changes to our services and limited access to our campus. Thank you to our Board of Trustees who are also adapting to communicating and meeting differently as they work to provide guidance and support to our employees and students. I am grateful to all of you for your flexibility in these unprecedented times.
We are steadfast and diligent in our efforts to practice preventive measures for the protection of our students and employees. With that in mind, we are asking for your patience as we continue to use an appointment process for essential visits to the campus. Essential visits may include accessing a computer or visiting our food pantry, you can email BCClibrary@Bladencc.edu to set up an appointment. Hopefully, you have been able to access the hotspots that have been made available to you on campus and throughout the county for your internet access (thank you again Star Communications!). We must continue to work together to follow the advice of the public health community and, as much as we can, we need to stay at home.
It appears unlikely that we are going to be able to resume face to face classes on campus this spring semester. However, as soon as we can, we will facilitate students coming on campus with their instructors to work on classes and skills requiring hands on instruction and practice. The inability to be on campus has impacted so many things including final exams, graduation, summer school, and fall registration.
Final Exams
Final exams will be addressed by our instructors and decided on a class by class basis. Discussions are being held about options and resources to continue to support our students as we approach the end of the semester. Students should direct questions to their instructors for specific details.
Graduation for Class of 2020
I regret that we are having to assess whether or not we will have an opportunity for our graduates to walk across the stage and hear their name called in front of classmates, family, friends, and faculty. We are actively exploring creative alternatives to celebrate our graduate’s accomplishments. These will be shared at a later date as these decisions are finalized. While we will not gather for graduation in May, students who satisfy all requirements to graduate will have their degrees, diplomas, and/or certificates posted on their official transcripts after the conclusion of the spring semester.
Future BCC Classes
Early Registration and Advising for current students for the summer session and Fall 2020 began this week and will continue until April 30th Due to the ongoing uncertainty regarding our ability to be on campus, we are offering summer term classes remotely and online. New students for both summer and fall semesters are encouraged to apply now. We would welcome the opportunity to serve students home from other colleges and universities or others using this time to pursue new skills for their careers to join us this summer. Advisors are available for assistance and support in applying and registering for classes. We will continue to monitor this event; but acting optimistically, we are moving forward with fall semester classes to be offered in a variety of ways including in classrooms on campus.
Please note that everything continues to change depending on these evolving circumstances. To stay up to date, regularly visit our website at www.bladencc.edu or feel free to contact me directly at alee@bladencc.edu Let me know what you need—faculty, employees, and students alike. I want to support you and want to stay connected. I want to hear about your challenges but also about your accomplishments while you are studying and working from home.
This worldwide pandemic continues to stretch us all to think differently about how we create, share, and acquire knowledge. It is redefining how we connect and how we celebrate. I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the way Bladen Community College is facing each new challenge. We are student centered and future focused more now than ever.
Continue to take care of yourself and each other.
I look forward to hearing from you.
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