Spring Classes Begin January 7
Cosmetology is among the programs at Edgecombe Community College that will continue to combine online and in-person instruction next spring. While most classes will be delivered online, portions of programs such as cosmetology, nursing, and welding have to meet in person because of the subject matter. Advanced Cosmetology student Tiera Douglasis is shown learning how to manipulate a marcel thermal iron using spiral and croquignole techniques. Spring classes at ECC begin January 7.
When spring classes begin at Edgecombe Community College on January 7, the teaching and learning landscape will look very similar to fall semester: safe and effective.
Most classes will be delivered online, with some offered as a hybrid of online and in-person instruction. In general, lecture courses will be offered online unless there are multiple sections of the same course. Multiple sections enable the college to offer students a choice of an online or hybrid format.
Also, a number of classes will be delivered through synchronous learning, which is online instruction that occurs in real time, often with a set class schedule and required login times. “This fall, we have tried every creative approach to instruction that we could think of to keep students safe while also engaged in learning. I think all of us in education have become quite adept at being flexible,” observes ECC President Dr. Greg McLeod.
Courses that contain clinical/lab/shop components, such as nursing, cosmetology, welding, and automotive courses, will continue to be delivered in person with safety precautions in place. According to Dr. McLeod, “A number of these classes have to be taught in person because of the subject matter, but we’re doing as much as we can in these areas to provide online components. Many of these classes will be delivered in a hybrid format in the spring semester.
“We are pleased that Edgecombe Community College has continued to safely and effectively serve students throughout the course of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Dr. McLeod adds. “Our coronavirus taskforce has done an excellent job of developing strategies to maintain the safety of students and employees while everyone has been great with doing their part to help keep the college community safe.”
Face masks are required on campus. Social distancing is achieved in classrooms by limiting class size and meeting in larger spaces. Campus libraries are open to current students who need access to technology. Also, ECC has a limited number of Chromebooks available to lend to students.
Registration is under way for spring semester, which starts January 7. New students should complete the application process found at Become a Student on the homepage at edgecombe.edu. For those who need assistance, please email admissions@edgecombe.edu or call (252) 823-5166 and press 1 for Student Services.