Remote learning to continue for spring semester

Clinton College will remain exclusively remote for the spring semester. Read the letter below from President McCorn:

Announcement: Clinton College Campus will Continue Operations in Remote Learning

The Clinton College Family has done remarkably well amid this global pandemic. Our move to virtual learning has presented opportunities for innovation and exploration. We have designed and implemented two virtual learning platforms: BEAR (Bridging Excellence and Remote) Learning and Clinton Global Online Learning.  Of course, we would have preferred to return to our “village” of love, learning, and living together. We have learned how to operate in a new environment, utilizing technology to share time, ideas, and lessons with one another. Thank you for allowing Brightspace, Zoom, and Teams to facilitate our remote experiences until we can see one another in person.

Since the start of the semester, the administration has closely monitored the public health conditions locally and nationally. A COVID-19 Task Force has been working diligently to put appropriate protocols in place in anticipation of a full return to campus in the spring. We have observed the lessons being learned on other college campuses across the country; the results have been mixed. We have concluded that there are too many barriers to operating in person in a completely safe and effective manner next semester. Therefore, we will continue in remote learning for the spring semester. The issues we considered include the following:

• With a high commuter student population, it would be very difficult to do effective contact tracing.
• Our residence halls have community-style bathrooms, which would not allow for appropriate control of possible infection.
• Our classrooms are not large enough to provide optimal social distance.
• There is not a suitable dedicated space to quarantine students should they test positive.

Our ultimate concern is the safety and well-being of our entire community, especially our students. We will not make any decisions that would jeopardize that. Please know that we are working every day to improve the remote experience for our students and staff, while also striving to make necessary steps to allow for a safe return to campus as soon as possible. We sincerely appreciate the patience and cooperation of everyone during this challenging period. We are certain that when the time is right, we will return to campus wiser, stronger, and better than before.

Aiming higher,

Dr. Lester A. McCorn, President