HCC Prepares To Reopen Campus

Bridgeport, CT - As Housatonic Community College (HCC) looks forward to welcoming its students, faculty, and staff back to campus for the fall term, the college is taking essential preventive measures this summer to protect them from COVID-19.

The college is following CDC, CT Dept. Public Health and CSCU recommendations for colleges, universities and higher learning, seeking to minimize risk wherever possible. Guidelines for physical distancing, mask requirements and capacity limits on elevators have been posted throughout campus. Directional arrows now exist on floors, classrooms are supplied with hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes, and plexiglass shields and sneeze guards have been installed.

Staff and faculty members received written expectations for the fall semester, including the requirement that face coverings and physical distancing must be practiced at all times on campus. Office hours will be conducted virtually to the greatest extent possible, and starting July 27, Student Services will see students by appointment as well as virtually.

A small number of manufacturing students are currently on campus for summer learning. They are required to sign-in at a security desk where gloves and masks are available. The cleaning service is providing additional cleaning in the limited areas that are being used, and students are required to wear masks and practice social distancing – all protocols that will be followed in the fall term as well.

The fall semester schedule, which begins on August 26, has been arranged to allow for proper social distancing and a gradual return to campus. Most of HCC’s classes will engage students in virtual-only learning, but some will include a hybrid approach (partly online and partly on campus). Only a few classes will take place on-site in classrooms, with appropriate safety measures in place.

“Safeguarding the health and well-being of our community is paramount,” said Dwayne Smith, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of HCC. “The public safety practices that we have initiated will help to ensure that we provide the best and safest possible educational experience for our scholars.”

Registration for the fall term is going on now. Visit https://www.housatonic.edu/ to register or for more information.  For students that don’t have access to a computer for online learning, the Housatonic Community College Foundation (HCCF) may be able to help. HCCF is a resource for students with available funding for emergency, technology and book needs. Visit https://bit.ly/HCCFfunds or contact Kristy Jelenik, HCCF Executive Director, at KJelenik@hcc.commnet.edu or call 203-332-5078.