NORFOLK – As the Nebraska State College System announced in late May their plan for when school will begin and end, so did a northeast Nebraska community college.
According to a release from Northeast Nebraska Community College, the Fall 2020 semester will start a week early in order to end instruction by Thanksgiving. Classes will now start on Monday, August 17 and conclude on Wednesday, November 25.
Many colleges and universities around the country, including others in Nebraska, have decided to start earlier in the fall and wrap up their semester by Thanksgiving. The adjusted schedule is designed to reduce the risk of any health hazards associated with COVID-19 due to travel.
The change in the start and end of the semester is designed to ensure the delivery of a quality educational experience for Northeast students. College officials would like to thank every one of their instructors for their willingness to design their courses with adaptation in mind for the coming term.
Instructors will work with other colleagues and academic deans to develop the appropriate social distancing and classroom safety protocols when close contact is required due to the nature of the skill being taught. Changes in delivery of instruction will include moving from many traditional face-to-face classes to more online and synchronous online (virtual) classes, as well as reduced numbers of students and social distancing protocols in limited face-to-face classes.
The new beginning date, which is one week earlier than originally scheduled, is designed to help minimize any spread of COVID-19 during the peak flu season.
In order for the longer break after Thanksgiving, Northeast Community College students will have classes on Labor Day on Monday, September 7 and Fall break on Monday, October 19 will be cancelled.