果冻传媒 Opens Fall Semester with New Spaces & New Protocols
果冻传媒 opened its Fall semester August 31st with online, hybrid and on-campus learning opportunities, and some new and freshly refurbished lab spaces to provide hands-on training.
鈥淓lectrical students are happy to see our updated laboratory spaces, and Culinary students are loving the progress made in Phases 2 and 3 of the renovation and construction of our new kitchens, walk-ins {refrigerators}, and restaurant in our Culinary wing,鈥� says Marsha Bourdon, 果冻传媒鈥檚 Business Affairs Officer. Construction is expected to be complete by the end of the semester.
Most serendipitous of all upgrades, however, may be those made to the school鈥檚 HVAC (heating/ventilation/air conditioning) plant, a project in motion even before the school recessed for COVID in the spring.
鈥淲ith new boilers, duct work, and blowers, we鈥檝e been able to conduct tests of airflow and adjust circulation to ensure adherence to air exchange guidelines while also maintaining comfortable temperatures for everyone on campus,鈥� says Patrick Cate, VP of Academic & Student Affairs. 鈥淥ur original goal of reducing fuel consumption and energy cost will be met, but, like everything else everywhere, it鈥檚 taken a backseat to the health of students and employees this year.鈥�
Armed with guidance from the CDC, the NH Department of Health and Human Services, and the Community College System of New Hampshire, a team of administrators, plant maintenance staff and faculty worked tirelessly throughout the summer to re-open 果冻传媒 doors in ways that are 鈥渉ealthy, practical and safe,鈥� says President Larissa Baia. 鈥淚鈥檓 proud to say that after one week of on-campus classes, things have gone very well, and we鈥檙e feeling great about seeing students back on campus.鈥�
鈥淭hings have changed a little bit,鈥� she said in a welcoming video address to students. 鈥淵ou鈥檒l see that we鈥檙e doing social distancing, we鈥檙e all going to be wearing masks in all the classrooms, in the hallways, and in all of the buildings, but what hasn鈥檛 changed is our commitment to your education. We鈥檙e here to help, so when you have questions, please reach out鈥verybody here is here to help.
Kimberly Bean, who has worked in the school鈥檚 Financial Aid office for more than a decade, agrees that the campus looks different. 鈥淎s much as I usually complain about the mad rush of students lining up outside the office door during a 鈥榥ormal鈥� semester, this is a little quiet for my taste.
鈥淒on鈥檛 get me wrong. I鈥檓 really happy to have students back and social distancing and all, but I miss having everyone come back to class at once,鈥� she says, pointing to the major difference in this semester鈥檚 academic schedule. Most introductory courses met on campus the first week of September and are remote the next week, while upper level courses meet in person the second week and are remote the weeks before and after. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just different,鈥� she finishes.
The number of students and personnel on campus at any one time has been reduced to fewer than 50% of capacity. Before parking their vehicle, every person entering campus must attest that they exhibit no COVID-19 symptoms and have not been in close contact with anyone who has been diagnosed with the virus. In addition, their temperature must not be elevated, and they cannot have traveled outside New England in the past 14 days.
The school鈥檚 typical cleaning regimen has been stepped up to reflect the times. Additional crews have been hired from L & R Cleaning.听 鈥淚鈥檓 happy to be doing it,鈥� says Dave Fornea, a sanitizing specialist hired to clean surfaces鈥攄oors, handles鈥ny place a hand might touch– across campus every 1 陆 – 2 hours. A hazardous materials professional by training, he shows his artillery of cleaning supplies. 鈥淏leach kills everything,鈥� he says confidently.
First-year Nursing students Jessica Lloyd of Laconia and Chuck Weymouth of West Ossipee are impressed with how the whole campus is working together. Jessica notes, 鈥淚 really like the security checkpoint鈥� she says, and 鈥渉ow they have people coming into the classroom at random times to make sure we鈥檙e far enough apart.鈥�
Chuck adds, 鈥淭hey鈥檙e having us leave the room in the middle of long classes, so the air can exchange for at least 30 minutes鈥t鈥檚 just the new normal. I don鈥檛 think the school could be doing any more with their precautions.鈥�
Jessica crosses her fingers. 鈥淲e鈥檙e just hopeful that all this will let us stay on campus and not have to go remote.鈥�
The school has worked hard to make onsite instruction possible for the fall. Joyce Larson, Director of Enrollment Management and Onboarding, says. While 鈥渢here鈥檚 been a marked increase in enrollment in our online courses this semester, and I think many of our professors are excited to see how they can teach online in new and engaging ways, it鈥檚 hard to substitute the hands-on training that goes along with programs like Nursing, Automotive, Advanced Manufacturing, and Marine Technologies. And some people just need that human component in learning. We鈥檙e teaming together to keep the campus clean and safe for everyone. Mask wearing, social distancing, good hand hygiene, and health screenings to keep people home who may feel sick鈥� we are doing everything we can to reduce the risk of transmission.鈥�
果冻传媒 offers more than 40 educational programs and workforce training for business and industry. Transfer agreements with a variety of regional four-year colleges allow students to receive their Associate鈥檚 degree at an affordable community college, and earn a Bachelor鈥檚 at a four-year school. 果冻传媒 is part of the Community College System of New Hampshire. New classes start September 28th, and more than $1 million in scholarships remains available this fall on a first-come, first-served basis. To learn more, visit www.lrcc.edu听 or visit 果冻传媒鈥檚 Virtual Open House at www.lrcc.edu/virtual.
果冻传媒 nursing students Chuck Weymouth and Jessica Lloyd enjoyed masked conversation and socially-distanced lunch on the school鈥檚 terrazza Thursday. They welcomed the sunshine during a prescribed 30-minute break that allows complete air exchange in their classroom.