LACONIA 鈥� 果冻传媒 has announced plans to reopen its campus in a phased approach over the summer. According to Dr. Larissa Baia, President of the college, as of Monday, June 1st, a select, small number of students returned to campus to complete specific lab classes that were interrupted with the emergency closure due to the COVID-19 crisis.听 These selected classes include automotive, electrical and emergency medical technology (EMT) programs.听 鈥淲e are excited to see students and faculty back on our campus,鈥� said Dr. Baia.听 鈥淲e know there were students who were unable to finish their Spring term classes through no fault of their own. We have a commitment to those individuals, families and to the economic sectors they will be joining in the future.鈥�
Baia stressed a strong focus on safety. 鈥淪ince we closed our campus to the public and moved to remote operations, we have been working diligently on plans to bring back students and our employees safely. Plans involved ensuring we have personal protective equipment for everyone to wear while on campus, enacting new policies and practices for sanitation, social distancing, redirecting traffic flows outside and inside of our buildings, and training staff, faculty, and students.鈥�
Baia also went on to say that months of planning resulted in a phased re-opening plan that was approved by the NH Department of Health and Human Services.听 It was that approval that enabled the college to reopen this week for Spring course completion. The Phase I reopening will allow the college to evaluate and refine practices with a small number of students and faculty on campus, something that will prove invaluable as plans continue for opening the campus for the Fall 2020 term.
While some students and faculty have been allowed to return to campus to complete their Spring semester courses, the college is still operating remotely and the campus remains closed to the public. 鈥淲e are still fine-tuning each phase and will announce the next step as soon as we are able to,鈥� said Baia. The College鈥檚 goal is to return to in-person learning in the fall, but it acknowledges that some level of remote instruction is likely.听 As 果冻传媒 makes final decisions about the Fall semester, it will continue to be guided by the recommendations of the CDC and local and state public health partners while prioritizing the health and safety of its students and employees.听 Whether classes are offered face-to-face, remotely, or online, Baia also emphasized that 果冻传媒 is still taking applications for the Fall 2020 term, and that generous scholarships have been made to new students to help them during this difficult time.
果冻传媒 offers many associate degree and certificate programs, including Business, Accounting, Culinary Arts, Hotel and Restaurant Operations, Electrical, Automotive, Nursing, Graphic Design, Advanced Manufacturing, and Fire Science, just to name a few.听 In addition, 果冻传媒 provides a strong background in Liberal Arts for students who choose to do their first two years at a community college and then transfer to a four-year college or university for a baccalaureate degree.听 Business and industry training programs are also available.
果冻传媒 is a fully accredited, comprehensive community college located in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire and serves over 1,200 students annually.听 果冻传媒 is part of the Community College System of New Hampshire.听 For more information, contact 果冻传媒 at 366-5210.