OJC Press Release ID: 3070

Friday, December 18, 2020

OJC Return to Campus Plans for Spring Semester

Otero Junior College has been making logistical decisions about the Spring Semester and how they will move forward in the wake of COVID-19. Some of these recovery plans are similar to how the Fall Semester was presented with different levels of restrictions based on COVID levels.

Dr. Alvarez, OJC president, explains, “We are balancing all of the guidelines from a multitude of agencies that are being expected of us in order to ensure the health and safety of our employees and students. Our goal is to continue providing a rigorous, high quality education while offering more choices to our students as to delivery method. I am cautiously optimistic that we might be able to provide more face-to-face options as the semester progresses.”

Red Level Status Models:

•   There will be limited face-to-face courses and will be held at 50% capacity. These include Nursing, MLT, Cosmetology, Welding, ABM, Law Enforcement Academy, etc.
•   OJC will also offer a hybrid with livestreaming option. Some days students receive livestreaming through WebEx and other days students complete work online or meet with instructor individually, or on campus.
•   Science Labs will take place from a distance. Students will receive a lab kit from the college. Instruction will be provided through live streaming.
•   The third option for Spring Semester will be fully online with no livestreaming.

Orange Level (or Less) Status Models:

•   In an orange level or less, OJC will still offer face-to-face courses at 50% capacity for the Nursing, MLT, Cosmetology, Welding, ABM, and Law Enforcement Academy programs with rooms being sanitized between each class.
•   Hybrid with face-to-face will be offered where half the class comes on one day and half the class comes on another day.
•   Hybrid with livestreaming, where some days students receive livestreaming through WebEx and other days students complete work online or meet with instructor individually or in small groups on campus. This will also encompass the method for science labs, lecture will be livestreamed but labs will be face-to-face.
•   The final option will be fully online with no livestreaming.

Athletics and Residence Halls:

•   The general move-in date has been set as Jan. 4 for most student athletes based on the NJCAA practice “Start Date”. This includes all international students.
•   All international student athletes will complete a 14-day quarantine based on the date they arrive in Colorado.
•   All residence hall students will be asked to self-quarantine for 14 days prior to their arrival to campus. During this time, it is important for students to monitor their symptoms at home. If symptoms are present during this time, do not return to campus. Notify the Dean of Student Affairs (gary.addington@ojc.edu) so arrangements can be made for a safe return to campus.
•   Athletics will limit in-person practices to 10 total people for the first week then return to regular practice sessions and will practice outside as much as possible. At this time, they plan to compete against other teams with all protocols in place. These events will take place without fans. As guidelines change or are updated, more information will be released.

Note: In all levels, students will receive health screenings when they enter classrooms and buildings, including temperature checks. All students and employees are required to wear face coverings to class and in the buildings. Faculty will continue disinfecting classrooms after each class. All faculty members have a basket with hand sanitizer, masks, a thermometer, wristbands (to indicate that students have been checked), and sanitizing wipes.

Staff are working on campus at a very limited rate; offices are asking employees to alternate days and limit hours on campus. The Physical Plant staff continues to come in daily and have been the backbone for keeping the campus running.

To view OJC’s Spring 2021 Return to Campus Plan visit this link: Spring 2021 Return to Campus Plan.

To see a full list of frequently asked questions about Spring Semester, go to this link: FAQs or type in Frequently Asked Questions in the search bar above.

Spring Semester at OJC will begin on Jan. 11. With many options, such as in-person, options for hybrid, hybrid-remote, live-streaming or full online learning for those who wish to remain at home to study, now is a great time to enroll. To apply for admission, visit the OJC Website. The OJC campus will be closed from Dec. 25 through Jan 4 for the holiday break. If you need to speak with an advisor please be aware of this closure.

Spring Semester at OJC will begin on Jan. 11. With many options, such as in-person, options for hybrid, hybrid-remote, live-streaming or full online learning for those who wish to remain at home to study, now is a great time to enroll. The campus will be closed from Dec. 25 through Jan. 4 for the holiday break.