Mendocino College will continue primarily remote instruction through the summer 2021 semester, announced Superintendent/President Tim Karas.
“We are looking forward to transitioning back to more on ground/face-to-face classes at all locations and plan to see our fall 2021 class schedule reflect that,” says Karas. “We are happy to report that with the help of Mendocino County, we have been able to provide all interested employees access to the COVID-19 vaccine so they feel comfortable coming back to campus and providing excellent student service as before the pandemic began.”
The college has a “Transition Group”, which consists of classified staff, faculty, and management leaders brainstorming ways to get more students back on campus in a timely and safe manner. The college is also surveying students to gather input about how that might look. In the fall 2021 semester, the schedule will offer an expanded on ground/face-to-face course listing.
“We won’t be 100 percent back to normal by fall, but we will be increasing the number of classes at all of our locations,” says Debra Polak, Vice President of Instruction. “We will be introducing innovative instructional methods in the fall that will allow us to have fewer students in classrooms. We hope some of these new methods will help us reach students in our vast geographic area in post-pandemic times as well.”
“In the fall, the centers in Fort Bragg, Lakeport, and Willits will have a heavier on ground presence to support students who have had a difficult time accessing online education. We plan to offer close to the traditional variety of courses, just with reduced class enrollment caps, that align with current county safety guidelines,” says Dean of Centers, Amanda Xu. “The Center computer labs will also be open during regular business hours so that our rural students can more efficiently access online courses.”
Since the pandemic began, Mendocino College has continued to expand support and services geared toward student success, including free tutoring, books, tuition, and more. More than half the students who attend Mendocino College qualify for some form of financial aid, and many meet the guidelines that eliminate unit fees completely, regardless of their financial situation. For more information, visit /financial-aid.
“There will be numerous opportunities for students to access funds to pay for tuition and other educational expenses in the coming months,” says Karas. “We want students to know that we’re here to help break down any barriers that may be preventing them from returning to school. There is no better time than now to pursue your educational goals.”
Currently enrolled students can register for summer classes using MyMendo beginning Aprl 24 and new students can apply now online at www.mendocino.edu. The summer 2021 semester officially begins June 7. To make a counseling appointment, please email counselingappointments@mendocino.edu.