Ridgewater developing fall semester plan with remote and in-person courses, in-person campus tours to begin July 6

WCT.STOCK.Ridgewater — Briana Sanchez / West Central Tribune file photo

By West Central Tribune and Linda Vanderwerf

June 26, 2020 at 5:42 PM

WILLMAR — Ridgewater College plans to open fall classes with a variety of in-person and distance learning options for students.

In-person campus tours will resume July 6. Tours will be by appointment only and limited to no more than nine guests.

College officials had earlier announced that classes would begin with remote learning in August, with a plan to move toward in-person classes as the COVID-19 situation allowed.

“We heard from many students and parents who wanted more certainty about our plans for fall,” said Ridgewater College President Craig Johnson in a news release.

With the COVID-19 situation relatively stable in the area, the college has followed guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and the Minnesota Department of Health to develop a plan to deliver some face-to-face classes for fall on its Willmar and Hutchinson campuses.

The college will announce in mid-July which classes will be delivered in person. The plan is to deliver classes in the same way for the entire fall semester, according to the release.

The health and safety of those on campus will be a primary consideration in choosing the courses.

The plan is in effect for the fall semester only, and the college will adjust as necessary for the spring semester.

The school will continue to offer online and remote courses, and students can expect to see courses delivered in a variety of ways, including online and remote course and hands-on instruction. Some courses will offer instruction both on campus and remotely.

For on-campus, Ridgewater will follow safety protocols. Rooms and furnishings will be cleaned regularly according to CDC and Minnesota Department of Health guidelines. Social distancing will be enforced, and masks will be strongly encouraged. Where social distancing isn’t possible, masks will be required.

Students and visitors will be screened when entering the campus.

To schedule a campus tour, visit ridgewater.edu/visit . For more information about Ridgewater’s back-to-campus preparedness plan, visit ridgewater.edu/covid-19 .

Ridgewater developing fall semester plan with remote and in-person courses, in-person campus tours to begin July 6

Ridgewater plans to open its fall semester with classes offered with varying options that will be in effect for the entire semester. It's a switch from an original plan to start classes remotely with the possibility of moving to campus later, depending on the area's COVID-19 situation.