RCCD Begins to Orchestrate Plan for Returning to Traditional Education

​​Closed since March 16, the Riverside Community College District has begun to formulate a plan in order to return to traditional education delivery. In May, the District convened a Safe Return Taskforce with leadership from Moreno Valley College, Norco College and Riverside City College along with faculty, staff, students and administrators throughout the District. The taskforce was charged with developing recommendations for restoring on-site operations while ensuring the safety of students and employees.

The recommendations of the taskforce have been organized into phases and are compliant with the California Resilience Roadmap: Stages 1-4 as well as specific county health department directives. The recommendations also consider the unique environments and educational programs of each college.

The District and its college have also sought the assistance of Riverside County leadership, so that a number of essential work force led programs could return to face-to-face instruction. Some of the programs include nursing, certified nursing assistant, dental hygiene, dental assistant, paramedics, EMTs, firefighting, peace officers, corrections academy, dispatch academy, culinary academy, and other STEM and STEM based CTE programs that contribute to the preparation of essential workers that are vital for the economic recovery of our county.

“We are prioritizing the restoration of educational programming and organizational functions that are in line with or directly connected to essential sectors of the California economy as defined in Governor Newsom's March 19 order and refined in April," said Wolde-Ab Isaac, Ph.D., chancellor, RCCD. “Courses and programs that prepare students for jobs in essential sectors will be taught in hybrid format with lectures online and clinical/labs to be conducted in-person."

Courses from this past spring semester and the current summer term that required face-to-face labs, skills development, and testing will reconvene for a special session. This will allow students to complete course requirements in the summer and fall, Isaac said.

Sessions will follow the CA Stage 2 guidelines. 

Currently, the colleges are in Phase A or CA Stage 2 for the summer term that started on June 22 and concludes or concluded (depending when this is sent out) on July 31. Although the campuses are closed, instruction has continued online. Campus facilities continue to receive thorough cleaning in anticipation of some courses returning to campuses.

For the fall semester (August 24 to December 16), the District is recommending remaining in Phase A or CA Accelerated Stage 2. While instruction would remain online, Phase A in August does offer District and college personnel to return to campus in order to handle essential services that cannot be conducted online. Currently, financial aid, counseling, tutoring and other student support programs remain available. Students are able to continue their education and prepare for graduation during the pandemic. 

For the winter term (January 4 to February 11), the District's Phase C or CA Stages 2 - 3 plan includes continuing most courses online, with some courses that require face-to-face labs, skills development, and testing being offered in a hybrid format. The recommendations will be further developed as the conditions and status of the COVID-19 pandemic are better understood, closer to the term's start date, Isaac said.
Next year's spring term (February 16 to June 1) anticipates moving into Phase D  or CA Stage 3. But this based on the assumption that the state has reached Stage 3 of the California Resilience Roadmap and the county health directives will allow the reopening of college campuses. 

State guidelines of social distancing, personal protection (washing/sanitizing hands, wearing masks and gloves), and thorough cleaning of facilities, will continue to be followed until CA Stage 4 is reached and those guidelines and directives are lifted at the conclusion of the Stay Home Order, Isaac added.

As the recommendations evolve and plans are finalized, announcements will be made on the District and college websites. RCCD's will be updated with communications and resources. A new SAFE RETURN web page is also accessible with updated recommendations and information as each new term begins.

Throughout the different phases of reopening and stages of the pandemic, students will continue to have equitable access to essential student services either online, or when it is safe on campus," Isaac said.