Academic and Student Affairs Plan

This plan for Spring Semester 2021 places the highest priority on the health and safety of all stakeholders in the educational process at Dyersburg State Community College. Students who attend classes in-person at one of our locations will be spaced at least 6 feet apart, utilizing no more than 50% of the seating capacity of the classrooms. Students will be expected to use disinfecting wipes in the instructional spaces to clean the surfaces that they touched before leaving the class or lab. Instructors will do the same with the surfaces that they touched.

Instructors will have the discretion to determine the class format and delivery method. Instructors will communicate their chosen format to their Division Dean. Classes may be offered virtually from the instructor’s home, office or classroom. This flexible instructional model may include combinations of in-person instruction and synchronous (Zoom) instruction, hybrid with the lecture online and the lab in-person, or asynchronous online instruction using eLearn (D2L/Desire to Learn).

Instructors may conduct office hours virtually from home or from their office. Instructors will share office hours and class schedules with Division Secretaries and will post office hours in AppointmentPlus and eLearn. Advising may be conducted by faculty from their home or from their office.

Instructors will deliver all in-person classes using Zoom video conferencing during the week of January 19. Instructors who plan to divide students into attendance groups for small, in-person class sessions each week will have time to communicate their plans to their students. Healthcare class lecture delivery will be determined by faculty and their Dean.

For example, a class meeting on Tuesday and Thursday would require faculty to determine which students meet in-person Tuesday and which on Thursday, with students attending via Zoom when not in a college classroom for their class. Instructors with classes that are very large, and unable to divide the students into groups small enough to maintain social distancing in the regular classrooms, will request a larger space (such as the auditorium in the Campus Activities Building or the auditorium at the JNC) from their Division Dean. Technology such as webcams will be installed in classrooms and laboratories to enable instructors to communicate with the students who are “Zooming” into the lecture or lab.

On the first day of class, instructors will be asked to ensure that students complete the DSCC Form for Public Health Expectations for COVID-19 Safety. Students will have access to the Learning Resource Centers if they wish to use college computers for their Zoom/virtual classes.

For Zoom classes, students may need to check out a webcam or laptop from the LRC front desks.

The format for offering dual enrollment and prison classes will be determined as we work with the high schools and Northwest Correctional Complex, respectively.

Students who are attending classes and/or labs and who are using the LRCs or other facilities will be screened at building entrances. Each building will have designated and monitored entrances to help ensure health and safety measures of our faculty, staff, and students.

The following statement will be added to each class on the interactive schedule available on the DSCC webpage:

All traditional classes will be taught in a flexible format, meaning that classes will have an online component and a face-to-face component. Students will complete some work online and will also meet with faculty either in small group settings, via telecommunication such as Zoom, or a combination of both. Students will be required to be available for coursework during the posted scheduled days and times. Instructors will communicate their plan with students.

Nursing Campus Labs

• Each nursing course will be assigned one day to the campus lab classroom.
• If multiple courses are utilizing the multiple labs, the students will arrive at staggered times and exit at staggered times.
• Each room will be cleaned after each set of students leaves the lab.
• All students will be screened before entering a building.
• Check-offs will be scheduled.

Nursing Clinical

• Clinical experiences are based on what each facility will allow.
• Some facilities are requiring COVID testing before entering the facility.
• Most facilities are reducing the number of students the facility can take.
• Adjustments related to simulation and campus lab will have to be made to meet the student clinical hours.

EMS Labs

• Classroom enrollment will be limited to 50% of the seating capacity.
• Zoom may be used for instruction to allow for flexibility.
• Students will be required to attend in-person on alternate weeks, pairing live instruction with instruction offered using Zoom.
• Skills labs will be paired with instruction each week. The Observation clinical and CPR class will be front loaded in the semester.

What health measures will classes and labs take (social distancing, staggered schedules, etc.)?

• Face masks will be required for instructional settings.
• Social distancing of 6 feet will be enforced.
• Frequent cleaning of learning spaces.
• 50% capacity of classroom/lab size.
• Daily screenings.
• Hand sanitizer stations.

Student Services

DSCC Student Services staff will follow all general safety protocols as outlined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention.

• Visitors will be required to follow check-in protocols before entering DSCC buildings.
• Face masks are required and social distancing will be observed.
• Some services may require an appointment. Call a DSCC One Stop or check the Make an Appointment link at www.dscc.edu.

Athletics

On-site recruiting will adhere to the following conditions:

• Recruiting visits will require an appointment.
• Recruits and guests will be required to follow check-in protocols before entering DSCC buildings.  
• Face masks are required and social distancing will be observed.
• Locker room access is limited to the recruit and coach.
• The coach or recruit will wipe down any equipment and surfaces handled during the visit.

 

Enrollment Services and the TN Proactive Advising Mentoring Program

Telephone or video conferencing will be utilized when appropriate to provide services to recruit and serve applicants for admission and current students.

• Virtual visits with admissions counselors using Zoom and other video conferencing solutions are available.
• Virtual photo tours of the Dyersburg Campus and Jimmy Naifeh Centerare accessible on the web page.
• Virtual video tours have been posted.

Visitors will be welcome at our locations by appointment. During the face-to-face visits, the following protocol will be observed:

• Maintain 6 feet distance at all feasible times.
• Wear face masks that cover the nose and mouth when two or more people meet.

 

Office of Admissions and Records

Most services are available online. Staff members are available by phone or in-person to assist with questions. Visitors will be welcome by appointment. During in-person visits, the following protocols will be observed:

• Maintain 6 feet distance at all feasible times.
• Wear face masks that cover the nose and mouth when two or more people meet.
• Electronic transcript requests are encouraged.

Student Life

Applicants and students will be welcomed at our locations. During the face-to-face visits, the following protocols will be observed:

• Maintain 6 feet distance at all feasible times.
• Wear face masks that cover the nose and mouth when two or more people meet.

Events and club meetings will be conducted virtually when possible. When gatherings are planned, the following will be observed:

• Maintain 6 feet distance at all times.
• Wear face masks that cover the nose and mouth when two or more people meet and are in close contact.
• No more than 50% of the seating capacity of a room will be used.
• Food will be limited to pre-packaged items.
• The use of game room equipment and gaming devices will be available only during monitored hours and in small groups. Equipment will be sanitized between users.

 

Counseling and Career Exploration

Telephone or video conferencing will be utilized when appropriate to provide services to current and potential students.

• Maintain 6 feet distance at all feasible times.
• Wear face masks that cover the nose and mouth when two or more people meet.

 

Gibson County Center

Telephone or video conferencing will be utilized when appropriate to provide services to applicants for admission and current students.

• Virtual visits using desktop conferencing are available.
• Maintain 6 feet distance at all times.
• No more than 50% of the seating capacity of a room will be used.
• Wear face masks that cover the nose and mouth when two or more people meet.

 

Jimmy Naifeh Center at Tipton County

Telephone or video conferencing will be utilized when appropriate to provide services to applicants for admission and current students.

• Virtual visits using desktop conferencing are available.
• Maintain 6 feet distance at all times. Mark the floor leading to the One Stop area with 6-foot distance markers.
• No more than 50% capacity will gather in a room.
• Wear face masks that cover the nose and mouth when two or more people meet.

 

One Stop Center, Dyersburg Campus

Applicants and Students to the Student Center will follow check-in procedures at the North door of the Student Center. Once guidelines have been explained, visitors will be directed to the One Stop area where the following will be observed:

• Clearly designate one set of doors for all traffic to move in and out of the One Stop. Keep the doors open to reduce surface contacts.
• Mark the floor leading to the One Stop area with 6-foot distance markers.
• Remove the guest chairs from the One Stop.
• Utilize the larger common area space for meetings with visitors to allow for social distancing when a more extended visit is required to provide services.
• Sanitize computer stations between users.
• No more than 10 people may occupy the One Stop space at a time.

 

Testing Center

All test-takers will be checked-in following the protocols at each location. Testing Center staff will adhere to the following protocols.

• Testing is offered by appointment only. No walk-ins.
• Face masks will be a requirement for test-takers.
• Each test station will be sanitized between users.
• Meetings to discuss outcomes and next steps will occur outside of the testing space.
• No more than 10 people will be permitted in the testing space per test session including test proctors or other DSCC staff necessary to facilitate the test.

 

Advising

Appointments are made through AppointmentPlus or by calling Carmen Pfiefer at 901-475-3137.

 

Learning Resource Center, Dyersburg Campus

Applicants and students to the LRC will follow check-in procedures at the North entrance by the Lannom Fountain. Once guidelines have been explained, applicants and students will be directed to the LRC area where the following will be observed: