West Virginia Northern Community College plans to be back on campus in fall; preparing for all options

West Virginia Northern Community College (WVNCC) is planning to welcome students back on all three of its campuses when the fall semester starts on Monday, August 24, 2020. However, after the Thanksgiving break in November, the final two weeks of the semester will be entirely online. The College has created two additional modalities of instruction to meet the learning needs of students.  

“We are looking forward to having students back on our campuses for the fall semester,” commented WVNCC President Dr. Daniel Mosser. “However, we will be prepared for all possible scenarios given the unpredictability of this pandemic. I am more confident than ever that no matter what the modality of instruction, our employees will be prepared and our students will adapt quickly. We have never been in a better position than we are now to deliver a quality education and an engaging experience, either on campus or online. Although there is much uncertainty in the world right now, we want our community to know that we are here for them.”

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, WVNCC quickly transitioned all classes online by the time students returned from spring break on March 23. Currently WVNCC is providing all student services virtually as employees continue working remotely. WVNCC’s Coronavirus Task Force continues to meet regularly to monitor the situation as the fall semester approaches. The College is preparing for students by making necessary changes to ensure classrooms are safely configured, cleaned, and that proper CDC guidelines are in place. However, the College will also be ready to offer all courses online or hybrid, with class time split between online and on campus. WVNCC is preparing their hands-on career technical labs to conduct training on site with social distancing guidelines, PPE and proper hygiene practices. Labs for Welding, Allied Health, HVAC, and more have developed innovative approaches to teaching and learning.

“First and foremost, we will make our decisions based on the safety of students and employees and the most effective way to deliver the top-notch educational experiences students have come to expect at Northern,” Mosser added. “I applaud our faculty and staff for their commitment to helping our students succeed in this challenging time.”

During the spring transition, WVNCC expanded WIFI access and loaned Chromebooks and other technologies to students who needed support as their classes were converted to online. Additional services, such as a 24-hour IT hotline, online web chat, etc., were set-up quickly to provide students with support and guidance. These practices have continued during summer term and we are prepared to do whatever it takes to ensure our students’ success in the fall term.

Anyone interested in attending WVNCC for the fall semester can apply and register for classes at www.wvncc.edu or if anyone has questions they can use the new chat feature on the homepage of the website. WVNCC can also be reached at 304-214-8839 (Wheeling), 304-723-7508 (Weirton) or 304-510-8769 (New Martinsville).