UPPER CUMBERLAND – Roane State Community College has outlined plans for a fall semester that includes both online and in-person learning options for students, with recommended safety precautions due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Fall classes at Roane State are scheduled to start on August 19 and registration is still available at roanestate.edu/apply. When the new semester begins, all students, faculty, staff and visitors will be required to complete certain steps to gain access to campus, including:
- Wearing a face covering
- Practicing social distancing
- Completing a daily wellness screening
Additionally, Roane State is requesting that students and employees self-report a COVID-19 positive test result as soon as possible using an online portal on the college website. Positive tests should be reported regardless of remote work or learning status.
“These safety measures have been put in place in order to protect every member of the Roane State Family so that our mission of providing a stellar education can continue,” said Dr. Chris Whaley, president of Roane State. “We ask for patience and understanding from our students this fall as this will certainly be an adjustment for all of us. Given what we’ve accomplished so far, we know we are up to the challenge.”
Uncertainty surrounding the pandemic has prompted many new and returning students to seek distance learning opportunities. In order to meet this increased demand, and to further reduce the number of people on campus during high traffic times, Roane State has added more web classes and transitioned others to remote delivery as needed.
“We have more online offerings for Fall 2020 than any schedule we’ve ever published,” said Dr. Diane Ward, vice president for student learning. “As students continue to request an online option, we will work to meet those needs.”
Beginning Monday, Aug. 3, regular business hours resume at all campuses as part of the phased reopening. Schedules vary by campus and are available online at roanestate.edu/campuslocations. Please note that some student services may continue to be offered online temporarily following the phased reopening at the request of students and staff.
For additional information about Roane State’s fall semester, visit roanestate.edu/reopening. For details on the college’s continued response to COVID-19, visit roanestate.edu/coronavirus.
