Clark State College will begin shifting from modified operations to regular operations on June 1, the start of the next academic term.
Following the guidance of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine to implement physical distancing measures in effort to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus, Clark State made the decision to move to modified operations on March 10 of last year. The college quickly pivoted to all distance learning courses on March 16, 2020, when students returned from spring break.
“Clark State has remained consistent at keeping the health and safety of our faculty, staff, and students at the forefront of every decision made during the pandemic,” said Dr. Tiffany Hunter, Provost and vice president of academic affairs at Clark State. “We have worked collaboratively in all areas of the college to ensure that all information is shared and discussed so we can make informed decisions that will allow us to stay safe, support students and continue our great work of teaching and learning.”
Hunter said if students choose to remain virtual, that option will be available to them, but they will need to communicate with their faculty member(s). Clark State will also offer additional classes from a variety of disciplines in-person for the summer semester and additionally in the fall.
The college provided faculty and staff with resources and information to make the transition to regular operations easier and more efficient for all, including a Telecommuting Policy and Procedure, a Return to Campus Daily Health Checklist and Safety Guidelines.
Clark State is committed to ensuring that the Return to Campus is focused on:
- Focusing on the health and safety of students, employees, and visitors
- Supporting student learning and operations
- Providing access to services for students, visitors, and community members
“It is Clark State’s goal to begin safely, carefully, and intentionally bringing back in-person services to students and community as appropriate,” said Dr. Jo Alice Blondin, president of Clark State. “Clark State has been consistent and communicative in our response to COVID-19, and we have focused on the health, wellness, and safety of our students, employees, and community members throughout the pandemic.”
Clark State will no longer require fully vaccinated faculty, staff, students or visitors to wear masks or facial coverings. This applies to the main campus in Springfield, and Clark State locations in Beavercreek, Xenia and Bellefontaine.
Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended that those who have been vaccinated do not need to wear a mask, and Ohio Governor DeWine amended Ohio’s health orders to reflect this guidance.
Blondin said Clark State will continue to follow the guidance of the CDC and the health orders issued by the state of Ohio.
Per the CDC, People are not considered fully vaccinated until two weeks after their second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, or two weeks after a single-dose Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine.