Albany, Georgia – Albany Technical College (ATC) is preparing for a “Bright Opening” this fall. ATC just released their fall 2021 Instructional Plan. The focus will be on designing a plan that will protect the health and safety of our students, faculty, staff, and visitors while providing quality technical education and customer service in a learning environment that promotes intellectual and social growth. As the college cautiously returns to in-person learning in the Fall, the health and safety of students, faculty, and staff will remain the top priority.
ATC faculty and staff are enthusiastic about the fall semester and look forward to seeing students back on campus while remaining in a state of “readiness” to pivot to social distancing—with a mix of instructional formats of in-person, hybrid, web-enhanced, and online modes of instruction—if the situation warrants such a change. The college continues to follow the guidelines of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG), Department of Public Health (GDPH), and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The college’s Instructional Plan is designed to protect students, faculty, staff, and administrators from the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) while offering quality in-person instructions as a preferred option for instructions; however, prepared to implement contingency plans if inadequate trends of infection rates are unfavorable:
Contingency Plans
- Option #1- The college’s preferred and best option for instructional services is to return to a pre\COVID instructional delivery model (in-person) with established limits to classroom capacity.
- Option #2- If inadequate trends in infectious rates within our region reach a disturbing level to public health and TCSG officials, the college will revert to a hybrid instructional delivery model with modified and limited lab contact.
- Option #3- If infectious rates reach an unacceptable level for Public Health and State officials and a state of emergency is declared that suggests shelter in place orders, the college will revert to 100% online instructional delivery model.
“This fall, we are prepared to ensure a safe learning environment for everyone. Classes will be offered in face-to-face, hybrid, web-enhanced, and/or online formats. We will continue to encourage all faculty, staff, and students to self-monitor for any symptoms of COVID-19 and self-report direct exposure and/or positive COVID-19 to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The fall plan is encouraging news, provided that we continue to be headed in the right direction regarding regional infection rates and increased vaccinations,” said Dr. Anthony Parker, Albany Technical College President.
From the onset of the pandemic in Georgia, Albany Technical College has followed COVID-19 guidance from the CDC, the GDPH, and TCSG, and will continue to do so. Albany Tech personnel came back to campus in summer 2020 with mandatory thermal temperature screening for faculty, staff, students, and visitors. The college is ready to welcome students back for in-person instructions through this extensive Fall 2021 Instructional Plan that is in place.