Marymount Students Will Continue Distance Learning In Fall
RANCHO PALOS VERDES, CA — Marymount California University students will not step back into a physical classroom this fall. Instead, students will continue to learn online.
The school had planned to bring students back on campus but reversed its decision in the wake of surging coronavirus cases across Los Angeles County and throughout California.
“While this has been a difficult time filled with uncertainty, MCU remains committed to offering a quality, experience-rich education whether we are together in person or virtually,” MCU President Brian Marcotte said in a statement. “Faculty have been preparing over the summer for this possibility, learning new methods of delivering courses online and upping their game on ways to interact and connect with students.”
Classes are scheduled to start on August 24. The previously scheduled in-person courses will be online and taught synchronously, with students joining their professor and classmates live on Zoom at a specified time.
The university has apparently increased the number of units a student can take per semester from 20 to 24 at no additional charge for the Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 semesters. Some fees were reduced related to housing, orientation, campus services and labs. School officials expect this will help students pursue their degrees and reach graduation.
Faculty and staff have continued to work on technology training and plan to utilize Zoom breakout rooms, business simulations, online interviews and networking assignments to virtual reality experiences, video, podcasts and games.
"University services remain available to all students," the university said. "Staff and faculty are continuing to work remotely, with the ability to serve students in most capacities through email, phone and videoconferencing."
Fall sports will be on hold until the spring semester, which follows the guidelines from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and the California Pacific Conference in an abundance of caution over contact sports, competition, practice and travel for university athletes. On-campus practices and skills training will proceed when public health orders deem they can start up again, according to the university.
"Until this point, MCU had engaged in extraordinary measures to prepare for a reopening of campus and in-person activities as allowed," the university announced. "The university’s COVID-19 task force had instituted a variety of safety measures that included installing plexiglass partitions in common areas and multiple hand sanitation stations; creating protocols for enhanced cleaning and disinfecting, physical distancing, daily health self-assessments and face coverings; and adding more outdoor seating and signage of new health and safety procedures."
“From the onset of the pandemic, our top priority has been the health and safety of our Mariner community,” Marcotte said. “Our goal in all our extensive planning and preparations has been to remain flexible and ready to pivot to adapt to changing conditions.”
Local colleges, including Loyola Marymount University, UCLA, USC and many others will take the classroom online for fall.
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This article originally appeared on the Palos Verdes Patch
