Elgin Community College and Judson University begin the fall semester Monday, albeit under unprecedented circumstances due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reduced access to buildings, fewer places to congregate and student-signed pledges to adhere to guidelines are among the changes awaiting students and staff
Elgin Community College
ECC’s fall enrollment was about 6,900 students as off a few days before classes, said Dean of Students Gregory Robinson, who’s also associate vice president of student services and development.
Like other community colleges, enrollment is down, although Robinson wouldn’t specify by how much given the fluctuation that always occurs in the final days before the semester starts.
Enrollment is also be affected by social distancing guidelines, which are restricting the size of some classes, Robinson said.
Among the precautions in place: a study room has been converted into a temperature check station, the furniture in Building B’s Jobe Lounge has been removed, and tables where students cannot sit are marked with an X.
“We want to make sure that people understand we want to mitigate the exposure to the virus,” he said.
That said, the vast majority of ECC students — about 83% — are enrolled in online-only classes, meaning only 17% will actually be on campus. Club meetings and other gatherings have gone virtual, and the postponed fall graduation ceremony as well as the one planned for spring will be online, Robinson said.
The campus will remain largely closed to the public, with rules and directional signage in place for those who will be on the grounds.
Student wellness services is providing both online and in-person support. The campus bookstore is open for in-store pickups. Class registration can be done remotely or in person. The college’s food pantry is open.
Computer and study space remains available on campus but less than normal.
“We think it’s important, especially during the pandemic,” to keep some services available, Robinson said. “We want to make sure we provide that one-on-one support as well as that group support.”
Judson University
The private school’s residence halls in Elgin can typically hold more than 500 students, but this fall capacity will be capped at 375, President Gene Crume said.
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Every student will be required to sign a form promising they will abide by community-wide expectations to reduce/limit COVID-19 exposure as well as sign a “Community Pledge.”
The pledge says students must self-monitor symptoms, wash hands frequently, wear face masks at all times social distancing is not possible and adhere to other guidelines. Failure to do so could lead to “judicial sanction.”
“Certainly, if problems arise with an individual who is not abiding by our protocols, the appropriate staff member will respectfully engage that person to emphasize the importance and necessity of our safety protocols,” Judson spokeswoman Mary Dulabaum said via email.
For the first few weeks of the semester, Judson will prohibit guests in the dorms and open dorm policies that allow on-campus students to visit dorms in which they don’t live have been temporarily suspended as part of the rules. Socializing is allowed, but masks must be worn when social distancing isn’t possible.
Residence hall common spaces will either be closed or have temporary occupancy limits.
“They know to wear a mask … people have been seeing these (social-distancing) stickers in retail outlets, in dining/restaurants,” Crume said. “(They should be) used to seeing that by now.”
Dining hall access will be closely monitored, with just one point of entry. Most food will be served to students rather than students picking and choosing, Crume said.
Students can return to campus after the Thanksgiving holidays in order to take finals, he said, but with some provisions.
“We’re being very clear that when you leave for Thanksgiving, you’re going to need to follow health protocols — not going to hotspot areas, still being very conscious,” he said. “If you do come back and you do show symptoms and we isolate you (for) basically the last 14 days of the semester.”
Despite the pandemic, enrollment is about 1,200 students, just below last year’s 1,234 headcount, Crume said. More than 85% of students will attend classes in person, he said.
“We believe it is the in-person learning that has been of interest to families,” and why enrollment has stayed steady, Crume said. “The second thing is I think people are confident in our health and safety protocols.”