July 16, 2020
Dear Students,
This fall will be a time for joining classmates nationwide to learn and do college in ways that no one expected before the COVID-19 pandemic. One thing that hasn’t changed is our commitment to your success. The fall semester will be different in some ways and very familiar in others. We may have to change more as conditions in Western New York change. Most importantly, you will still complete your courses, make progress and be prepared for whatever comes next—whether that’s another semester at Trocaire, graduation and licensure, or starting a new career.
In this email, we hope to answer some of your questions about what to expect
academically
for the Fall 2020 semester.
What will my classes look like?
You will have a combination of class types depending on your schedule and what’s required of your program.
- To maintain social distancing as much as possible, classes that normally meet in-person for a lecture or seminar will run in an online/remote format.
- If your class was already scheduled to run online, it will stay that way.
- Classes that require hands-on experience—such as a science lab, simulations in some healthcare programs or something that an accreditor requires be in-person—will be held in person, on Trocaire’s campus.
Will the schedule be updated so I can confirm how my classes will be delivered?
Yes! This requires a lot of computer reprogramming but we hope to have the updated schedule live for you soon and will send an update with more information. If you have additional questions about your course load, check in with your academic advisor.
When will I know what’s happening with my clinical placement?
We are receiving updates from clinical sites on a near-daily basis as they assess what they can handle for student placements. The college will send you an update in early August. Keep in mind that your placement may change as conditions in the region and at our sites evolve. As future healthcare professionals, we know you appreciate this complexity and will help us make this transition a success.
What about orientation?
New students will be receiving information about their program-specific orientation in a few weeks from their program leaders about online and/or in-person orientation and health certification options for CPR and HIPAA. In addition, all students will receive orientation information on additional technology services and resources. Whether you are new or an established student, these updates will be key to being prepared for Fall 2020.
What else is new?
We’ve been hard at work planning for your return, developing and implementing new safety standards, training to improve how we work both online/remotely and in the classroom, and redesigning support services to better meet you in as many modes as possible: on campus or online, Zoom or telephone, email or postal mail.
Watch for bi-weekly updates about how to be ready to return on Aug 31. Until then, send any questions to
Fall2020@trocaire.edu
. We wish you a safe, healthy, and beautiful summer.
Allyson M. Lowe, Ph.D.
Vice President, Academic Affairs
Trocaire College
