COTC Announces Remote, Hybrid and Online Options for Spring Semester

Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) will continue offering most classes remotely during its spring semester due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. To support student success, the two-year college will offer more flexibility for students to choose which type of remote class best suits their learning style and life situation.

Courses will be delivered in four ways:

Remote-synchronous – Classes will be held entirely in remote sessions using Zoom on scheduled days and times. Students should plan to attend the live, remote sessions to interact with faculty and classmates, participate in class discussions and ask questions in real time. Faculty will also offer live, remote office hours weekly for students to interact with their instructor, ask questions and gain additional help with coursework. Students who miss a live session will be able to view a recorded Zoom session on demand.

Remote-asynchronous – All lectures will be recorded for students to view remotely. Remote- asynchronous courses do not meet through Zoom during scheduled days and times. Faculty will offer live, remote office hours weekly for students to connect with their instructor to discuss course assignments, ask questions or convey any general concerns.

Hybrid – A mix of remote/online learning with scheduled days and times on campus. Hybrid courses are primarily for classes requiring a hands-on experience that cannot be replicated in a virtual environment or which have accreditation and/or licensing requirements that need to be held on campus. Labs meeting on campus will carefully follow CDC recommended protocols to ensure the safety of students, faculty and staff.

Online – Online courses are not offered during a specific day and time. Students can access the course at their convenience. However, online courses will have scheduled quizzes and exams as well as homework and course assignment deadlines. Online courses may be delivered in several ways, differing from remote-asynchronous courses, which will be delivered solely by recorded lecture. However, online courses instructors may also choose to offer recorded lectures or virtual office hours.

What course type is best for me?

Remote-synchronous courses follow a more traditional classroom experience, and are a good choice for students who can commit to a set schedule for the entire semester as attendance at scheduled times will be expected. With no pre-set class sessions, remote-asynchronous and online courses offer great flexibility for students whose schedules change frequently, who have work or family commitments that will prevent them from participating at scheduled times, or who have unreliable Internet access. Students choosing these types of course delivery should be self-motivated to complete tasks on their own and be prepared to set aside the same amount of time each week as the scheduled (synchronous) class in order to keep up and be successful.

COTC spring semester calendar not changed

COTC will begin classes for spring semester on January 11 as planned. The spring 2021 academic calendar will not be altered; spring break and other holiday breaks will be followed as scheduled. 

Courses will be offered in the standard 15-week format with some courses offered in an accelerated, eight-week format. Field experiences are dependent upon site availability. Students will work directly with their course instructor to plan for any field experiences.

College Credit Plus (CCP) courses will continue to be offered. CCP students will still be able to enroll in COTC courses taught at their high school by approved high school teachers or enroll in courses offered through one of COTC’s four campus locations or online.

COTC will follow this academic plan for the entire spring semester regardless of any positive developments around the pandemic. Should there be a resurgence in the virus or governmental restrictions are again imposed, however, COTC could return to completely remote formats for all instruction and student services. All COTC student support services and academic advising will remain available remotely with limited face-to-face services available by appointment.

Registration is currently open for COTC’s spring semester. Students can apply for free at cotc.edu/apply. To be considered for financial aid, students must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at studentaid.ed.gov. Coshocton County residents may be eligible for free tuition through COTC’s Coshocton Promise. Learn more at go.cotc.edu/promise.

Learn more about how COTC can jumpstart your career or help you on the way to your bachelor’s degree at cotc.edu/admissions. To speak with an admissions counselor, email to cotcadmissions@mail.cotc.edu or call any of COTC’s four campus locations:

Newark: 740.366.9222

Coshocton: 740.622.1408 

Knox: 740.392.2526 

Pataskala: 740.755.7090

COTC is a fully accredited, public college dedicated to providing high-quality, accessible programs of technical education in response to current and emerging employment needs. COTC is the only technical college in Ohio operating four full-service campus locations: Newark, Coshocton, Knox and Pataskala.