COTC Announces Return to More In-Person Classes for Autumn Semester

Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) will welcome more students back to classrooms and labs for in-person learning during its autumn semester.

To meet the broad range of students’ preferences and needs, the college will offer a wide array of options to students both this autumn and moving forward. Delivery options will include remote, online, on campus and hybrid.

The health and well-being of students, faculty, and staff have been COTC’s foremost priorities. The resumption of more on-campus classes will be guided by state and local health guidelines, including wearing masks at all times while inside any COTC building, physical distancing, hand hygiene and limited density in indoor spaces.

“Offering flexibility in scheduling options will be key to COTC’s re-engagement plan,” said COTC President John M. Berry, PhD. “Our students have a diverse range of needs, and while we greatly welcome the ability to bring more students back to campus safely, we understand that remote and online options may still be the best fit for some students.”

Due to varying demand, COTC’s autumn semester re-engagement plan will differ slightly between the Newark campus and the college’s three extended campuses in Coshocton, Knox and Pataskala.

Newark Campus
COTC’s Newark campus will welcome students back to campus in a modified format that expands in-person options while maintaining a robust array of remote modalities, allowing students to choose their preferred academic delivery. Classroom capacity will be capped at 80% to ensure adequate space among faculty and students.

Hy-flex courses utilizing Zoom and DTEN technology, an immersive online collaborative platform, will also operate on campus. In Hy-flex sections, faculty may allow students to attend an in-person lecture according to the 80% capacity guideline; remaining students will attend the lecture via Zoom.

Coshocton, Knox and Pataskala Campuses
COTC will welcome students back to its Coshocton, Knox and Pataskala campuses in a more robust and engaged format. Due to these campus communities’ smaller size, most courses will be offered in person, with a priority given to programs requiring lab courses. Solely lecture-based courses may be delivered on campus, remotely via Zoom or DTEN, or online.

Should there be a resurgence in the virus or governmental restrictions are again imposed, COTC could return to completely remote or modified remote formats for all instruction and student services. If immunizations are not readily available by the start of the semester, COTC will modify this plan to ensure faculty, staff and students are provided a safe environment.

COTC autumn semester calendar not changed
COTC will begin classes for autumn semester on August 25. The autumn 2021 academic calendar will not be altered; Thanksgiving and other holiday breaks will be followed as scheduled. Courses will be offered in the standard 15-week format. COTC will also continue offering flexible term start dates with courses offered in an accelerated format starting at both the beginning and mid-point of each semester. 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 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.

Summer semester and phased return
COTC will continue offering most classes remotely during its summer semester, which begins on May 17. All student services will continue to be offered remotely, which remains the preferred method of service. A limited number of COTC staff will be available on campus to provide in-person services. These sessions must be scheduled in advance; no walk-in appointments will be available. In-person services should only be utilized if a student cannot engage with a college office remotely due to technological limitations. The college will consider a phased return to campus for staff members based upon state and local health guidance.

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