Redding colleges have different plans for the fall semester
REDDING, Calif. — A tale of two colleges is unfolding in Redding.
Simpson University and Shasta College are taking different approaches to the upcoming fall semester.
Classes at both schools were moved online for the spring semester, but if it's allowable under state and county guidelines, Simpson plans on having students back on campus this fall.
"It kind of comes back to what makes us distinct. It comes back to our mission," said Simpson University Dean of Students Mark Endraske. "We think that young people want to have a complete college experience that involves both the curricular and co-curricular and it even involves living on campus if possible. So, all of that is a part kind of who we are. Of course, the job before us is to figure out the best way to do that in a safe and reasonable manner following all the health precautions and putting policies and procedures in place to keep everybody as safe as possible.”
Shasta College, on the other hand, is planning to keep its classes online for the fall semester.
Dr. Joe Wyse, the college's superintendent and president, said, “The main factors we considered in this were giving our faculty time to plan and improve online instruction, the modeling that shows the potential and probable resurgence of the COVID virus in, say, October, November, December time frame and so not wanting to have to pivot in the middle of a semester again. So those were some of our primary reasons as well. There are some courses you just can’t do online. Like the welding labs and glass blowing.”
The difference in plans could have something to do with student body size. Shasta College has 9,000 students, while Simpson University has about 550.
Both administrations say they are not yet sure about athletics. That depends not only on their own decision but on the decisions of other schools in their leagues.
