Shelton State Goes Virtual For Pre-Semester Engagement

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced operational changes for higher education across the country and Shelton State Community College is no exception as it works to connect to its students and their parents. As a new semester approaches next month amid a local rise in COVID-19 cases, the institution is using digital means to hopefully put parents at ease going into an uncertain time.

On Thursday, July 30, Shelton will host a virtual information session for parents of incoming students, with the goal of addressing topics like admission, financial aid and new methods of instruction. The Zoom call will begin at 6 p.m.

Attendees will need to registered in advance by clicking here.

T.J. Smith, the school’s director of recruitment, told Patch on Friday the hope is to give students and parents alike a certain level of comfort and making sure they understand the formats.

“Most everything now has been virtual, either through Zoom or more emailing and texting students to make sure they have what they need to start school and we have the entire approach to distance learning,” he said. “But there are a lot of students not familiar with online courses.”

Smith said the college, for the year to date, was actually still on an upward trend for enrollment for the incoming semester.

“Official numbers won’t be released until some time in September, but all indications were looking pretty good with enrollment,” he said.

When asked about the interactions with parents heading into what is sure to be the most unorthodox semester in the school’s history, Smith said he has noticed an overall anxiety for parents, many of whom are sending their children off to a new institution for their first year.

“It’s no one particular question a lot, but it’s just mostly understanding our processes now that we’re working remotely,” he said. “There is some lag time on some processes, but for the most part we’ve seen greater successes, quite honestly, with being virtual and working remotely and processing faster."

Smith did say, though, that one of the most pressing questions from parents has been the possibility of Shelton going to 100% online instruction, as uncertainty looms each day with operational changes coming from the federal level all the way down to local mandates.

“Obviously, no, but we will have blended and virtual instruction,” he said.

For instance, students enrolled in technical education courses are left with few choices, in many aspects, apart from in-person instruction.

“The hands-on portion will be taught on campus with minimal students,” Smith said. “Their instructors and technical deans will be able to give the students more guidance and more of the theory can be done online.”

Going into the new semester, as the pandemic continues, Smith counted Shelton fortunate for its sturdy digital infrastructure, which lends itself well to virtual instruction and engagement.

“We were already doing some things good,” he said in reference to the college's approach to distance learning. “So this just gave us more opportunity to enhance what we already have for the students.”

Shelton State’s first day of classes is set for Monday, Aug. 17, according to the school's latest academic calendar.