2020 Annual Report

The COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on the everyday lives of people worldwide. Virtually everything was negatively impacted -- businesses, educational facilities, retail outlets, manufacturing companies, the tourism industry – by the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020. Within the year, almost 345,000 Americans succumbed to the deadly coronavirus. 

The Gadsden State Community College administration, faculty and staff were faced with the task of continuing to provide instruction and services in a world where face-to-face interaction was no longer possible. Below is the timeline detailing Gadsden State’s response to the pandemic in 2020: 

March 16 The National Junior College Athletic Association announces that all upcoming basketball championships as well as spring competition are cancelled immediately. 

March 17 Gadsden State implements alternative methods of instruction as well as a modified schedule in effort to protect the health and safety of employees and students. Online instruction is provided from March 17 to April 3. All campus events are cancelled, and students are encouraged to conduct all college business via online, email or phone. 

March 31 Dr. Martha Lavender, president, announces that the commencement exercise for spring semester graduates is postponed at the direction of ACCS Chancellor Jimmy Baker. The ceremony was scheduled for May 7. 

April 8 It is announced that the summer semester will be delayed from May 28 to June 8. 

April 20 The annual Honors Day programs, which recognize top students for academic excellence and service, are presented virtually for the first time. 

May 11 Lavender announces that funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act will be distributed by May 22 to eligible students, who are enrolled in one or more traditional classroom courses when instruction moved to online delivery. Custodial, maintenance and information technology staff return to work. 

June 1 Following a 76-day closure, students and visitors are allowed on campus for official College business in a modified capacity. Instructors are allowed to work on campus full time; however, remote work continues to be permitted for instructors teaching online courses. Full-time staff, including administrative assistants, clerks, librarians and program directors, return to work full time. 

June 8 Summer semester begins with most courses being taught online. Technical and health science classes are hybrid meaning theory / didactic content is presented virtually in June followed by all labs, clinicals and preceptorships in July and August. Fowler Residence Hall and the Gadsden State Cafeteria remain closed. Athletics and extracurricular activities are delayed. Wallace Hall Fine Arts Center, Beck Conference Center and the Gadsden State Cherokee Arena remain closed to the public. 

June 15 Career technical and health science students are allowed to return to campus for labs and clinicals, if necessary. Theory classes continue to be taught online. 

Students in Office Careers complete their training in a hybrid format. 

Adult Education programs, such as GED courses and testing, resume with social distancing and hybrid classes. 

Skills Training courses, such as the Certified Nursing Assistant program and Ready-to-Work, are conducted with hybrid online instruction and a modified schedule to limit contact and maximize social distancing. 

Computer labs in Gadsden State libraries reopen to students at 50 percent capacity. 

NJCAA announces that volleyball games will be held during the spring semester. All winter sports competition will begin in January 2021 with a majority of championship seasons moved from March to April. 

July 30 Lavender announces that the College will begin fall semester classes as planned on Aug. 19. 

August 4 Gadsden State announces that Emergency Financial Aid Grants are available to students who meet eligibility requirements and are experiencing financial difficulty or disruption of educational plans due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds are a result of the CARES Act. 

August 11 Gadsden State hosts its very first drive-through graduation on the Wallace Drive Campus for spring and summer graduates. The event limits direct contact and allows for social distancing. 

August 13 All Gadsden State campuses open for registration, advisement and financial aid services. Fowler Residence Hall opens for resident check-in. 

Mandatory temperature checks are required of everyone entering a Gadsden State campus. Those with a temperature of 100.4 degree or greater will be asked to leave campus and seek medical advisement. 

August 19 Fall semester begins with modified access. In-person, on-campus instruction begins for courses and programs that require hands-on assessment of skills and technical competencies, clinicals and work-based learning experiences. The majority of general education courses as well as theory-based courses in career technical and health sciences programs are offered completely online. 

October 6 COVID-19 sentinel testing for a random selection of students and employees begin. The sentinel testing of a random sample of Gadsden State’s population will help monitor the prevalence of COVID-19 in the community. 

October 23 Kelley Pearce, associate dean of Enrollment and Retention, announces that the commencement ceremony for fall semester graduates will be postponed. Originally set for Dec. 17, the ceremony is slated to occur on May 7, 2021. 

November 30 Academic and career technical classes moved to online in anticipation of the predicted wave of COVID cases following the Thanksgiving holiday. 

Gadsden State offices, including registration, advisement and financial aid, remain open to provide service to students via email and phone. Face-to-face service is offered on an as-needed basis. Students are encouraged to handle all business virtually when possible. 

Libraries located at the Wallace Drive, Ayers and Cherokee campuses are open for student use through Dec. 15 but remain closed to the public. 

Adult Education Services are conducted by appointment only. 

Off-campus clinicals and preceptorships through Health Sciences continue until the end of the semester. 

December 16 Gregg Bennett, interim president, announces the College will open with modified access for the 2021 spring semester. Faculty and staff will return to campus on Jan. 4 following the holidays. The first day of class for students is Jan. 11. 

For more information on Gadsden State’s response to COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021, visit www.gadsdenstate.edu/coronavirus