Safety is Primary as In-Person Classes Resume

This fall, with campuses closed, nearly all California community college students are pursuing their educational goals online. At the same time, the impact of COVID-19 has increased the need for qualified “essential workers” in fields like healthcare and automotive technology. This leaves students stymied between course requirements for at least some hands-on training for these professions and closed college campuses.

Citrus College has recently reopened labs for students in the Automotive and Diesel Technology programs to train essential workers for the Transportation and Logistics industry. The fact that these qualified professionals are considered “essential” adds an extra sense of urgency to quickly and effectively move students through their programs of study, so they can enter the workplace as soon as possible.

Doing so safely has required the development of myriad protocols and well-choreographed procedures to ensure the learning environment is safe for all participants---a deliberate and painstaking process.

In addition to the basic COVID-19 protections, like temperature checks, mandatory mask-wearing, the use of personal protective equipment, and the distancing of work stations, the college has developed a detailed set of checklists for instructional labs that follow guidelines provided by the Los Angeles Department of Public Health. These include specific protocols for parking, arrival and departure from campus, floor diagrams for standing and walking, the cleaning of classrooms and equipment and a great many other details. The limited number of students who are enrolled in these labs have been informed of the protocols and mandates for participation. They are also reminded of the risk of potential exposure to COVID-19.

Labs and clinical training for several other essential worker programs requiring in-person hours are also available at Citrus College, or will be available soon. Each program is required to meet and abide by every item on detailed checklists.

Studies show online learning is effective, has several unique advantages, and is sufficiently rigorous to satisfy the high standards required by all accredited institutions of higher learning in the state. And during a global pandemic, it is a safe option for students, faculty and staff. Training for some professions, however, requires in-person instruction, and local community colleges are stepping up to provide a safe environment as students complete the requirements for graduation or certification in their chosen fields.

About the Author:

Dr. Edward C. Ortell is the senior governing board member at Citrus College and a Professor Emeritus at Pasadena City College. He has served on the California Community College Trustees (CCCT) state board of directors and 11 terms as president of the Citrus College Board of Trustees.