Members of the Arkansas Northeastern College Board of
Trustees met via ZOOM teleconferencing on Wednesday, June 17, 2020, where they
approved the renovations of a campus space for a new ZOOM Room.
ANC
President Dr. James Shemwell reported to the Board that due to COVID-19 much of
the College’s course delivery options had changed or been enhanced by
technology to allow student to continue learning from remote locations. In addition
to its traditional live classes and online courses, ANC has added to its
delivery choices with many ZOOM Internet and ZOOM Optional classes. Many
students appreciate these courses and prefer them to the traditional classroom.
“The
number of classes our students are taking this summer term has actually
increased, so we feel that they are getting comfortable with this new
technology,” said Shemwell, who added that the ZOOM classes provide students
with live feedback from classmates and instructors much like traditional
classes.
Because
of this, and to continue offering classes under social distancing guidelines,
ANC has increased its ZOOM OPTIONAL and ZOOM INET offerings. ZOOM OPTIONAL
offers a live classroom where the instructor is located, and the student has
the option to attend the live classroom OR to attend the class remotely and
simultaneously using the ZOOM teleconferencing. In ZOOM INET, instructors are
teaching from a remote location and students may only attend via ZOOM
teleconferencing. Either way, the class meets at a designated time and date
with an instructor presenting the material.
Due
to social distancing guidelines, ZOOM OPTIONAL live seating is limited and is
available on a first-come, first-served basis. Therefore the Board approved a
new ZOOM Room to provide an overflow space where students may still ZOOM into
the class. The new ZOOM Room can also be used by any student for any ZOOM class
as it will provide the necessary Wi-Fi connectivity to support the technology. Students
coming to campus to participate in a ZOOM OPTIONAL class that is full will be
directed to seating in the newly furnished, comfortable ZOOM Room, or they may
go to any other remote area they wish as long as there is internet access. ANC
provides free Wi-Fi in many of its parking lots, so students may even sit in
their cars to attend a class.
“Technology
has really opened up new avenues for our students. They can take online or ZOOM
classes from home, which can solve problems with childcare or even work
obligations. The flexibility we are offering students should alleviate many of
the barriers that students have faced in the past, and the new ZOOM Room will
give them a comfortable space on campus to relax while taking classes,” said
ANC President Dr. James Shemwell.
ANC Vice President for Management Information
Technology Services and Chief Student Affairs Officer presented a summer
enrollment report to the Board. The numbers indicate a light increase over 2019
in the credit hours being taken. Headcount for Summer 2020 was 60 students less
than 2019, but the student semester credit hour was 2,171 this summer as
opposed to 2,132 in 2019.
Arkansas
Northeastern College received notification of grant continuation from the
Arkansas Department of Career Education for the Adult Education Program. The
Board approved acceptance of the grant which includes the funding of four
grants to be used solely for Mississippi County and totaling $358,725.22.
