BEATRICE – Southeast Community College will enter Phase Three of the school’s planning on August 10th, for the opening of the Fall Semester, August 24th.
SCC President Dr. Paul Illich, during a virtual college board meeting on Tuesday said the goal is to offer all classes scheduled with very strong safety and control measures, due to the coronavirus pandemic.


Illich says the college is closely monitoring how students want to access classes…whether online or in person.
"If we see the online courses fill up, and we need to add sections, we certainly will do that. We're not seeing that right now, we're seeing very similar patterns to what we typically see in terms of interest".


Southeast has seen about five-thousand enrollees, which is down somewhat.


Illich says the college has put together an 80-page draft plan that covers all aspects of operations as it prepares to open for the fall.
"This covers every possible area in terms of facilities, safety, instructional spaces, non-instructional spaces, large gathering protocals, residence halls, athletics, signage...and overview of the whole goal of the plan...and six separate documents on exposure and response protocols".


Illich says the school will use a four-part strategy for safety in both instructional and non-instructional space on the campuses.
"And, those are face coverings, distancing, cleaning and hygiene. Those are our main mitigation strategies".


Southeast will require masks or face coverings going into buildings, if a six-foot social distancing cannot be maintained.
Face shields will be offered for those who may struggle with wearing a mask. The shields are an alternative, though health officials have said it’s an alternative that may not be as effective as a mask.
The college president expects students will do a good job complying with the safety measures saying, “we’re going to take this very seriously”. Plexiglass has been installed in all high-traffic areas of the college facilities, markings for social distancing…and stations for hand sanitizer. Illich says the school is currently using Phase Two as a form of practice for the upcoming semester.


Faculty are being prepared to move quickly to online learning, if that becomes necessary. That includes the college purchasing laptop computers for all full-time faculty members.


The National Junior College Athletic Association moved all fall sports to the spring, except for cross country.