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Students will return to Tennessee Tech’s campus July 6 when the second Summer Semester begins.
Tennessee Tech’s Communication Director Buddy Pearson said the semester will see students back on campus for the first time since March.
“Campus will be fully operational on Monday, July 6,” Pearson said. “That’s when the second summer session starts. We’ve been working through phases bringing employees back. There will some faculty that will be back teaching those classes in the classroom.”
In addition to classroom instruction returning, Pearson said the school’s SOAR sessions for incoming students will begin July 13.
Class size is something Pearson said the school is still struggling with. He said a number of factors will be involved in that decision, keeping in mind the safety of students and faculty.
“I think one of the things that we’re still look at is how those class sizes weigh out,” Pearson said. “What are the types of classes that have a lot of people in them? So, I think it’s still something that we’re trying to work through, but certainly we’ll make sure everybody is safe and there’s plenty of social distancing going on.”
Tech began a phased reopening in late May. Pearson said that plan has gone well so far.
“A lot of the staff have been coming back on campus,” Pearson said. “Everybody has done a great job of keeping themselves safe and social distancing; working in their areas. There’s going to be a lot of hand sanitizer. There’s going to be plenty of hand sanitizing stations across campus. Masks are being provided to employees as well as students.”
Even though staff has began the return to campus, Pearson said it still does not feel like normal. He said he believes students returning will help that feeling.
“I think pretty much when everyone is back and we get into the flow of things,” Pearson said, “I think by the time fall rolls around, certainly the staff, administration, and faculty will be a lot more used to the new norm. Then, I think when the students come back, and everybody is back on campus, and they get in that routine of going to class and learning and just getting that good, traditional experience Tennessee Tech, I really think that people will feel a lot more normal than what they have.”
Pearson said the Tech population has shown the desire to return to normal operations in the fall. Fall classes August 24. Pearson said students will be moving back into the dorms August 16-20.
