Published in the Asheville Citizen-Times, July 20, 2020
A-B Tech will reopen for the fall 2020 semester on Aug. 24, but more than 75% of classes will be online or virtual, with about 25% featuring in person instruction.
“We are following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control, the state of North Carolina, and Buncombe and Madison counties, as well as our local school districts,” Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College President John D. Gossett said July 20 in a press release. “We also surveyed our employees and students and heard overwhelmingly that they are concerned about COVID-19 and want us to have as few people as possible on campus this fall.”
A-B Tech will reopen for the fall 2020 semester on Aug. 24, but more than 75% of classes will be online or virtual, with about 25% featuring in person instruction.
“We are following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control, the state of North Carolina, and Buncombe and Madison counties, as well as our local school districts,” Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College President John D. Gossett said July 20 in a press release. “We also surveyed our employees and students and heard overwhelmingly that they are concerned about COVID-19 and want us to have as few people as possible on campus this fall.”
For spring and summer classes, A-B Tech converted more than 95 percent of its academic classes to online instruction, and for spring and summer trained all faculty in best practices for online instruction.
The college is well-positioned to offer enhanced virtual offerings this fall, Gossett said.
Founded in 1959, A-B Tech is the largest higher-education institution in Western North Carolina, serving more than 23,000 students a year in Buncombe and Madison counties. It offers more than 120 degrees, diplomas and certificates, as well as a wide range of workforce training and continuing education programs.
Gossett said in-person classes will have strict safety protocols that adhere to CDC, North Carolina and county public health guidelines. These measures include regular deep cleaning and disinfection, screening for symptoms, physical distancing, face coverings, smaller classes, and no large group gatherings.
"Additionally, A-B Tech offers many non-academic workforce, continuing education and Small Business Center classes that must be taught in person," the press release states. "The fall schedule for these areas will move forward as planned with strict safety protocols and smaller classes, but they also will continue to offer online classes and develop more virtual training opportunities."
A-B Tech includes the main Asheville campus, A-B Tech Enka (home of the A-B Tech Small Business Center and Business Incubation Program, Craft Beverage Institute of the Southeast and N.C. BioNetwork), A-B Tech Madison, A-B Tech South, A-B Tech Woodfin and the Goodwill Center in West Asheville.
The press release states academic courses have been classified as follows under A-B Tech’s “Trailblazer Plan B,” which is a hybrid instruction model:
- 23 percent Real Time via Zoom.
- 8 percent Real Time with Some Intensive Hands-On In-Person Instruction.
- 16 percent Intensive Hands-On In-Person with Online Lectures.
- 49 percent My Time Online.
- 2 percent Clinical/Work-Based Learning.
- A small number of in-person courses designed to meet local or state needs in Emergency Services.
Get the News Alerts newsletter in your inbox.
Get alerted to the latest stories to stay on top of the news.
Delivery: Varies
Your Email
- High School dual enrollment, Career and College Promise, Early College and Middle College classes will follow guidelines set by the state and local school districts.
Registration for A-B Tech’s fall semester is now open and continues through Aug. 24 for academic programs. For more information, visit abtech.edu or call (828) 398-7900.