Broadcast on WLOS, April 29, 2020
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — One community college in the mountains has adapted to the changes that came with the COVID-19 pandemic.
When the pandemic began, Asheville–Buncombe Technical Community College switched from face-to-face classes to an online environment in less than two weeks. Classes have remained that way since.
Right now, no decision has been made on how classes will be held in the fall. But interim president Dr. Joseph Barwick said that doesn’t matter, because, either way, the school is prepared.
"A-B Tech is up and running. We never closed. We just changed how we operated. So we’re going to be ready to go in the fall. We’re going to be ready to go in the summer. We’re now registering for our summer courses," Barwick said.
The college is offering a new four-week session this summer to give students who had to withdraw a chance to catch up and get back on track.
Barwick said added precautions, like Plexiglas and masks, will be put in place, if needed, when in person classes resume.