Nearly 80 Percent of College Classes Now Online

Nearly 80 percent of the classes being taught at Sheridan and Gillette colleges are being taught online, and those classes that require face-to-face instruction and/or use of equipment or space on campus will be completed later this summer.

Dr. Walt Tribley, who’s president of the Northern Wyoming Community College District, said a modified calendar is currently projecting completion of those courses toward the end of July and August.

He said the district is using the grade “incomplete” in the same way, allowing people to earn a grade of incomplete at this time but receive a letter grade after finishing the course at a later time.

Dr, Tribley said because there are hundreds of classes being offered at the two colleges and at the Sheridan College Campus in Johnson County, and there is no one size that fits all, it’s very important for students to maintain close contact with their instructors.

According to additional information posted on the college district’s website, the face-to-face class time can’t start until restrictions set by Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon are lifted.

In his summary to district trustees recently, Dr. Tribley said the college’s response to the COVID-19 crisis started on March 2 with a decision to extend spring break two weeks. The break was from the end of the day on March 13 to April 5.

In addition, on March 25, the district announced that commencement exercises – which are normally held in May – would be postponed until some time at the end of the fall 2020 semester.

Dr. Tribley said the college has a crisis management team that continues to meet on a regular basis.