(Santa Ana, CA) – Santa Ana College (SAC) and Santiago Canyon College (SCC) will launch optional face-to-face classes beginning October 19. While the colleges have conducted some labs required for hands-on courses, these will be the first, in-person, traditional classes since COVID-19 required educational institutions to convert to virtual classrooms.
Santa Ana College
ASTR 109, Introduction to the Solar System;
KNHE 104, Nutrition and Fitness;
MATH 140, College Algebra;
PSYC 100, Introduction to Psychology;
SPAN 195A and 195B, Advanced Conversational Spanish
Santiago Canyon College
ASTR 103: Introduction to the Solar System
CDEV 107, Child Growth & Development;
ENGL 102: Literature and Composition
ERTH 100: Physical Geology
Math 219: Statistics & Probability
MUS 121,122 and 123, Beg. Int. and Advanced Voice;
MUS 126, Collegiate Choir
MUS 129, Chamber Choir
PHIL 111: Introductory Logic
POLT 101, Intro to American Government
KNHE 242: Basketball Off-Season
KNHE 247: Men’s Volleyball Off-Season
KNHE 248: Women’s Volleyball Off-Season
KNHE 257: Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Off-Season
KNHE 24: Women’s Cross Country Off-Season
KNHE 272: Men’s Soccer Off-Season
KNHE 273: Women’s Soccer Off-Season
KNHE 283: Women’s Softball Off-Season
Students and instructors will be required to wear masks and observe social distancing guidelines. All public safety guidelines will be followed to prioritize the health of students, faculty and staff.
This decision came after a survey with a sample of over 2,300 respondents found that while 38 percent of SAC students preferred online instruction for the fall semester, 29 percent requested in-person classes and 26 percent requested a hybrid format.
“Santa Ana College is exceptionally responsive to the needs of our students and we are implementing preferred accommodations for them,” said Dr. Marilyn Flores, SAC Interim President. “Each student deserves an effective and safe learning environment, so we are going to do everything we can to meet those needs.”
Interim SCC President Jose Vargas agreed. “We want to make sure that we’re providing a comfortable instructional setting for all students,” said President Vargas. “Some students thrive in a virtual environment -- others need the in-person support provided only by being on-campus. By following the required safety guidelines necessary and encouraging students, faculty, and employees to stay home when feeling symptoms, we are confident that we can move forward in a safe manner.”
In an anonymous survey, students expressed that completing instruction from home was difficult due to noise, distractions, or access to technology.
“My experience with remote instruction has been both positive and negative,” said one student. “I am more of an in-person lecture type of student and it has made it a challenge to learn via remote instruction. Although, I do applaud the instructors for being able to adapt to an online platform to teach us.”
“As the county begins to re-open, our colleges will gear up to offer more courses made available to our students,” stated RSCCD Chancellor Marvin Martinez. “We are committed to the continued growth and development of our community and anything we can do to facilitate the progression of our students will be considered and implemented.”
To register for face-to-face courses, visit the Santa Ana College and Santiago Canyon College websites to enroll using a simple process.
About Santa Ana College
Santa Ana College (SAC), which turned 100 years old in 2015, serves about 18,000 students each semester at its main campus in Santa Ana. The college prepares students for transfer to four-year institutions, and provides invaluable workforce training and customized training for business and industry. In addition, another 11,000 students are served through the college’s School of Continuing Education located at Centennial Education Center. Ranked as one of the nation’s top two-year colleges awarding associate degrees to Latino and Asian students, the college is also recognized throughout the state for its comprehensive workforce training programs for nurses, firefighters, law enforcement and other medical personnel. SAC is one of two comprehensive colleges under the auspices of the Rancho Santiago Community College District.
