Update: June 17, 2020

A Message to Students About the Fall Semester from Dean of Students Nick Hamel

June 17, 2020

Good Afternoon,

Hopefully this email finds you well. The spring semester has ended, summer courses are well underway and faculty and staff are busy preparing for the fall semester. While we look forward to getting back to some sense of normal, what that will look like is still being developed, and once the details are known they will be shared with you.

A “Reopening Task Force” is working on how to open to the greatest extent possible while following CDC guidance and operating within state guidelines. This involves implementing new safety protocols such as requiring social distancing, temperature scans, and cloth face coverings. You will be updated when these decisions are made, so please check your email regularly throughout the summer.

You might not be aware, but starting this fall, CMCC will be using a new Learning Management System. That is “geek speak” for the place you go to access coursework online. Known as “Brightspace,” this new system will be integrated right into CMConnect and will replace eLearning.  If you want to learn more, check out the Brightspace tutorials on YouTube. More information about Brightspace will become available as we move closer to the fall semester.

You may recall that earlier this spring Student Services invited students to complete a COVID-19 survey to provide us with insight on how the College can support you during the pandemic. With over 500 surveys completed (a huge thanks to everyone who completed the survey) a couple of initiatives have begun as a result:

• Starting in fall 2020, students will be required to have a computer. In many cases, this cost can be covered by financial aid.  While many colleges and universities have already implemented this requirement, the recent switch to remote learning and the input from the survey have made it clear that having a computer is essential for student success. Having a computer will help ensure access to Brightspace, software and other electronic course materials, as well as access to online and virtual academic student support (e.g. tutoring, research assistance, and the Online Writing Center). You will find the recommended computer configuration for each academic program in the Admissions tab in CMConnect. Computers will be available for sale in the college store.
• There will be greater collaboration between the St. Mary’s Mental Health team and CMCC. This will result in more opportunities for students to connect with mental health resources as we head into the fall semester. More information will be available soon.

As we prepare for the fall semester, don’t forget that that CMCC’s studentsupport@cmcc.edu email is monitored daily by staff, so you can expect a quick and helpful reply if you have questions, concerns, or need help with registering for classes. Let us hear from you!

I hope you are able to enjoy what is shaping up to be a beautiful Maine summer. Please make the most of Vacationland!

Stay healthy, stay safe.

Nick Hamel, Dean of Student Services