North Idaho College moves most of its courses online

COEUR d’ALENE — North Idaho College is continuing to hold some classes on campus, while most have moved online.

Laura Rumpler, NIC spokeswoman, said Wednesday that NIC canceled classes Monday and Tuesday to give instructors and other staff time to meet and determine how to move courses online.

The changes are due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The campus remains open. Administrators are in their offices, students are still in residence halls and the student union building is operating.

“We’re focused on the core services right now for our students,” Rumpler said as she walked across a quiet campus.

Some lab and science courses can’t be transferred to an online format, so teachers and students in those are still meeting, but maintaining a safe distance, Rumpler said.

“Our faculty is getting very creative,” she said.

NIC President Rick MacLennan sent out a letter Wednesday. In part, he wrote:

“Over this past weekend I asked our vice presidents to begin planning for remote operations. I began yesterday’s President’s Advisory Council by stating my goal for us to be ready by Friday to migrate as many of our college operations to a virtual environment as possible. I did so in anticipation that, although there has not yet been a “community spread” infection identified in North Idaho, it’s only a matter of time, perhaps very little time, before one surfaces.”

MacLennan called on staff to continue efforts to “virtualize” activities and work with leadership to develop a remote work plan.

“If your department’s plan is ready and approved, please activate it,” he wrote. “It is my sincere hope, that by doing so, we will salvage the semester for many of our students, while minimizing the risk to our community.”

NIC had been holding classes as usual through Friday. It notified students by email that classes were canceled Monday and Tuesday.

It is keeping in line with what most community colleges are doing across the country, Rumpler said. Some have closed, but most of those closures were due to spring break, not the coronavirus, she added.

Spring break starts March 30 for NIC.

NIC softball and golf seasons ended when the Northwest Athletic Conference canceled spring sports on Tuesday.

Rumpler said many NIC students who live in residence halls do not have another place to go locally.

Some, however, have left the dormitories and returned home, where they can continue their classes online.

Students who do not have internet access at home can continue with their online classes on campus in computer labs, the library and the student union building.

“Closing is not in our vernacular,” she said.

NIC is also keeping in contact with health and other government agencies and following protocol in dealing with the coronavirus, she said.

MacLennan also thanked staff for “pulling together during this unprecedented time.

“We are all trying to comprehend a world that is shifting even as I write this. I don’t know when it will pass, but I know it will,” he wrote.