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Enrollment numbers at PCT uncertain

Pennsylvania College of Technology is set to open in less than two weeks on Aug. 17 for its fall semester, and according to college President Dr. Davie Jane Gilmour, how many students will be on campus at that point is still uncertain.

“We have a number of students who have paid deposit and could attend and are waiting,” she told the Board of Trustees at their meeting Thursday. The meeting was held virtually due to the ongoing pandemic.

“I would in no way predict what the enrollment is going to be when school starts,” she said.

According to a college spokesperson, the fall 2020 enrollment numbers will not be available until the third week enrollment report is finalized by mid-September.

During the meeting, Anthony J. Pace, dean of academic operations at the college, outlined the college’s 2020 reopening plan.

In addition to social distancing measures and the necessity for masks when social distancing is not possible, Pace noted that the college will have 10 temperature check kiosks located in high traffic areas around campus. Those using the kiosks would place their face inside an outline which will then inform the user if their temperature is within an appropriate range. The college is also asking members of the campus community to do a daily temperature self-check.

The college is requesting that all students self-quarantine for 14 days prior to returning to campus and visitors to campus will be limited.

Penn College is partnering with UPMC Susquehanna to facilitate contact tracing in the event of a case of COVID-19 on campus, although Gilmour noted that the college will not be testing asymptomatic students and staff. If someone does show symptoms of the coronavirus, Gilmour said that the college would pay for that person to be tested.

A quarantine space in one of the college residences has been established as well as an arrangement with Little League Headquarters in South Williamsport is in place if more space is needed for quarantine measures.

Gilmour shared that from May 11 until July 28, the college only had one person, a staff member test positive for COVID-19.

“In this environment, the school environment, with students in residence halls, to have one positive employee is nothing short of a miracle and a good test for us on how we’re going to manage the process,” Gilmour said.

Other mitigation measures cited by Pace included directional signage around campus to alert people to socially distance, campus-wide cleaning protocols have been heightened and cleaning supplies have been placed throughout the campus.

It was noted that the college is not making adjustments to the academic calendar even though other institutions have taken that measure.

“You have different segments of classes that run on our campus that can sometimes be eight, six, or four weeks in length and they run the second half of our semester as well,” Pace said, offering an explanation for the college’s decision.

“If we were to cut our semester short, we might be cutting our short term classes short and wouldn’t be able to provide the level of education our students need to be successful,” he added.

In other business, the board approved a resolution authorizing the college to obtain a revolving committed line of credit in the amount of $10,000,000 with FNB, Hermitage. Gilmour said the move was necessary to increase the college’s liquidity during the pandemic.

Allison A. Grove, director of student engagement also shared a presentation on the inclusion taskforce with the board. The taskforce was established to affirm the college’s commitment as an inclusive campus.

The next meeting of the board will be Oct. 1.

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