Governor Grants Options for Labs, Commencement Postponed

As the COVID-19 virus impacts our community and our nation, changing the way we work, learn and live, Spartanburg Community College remains dedicated to continuing the education of our students and protecting the health and well-being of students and faculty, staff.

In compliance with orders from SC Governor Henry C. McMaster, the following remains in effect for SCC:

• • • The College’s five campuses in Spartanburg, Union and Cherokee counties remain closed to students and non-essential employees through April 30, 2020, per an extension of the Governor’s executive order 2020-09 on March 24, 2020.
    • SCC employees will continue to work remotely through April 30, 2020, following an already established telecommuting work plan.

SCC faculty will continue to teach classes via distance learning modes of instruction through the end of the spring semester and are in direct communication with students offering guidance and support. Given the unknown outcome of COVID-19 and time period of its impact, SCC academic leaders are developing multiple plans of instruction through summer 2020. If the situation does require changes to summer instruction, those plans will be communicated as changes are implemented.

Completing Required Lab Components

Effective April 1, 2020, Governor McMaster has given community/technical colleges the option to bring groups of 10 or fewer “senior level” students on campus to complete the required lab components of technical courses needed to graduate in spring 2020. The 10 person or fewer limit will apply per technical course and per campus, and SCC instructors will contact students affected by this decision and provide them the option of completing their labs so they can avoid a delay in graduation. All other SCC students will continue coursework via distance learning.

“In the midst of these difficult times, we continue to do everything possible to help all SCC students finish the semester successfully, especially students who are so close to graduating this spring,” explains SCC President Henry C. Giles, Jr. “It is critical that graduating students are given needed resources to finish their program, giving them the opportunity to explore job opportunities that may be available in the coming months. Equally important is our responsibility to faculty and staff - providing the tools they need to continue their important work of teaching and conducting business for the college. I am thankful for each employee and their dedication to our students. Despite the unimaginable odds we face each day, we will rally together and get through this challenging time.”

Graduation Postponed

SCC administration made the difficult decision to postpone the college’s traditional May graduation ceremony to August 6, 2020. “The new date will allow our College community to celebrate our graduates as we always do, at the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium, hopefully once the threats of COVID-19 have passed,” said Pres. Giles. More information is forthcoming to graduating students, faculty and staff via email and the SCC website.

Registration for SCC’s summer and fall semesters is ongoing via the SCC website (https://sccsc.edu/index.php).

College updates will be shared via the COVID-19 website (https://www.sccsc.edu/coronavirus.php). A new online FAQ has been added to website and is available to students, faculty, staff and community residents.