DMACC classes shift online in response to COVID-19

A majority of face-to-face classes at Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) campuses will transition to online courses near the end of the month until further notice, administrators announced in a press release Wednesday afternoon.

This is a likely response to the novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19 by medical professionals. Several Iowa colleges – like University of Iowa and Drake University – announced similar plans in order to limit the amount of contact and spreading of the virus.

DMACC’s regularly scheduled spring break March 16-20 will continue on as planned.

However the college’s in-person classes will not meet March 23-28 in an attempt to distance students from anyone who may have traveled during the break.

Existing online courses will resume March 23.

Any exceptions will be addressed on a case-by-case basis. Starting March 30, most DMACC classes will be delivered online until further notice. Select, lab-based or hands-on classes will meet as scheduled in a face-to-face format, the college said.

Faculty, staff and students will be notified of further details over the next several days.

All DMACC campuses will remain open. Services will operate as usual, including Trail Point Aquatics and Wellness, computer labs and libraries. Spring term is still scheduled to end the week of May 4.

For more DMACC updates visit www.dmacc.edu/coronavirus.

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or
cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com