BCC To Offer majority Of Courses As Virtual Or Online

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) will host the majority of its courses this spring 2021 in either hybrid or online options for its students.
 
The majority of BCC's courses will remain online or in a hybrid education model as the school continues to provide a safe learning environment during the COVID-19 pandemic. BCC’s spring semester begins on Jan. 25, 2021.
 
93 percent of all classes, except for nursing and physical therapy assistant classes, will be taught by faculty in an online or hybrid model.
 
"BCC made this decision by engaging every faculty member who is teaching and asked them to be a part of the decision making for their classes and their students," Adam Klepetar, interim Provost said. "The process for deciding how to teach classes in the spring is collaborative and is intended to meet pedagogical, access, and equity issues. Our primary goal is to ensure the safest environment possible."
 
 Nursing, physical therapy assistant, STEM, and a few other classes and labs have been in-person this fall, with strict social distancing and face-covering guidelines, as well as deep cleaning by BCC’s Facilities team between every class.
 
In a joint statement issued by the Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges, Ellen Kennedy, President of BCC, joined with the other community colleges across the Commonwealth to say:
 
"As Presidents of the fifteen Massachusetts Community Colleges, monitoring public health conditions, ensuring safety for our campus community, and maintaining high-quality academic instruction are top priorities during this pandemic. Therefore, the fifteen community colleges will continue to offer primarily remote, online, and hybrid learning, with limited in-person courses, in the Spring 2021 semester. Each college will continue to provide students with the services and support they need to succeed while tracking local public health conditions. We are hopeful that making this decision early will give our students, faculty, and staff, who are already balancing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic recession, the necessary time to prepare for the Spring semester. We look forward to serving all who rely on Massachusetts Community Colleges for an affordable, safe, and flexible higher education experience."
 
Spring registration for current students begins on Nov. 2, known as the Priority Registration period. Applicants and new students can register beginning Nov. 16 – and the class schedule is available at www.berkshirecc.edu/spring.
 
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MassDOT Project Will Affect Traffic Near BMC

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Prepare for traffic impacts around Berkshire Medical Center through May for a state Department of Transportation project to improve situations and intersections on North Street and First Street.

Because of this, traffic will be reduced to one lane of travel on First Street (U.S. Route 7) and North Street between Burbank Street and Abbott Street from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday through at least May 6.

BMC and Medical Arts Complex parking areas remain open and detours may be in place at certain times. The city will provide additional updates on changes to traffic patterns in the area as construction progresses.

The project has been a few years in the making, with a public hearing dating back to 2021. It aims to increase safety for all modes of transportation and improve intersection operation.

It consists of intersection widening and signalization improvements at First and Tyler streets, the conversion of North Street between Tyler and Stoddard Avenue to serve one-way southbound traffic only, intersection improvements at Charles Street and North Street, intersection improvements at Springside Avenue and North Street, and the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of First Street, North Street, Stoddard Avenue, and the Berkshire Medical Center entrance.

Work also includes the construction of 5-foot bike lanes and 5-foot sidewalks with ADA-compliant curb ramps.  

Last year, the City Council approved multiple orders for the state project: five orders of takings for intersection and signal improvements at First Street and North Street. 

The total amount identified for permanent and temporary takings is $397,200, with $200,000 allocated by the council and the additional monies coming from carryover Chapter 90 funding. The state Transportation Improvement Plan is paying for the project and the city is responsible for 20 percent of the design cost and rights-of-way takings.

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