Notre Dame College is continuing with its Falcon Flex academic model for the spring 2021 semester with students living and learning safely on campus.
The Falcon Flex model conducted successfully during the fall 2020 semester blends in-person, face-to-face classroom instruction with synchronous—that is, live and in real-time—remote instruction. The plan was developed to moderate the risks of exposure to COVID-19 for students, faculty and staff.
Onsite and online classes begin on Monday, January 11. Notre Dame is planning to continue its robust tutoring, residence hall and other campus activities in person while taking multiple precautions into consideration.
In addition, the College has been investing in improved internet access for students in the residence halls and other campus spaces and hiring for several positions that will improve the student and classroom experience. These new staff include a COVID manager, who will monitor the daily work of testing, quarantine, isolation and dissemination of information; a campus health coordinator, who primarily will work to improve the experience of those in quarantine and isolation; and a technology specialist, who will assist with and troubleshoot classroom technology.
In the classroom and other campus spaces, risk mitigation is achieved in several ways, including encouraging students to be aware of their health status, maintaining social distancing, mandating the wearing of face masks, decreasing classroom occupancy and enhancing cleaning services. Students once again will sign the Falcon Family Pledge to do their part to keep the campus healthy and safe.
The spring semester calendar also has been updated to include flexibility to adapt to changing needs in the campus and wider community and to feature a free “Falcon Day” on Tuesday, February 9, and Wednesday, March 10. Classes are not conducted on these open days, but students, faculty and staff are encouraged to stay on campus to share in safe fellowship.
The NCAA Division II Mountain East Conference, of which Notre Dame is a member, also has developed a plan for conducting limited fall, winter and spring sports, including several home football, basketball, wresting and volleyball matches expected to take place on campus during the spring semester.
January 2021
About Notre Dame College
For almost a century, Notre Dame College has educated a diverse population in the liberal arts for personal, professional and global responsibility. Founded by the Sisters of Notre Dame in 1922, the College has grown strategically to keep pace with the rapidly changing needs of students and the dramatic changes in higher education. But it has never lost sight of its emphasis on teaching students not only how to make a good living but also how to live a good life.
Today, the College offers bachelor’s degrees in 30 disciplines plus a variety of master’s degrees, certification programs and continuing and professional development programs for adult learners on campus and online. Notre Dame College offers NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletic programs for men and women and is located in a picturesque residential neighborhood just 25 minutes from the heart of Cleveland. Hallmarks of the Notre Dame experience include stimulating academics, personalized attention of dedicated faculty and staff, and small class sizes.
Notre Dame College is located at 4545 College Road in South Euclid. For further information, contact pr@ndc.edu.