Quinsigamond Community College Announces Fall Semester Plans

WORCESTER, MA— March 18, 2021—Given current progress in the fight against the pandemic, Quinsigamond Community College is planning to resume in-person services for the Fall 2021 semester to the extent that it is safe and permissible.

Last year, to ensure the safety of its community, QCC made the difficult decision to significantly limit in-person services and, with the exception of clinical courses and a few labs, pivoted to remote learning.  The College is exploring logistics and will continue to make decisions to help ensure the safety of its students, faculty, staff and community. 

“At QCC, we are committed to student success. We know that many of our students benefit from in-person classes and services, while others take advantage of the flexibility of online courses,” said QCC President Luis G. Pedraja, Ph.D.

Prior to the pandemic, approximately 20% of QCC’s courses were already held online. The pandemic allowed the College to increase its capacity to serve students through online and remote services.

“We hope to build on our experience in these areas to provide more services and flexibility for our students,” President Pedraja continued. “While we believe that we will have a robust in-person presence this fall, we are constantly monitoring the situation, and will continue to follow the best advice available and adapt accordingly.”

Additionally, QCC has significantly increased financial support to its students through $2.4 million in federal emergency funds from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II, authorized by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA), and an additional $1 million in institutional funds. The College’s Student Emergency Fund is also available for students in significant hardship due to the pandemic, who are exempt from receiving certain federal aid due to citizenship, residency or enrollment status.

“No one should be barred from attending college this fall due to scheduling issues or financial hardships. At QCC, we have worked tirelessly to eliminate those barriers and make higher education accessible for everyone,” President Pedraja said.

QCC will begin its VIP registration for returning and active students on March 29, with new student registration beginning on April 12.

For more information about QCC, contact Josh Martin, Director of Institutional Communications at 508.854.7513 or jmartin [at] qcc.mass.edu