The first three weeks of credit classes in the spring semester at Butler County Community College will be taught through remote or online instruction.

BC3 announced Tuesday that all credit classes in the 2021 spring semester will be taught remotely or online through Feb. 8.

The 15-week Session 1 begins Jan. 19. After three weeks, Session 1 courses will transition to their scheduled format. Scheduled formats include face-to-face, blended and hybrid, or the continuation of remote or online instruction.

The spring semester also features a 10-week Session 2 and three consecutive five-week Fast Track sessions, each of which will be held fully online. The 10-week Session 2 begins Feb. 15. Fast Track 1 starts Jan. 19; Fast Track 2, on Feb. 22; and Fast Track 3, on April 5.

Members of BC3’s faculty have indicated their preferred teaching format for the spring semester. College officials are finalizing what will be a maximum percentage of face-to-face instruction. A decision will be made before Jan. 19 regarding whether clinical training for certain credit health care programs will begin in a face-to-face format. Finals week starts May 4 and will be held in the course’s scheduled format.

Face-to-face courses are traditional with students and instructors within classrooms or labs, or physically attending clinical or practicum training. Remote instruction includes video conferencing, email and internet-based learning formats. Blended instruction features regularly scheduled face-to-face meetings and remote instruction. Hybrid and online instruction includes the use of video conferencing, internet-based formats and other web-based applications. Hybrid courses also require four or more face-to-face meetings at a BC3 location.

Noncredit courses and trainings offered at BC3 by the college’s Workforce Development division will begin Jan. 2 and use face-to-face, online and hybrid formats.

The noncredit adult literacy program will offer classes beginning Jan. 19 through only a remote format. The class that begins Jan. 26 will be held face-to-face at a location other than BC3.

Noncredit courses and trainings instructed at locations other than BC3 will operate under the location’s requirements.

The Noncredit Lifelong Learning division will begin spring semester classes Jan. 19 at BC3 locations and at locations other than BC3 in a face-to-face format.

Buildings on BC3’s main campus and other locations will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday beginning Jan. 4. Occupancy will be limited.