As Missouri lifts its stay-at-home order, Three Rivers College will reopen its facilities to faculty and staff members on May 4, TRC President Dr. Wesley Payne has announced.
The College is planning a phased approach to reopening and will be closed to the public until June 1.
“Beginning June 1 we will we be fully open unless health officials recommend otherwise,” Payne said.
While College facilities have been closed since April 6 to all but personnel completing essential tasks that can’t be performed remotely, TRC has continued to serve its students. All TRC classes moved to online in March. Faculty and staff have been working remotely since April 6 to continue to provide services such as tutoring, library services, advising, and financial aid assistance.
“Everyone has pitched in to provide resources and reassurance to our students and to help them continue on their education journeys,” Payne said.
Staff will return to normal hours at the Three Rivers Campus in Poplar Bluff and at its location buildings in Sikeston, Dexter, and Kennett on Monday, May 4, with guidelines in place for social distancing, personal safety, and enhanced sanitation protocols. TRC faculty will return as needed.
As part of Phase 2, May 18-June 1, certain classes with hands-on elements will start bringing back students to complete those classes. Those students will be contacted by their instructors.
“We will continue virtual registration through the end of May and plan to allow in-person registration starting June 1, when College operations return to normal as part of Phase 3,” Payne said. “Summer classes will all be online. The plan for Fall is to hold classes as normal.”
Fitness classes will resume in the Bidwell Fitness Center beginning May 1, with limits of no more than 10 individuals in the room at one time and following social distancing and enhanced sanitization guidelines. The classes will resume at normal capacity beginning May 18 unless health officials recommend otherwise.
Payne met with area heath and emergency management officials to help plan the phased reopening of the College.
“The College has a great plan to begin the process of bringing staff, and then students, back and continuing the great work Three Rivers does for our community,” said Robbie Myers, Director of Butler County Emergency Management Agency. “They are looking at all the things they need to do to keep people safe.”
“The College’s structured approach to reopening is excellent and is in lockstep with state guidelines,” said local family physician Dr. Chris Montgomery. “We appreciate the leadership role the College has taken during this situation.”
Butler County Health Department Administrator Emily Goodin said her agency has been “working with Three Rivers to ensure the safety of staff, faculty, and students as they return back to work and school.”
For information about registering for classes or virtual services for students, visit the College website at trcc.edu or call the Welcome Center at 573-840-0605.
Three Rivers College is committed to contributing to the quality of life in Southeast Missouri with quality, affordable higher education opportunities and community services that support and encourage the economic, civic, and cultural vitality of the region. For more information about college and workforce programs and upcoming events, visit trcc.edu.
