COVID-19 pandemic forces CCRI to work in a new way, instantaneously

Masks April 24, 2020

Below is an excerpt from an essay by President Meghan Hughes published in the Friday, April 24 edition of the New York Times on how CCRI has adapted to remote teacing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The article is part of The Times' Learning special report, which focuses on the challenges of online education during the coronavirus outbreak.

"Forty-eight miles long and 37 miles wide, Rhode Island is the smallest state in the country. With a population of about a million people, we’re made up of towns and small cities, and that means you almost always see someone you know when you go to the grocery store.

"We had our first confirmed case of Covid-19 on March 1, and that day changed our college forever.

"C.C.R.I. is the only community college in Rhode Island, and the largest in New England. What I learned right away is that my team and I would need to make decisions quickly, with imperfect and incomplete information, to maximize the safety of our 13,000 students and 1,300 employees.

"As the number of coronavirus cases in Rhode Island and nationwide grew, we announced on March 11 that we were moving to remote teaching and learning beginning March 23.

"It’s hard to describe to outsiders the kind of effort that was required to make that move in just 12 days. Well-run colleges are known for thoughtful planning and intentional execution. The pandemic forced us to work in a new way and to do it instantaneously."

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