NIC moves most courses online

COEUR d’ALENE — North Idaho College is continuing to hold some classes on campus, while most have moved online.

Laura Rumpler, NIC spokeswoman, said Wednesday that NIC canceled classes Monday and Tuesday to give instructors and other staff time to meet and determine how to move courses online.

The changes are due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The campus remains open. Administrators are in their offices, students are still in residence halls and the student union building is operating.

“We’re focused on the core services right now for our students,” Rumpler said as she walked across a quiet campus.

Some lab and science courses can’t be transferred to an online format, so teachers and students in those are still meeting, but maintaining a safe distance apart, Rumpler said.

“Our faculty is getting very creative,” she said.

NIC had been holding classes as usual through Friday. It notified students by email that classes were canceled Monday and Tuesday.

It is keeping in line with what most community colleges are doing across the country, Rumpler said. Some have closed, but most of those closures were due to spring break, not the coronavirus, she added.

NIC softball and golf seasons ended when the Northwest Athletic Conference canceled spring sports on Tuesday.

Rumpler said many NIC students who live in residence halls do not have another place to go locally. Some, however, have left the dormitories and returned home, where they can continue their classes online.

Students who do not have internet access at home can continue with their online classes on campus in computer labs, the library and the student union building.

“Closing is not in our vernacular,” she said.

NIC is also keeping in contact with health and other government agencies in following protocol on dealing with the coronavirus, she said.

Spring break starts March 30 for NIC students.