Fall Term at Seminole State brings updates and opportunities

When Seminole State College of Florida’s 2020-21 academic year begins Aug. 24, most courses will be offered in online or remote format with a limited number offered in person on the College’s four campuses. That’s just one of many adjustments the coronavirus pandemic has brought. While change and flexibility have been hallmarks of this period, Seminole State’s commitment to maintain the health and safety of its community while continuing to support students in reaching their academic goals has remained steady. To that end, here’s an overview of some of the updates and opportunities to expect for Fall Term 2020 at Seminole State.

Safety Measures and On-Campus Signage

As a limited number of faculty, staff and students are returning to campus for Fall Term, Seminole State has developed safety measures with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) to ensure the well-being of the College community, students and visitors and to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

In addition to encouraging frequent handwashing, the College has placed hand sanitizer stations throughout its campuses with instructions for proper use. Those on campus must also practice social distancing by maintaining at least 6 feet of physical distance between themselves and others. Other safety measures such plexiglass or transparent screens may be used in situations when social distancing isn’t possible. Masks or cloth face coverings are required when inside any building on campus or when maintaining 6 feet of physical distance is not possible. Exceptions are noted in the College’s Raiders Return reopening plan.

Signage on campus will remind faculty, staff, students and visitors to practice social distancing and to wear face coverings; note the locations of hand sanitizer stations; and follow queuing and directional instructions.

On-Campus and Virtual Services

Seminole State will offer primarily virtual services with some on campus to support students taking classes online and those taking the limited number of courses that will be offered in person this fall. For more details about services available to students, view the Raiders Return reopening plan.

Academic Success Center/STAR Center
The Academic Success and STAR centers will offer online and remote tutoring and workshops for Fall 2020. The centers’ on-campus locations will remain closed. Students can access online tutoring services for all courses through the Academic Success Center (ASC) Online Tutoring Canvas site, or via the ASC online tutoring webpage. 

Bookstore 
Seminole State’s bookstores on the Sanford/Lake Mary and Altamonte Springs campuses are open for Fall Term, but the textbook department remains closed. The bookstores are open for textbook orders and pickup and for merchandise sales. Students can also continue to order course materials, including textbooks, and general merchandise through the bookstore website. Free shipping will be available for orders of $75 or more, or orders may be picked up in the bookstore. For online order pickup, the Sanford/Lake Mary bookstore will serve orders for the Sanford/Lake Mary, Oviedo, Heathrow and online campuses, and the Altamonte Springs Campus will serve orders for that campus. Masks/face coverings will be required to enter the bookstores. For more information on bookstore operations and hours, visit the bookstore website.

Library
The Altamonte Springs, Oviedo and Sanford/Lake Mary libraries will be open this fall for computer use and single-person study by appointment. Masks/cloth face coverings and social distancing will be required. To visit a campus library, students must reserve a computer workstation or study space via the library website. Virtual library services will continue this fall. To learn more about these services, view the Library Virtual Mode Guide.

Food Service
On-campus food service will be unavailable until Aug. 24. Visit the Canteen Café webpage for details and updates. Vending machines are available on all campuses.

ID Cards and Parking Permits
Seminole State has developed a process to assist students, faculty and staff in safely acquiring their Blue & Gold Cards and parking permits. The Blue & Gold Card is the official Seminole State ID card and can be used for library services, bookstore purchases, parking permit requests, book buy-back refunds and more.

To access virtual ID card services, students and employees can make a remote appointment to take their Blue & Gold Card photo. They will then receive an email with a link to their appointment meeting and instructions. Parking permits can still be requested through the College’s Parking Management System. Students who need a Blue & Gold Card and a parking permit for Fall Term should request a parking permit before their ID card photo appointment. Those who do not plan to come to campus during Fall Term can pick up a parking permit during Spring Term.

More information on the remote ID card and parking permit process is available on the remote ID card request webpage and in the Raiders Return reopening plan.

Student Services
Student Services will be available virtually to assist students in registering for classes, advising and counseling, and providing information on financial aid, career services, veterans affairs, disability support services and the business office. The Student Center on the Sanford/Lake Mary Campus will be closed except for limited access to the bookstore, cashiers and secure transcript deposit boxes (for students whose schools are unable to submit official transcripts to Seminole State electronically). For more information, visit the virtual registration and resources webpage.

Testing Center
The Testing Center in building A on the Sanford/Lake Mary Campus will open for testing Aug. 17. The Testing Center in the Student Center on the Sanford/Lake Mary Campus will remain closed for Fall Term. Remote testing will still be available by appointment. To learn more, visit the Testing Center website.

Financial Aid Chatbot and Cashless Payments

A new academic year also begins a new financial aid year. If students have questions, the new financial aid chatbot launched this summer can help. RaiderBot is a quick resource to find answers to frequently asked questions about financial aid, including deadlines, disbursements, the FAFSA and more. With RaiderBot, students can filter by topic to easily find what they’re looking for. Find RaiderBot in the lower right-hand corner of the financial aid website.

Also this summer, Seminole State moved to cashless payments for tuition, fees and other student obligations. Cashless payments will continue this fall with only personal checks, money orders, and debit or credit cards (American Express, Discover, MasterCard and Visa) being accepted. Cashiers are available on the first floor of the Sanford/Lake Mary Student Center and at the Altamonte Springs Campus. To learn more about Cashiering Services, payment methods and hours, visit the Student Accounting webpage.

Student Activities and Events

Students taking classes online this fall can still enjoy the full college experience. The Office of Student Life has a full slate of virtual events lined up for Fall Term. The semester kicks off with Virtual Welcome Week events, including a Rock the Block Party, an alumni panel on leadership, a service fair and virtual caricatures. Rally with the Clubs in September will give students a chance to learn about Student Life’s clubs and organizations and how to get involved. Throughout the semester, there will be performances by comedians, intramural sports events, service activities, career fairs, movie nights and more so students can stay connected even at a distance. To keep up with what’s happening and find event details, visit RaiderConnect.

While Fall Term 2020 will be different from any other semester in Seminole State’s history, the College will continue to provide access, support and opportunities for students to safely continue their educational progress, whether online or in person. Classes begin Aug. 24, with 12-Week Session starting Sept. 14. For more information on the College’s reopening plans and what to expect for Fall Term, visit seminolestate.edu/reopening.