You asked and we answered! Recently, our Vice President of Student Affairs, Dr. Jana Schwartz, took to Instagram and Facebook to answer your questions about the Fall semester. PVCC is continuously monitoring the number of COVID-19 cases in Maricopa County, and will modify this upcoming semester’s return-to-campus plans accordingly. Please check our website for updates.
Q: I am a new student and I will be taking online classes this fall. How can I become more acquainted with PVCC?
Congratulations, Puma! We are so glad to have you on board and I look forward to meeting you virtually in August at our online orientation. We will be doing our very best to continue to reach out and get to know our students in this virtual space. What is probably most important for you to know is that there are many faculty and staff behind the scenes on your side who stand ready to help. I suggest you reach out to our call center at 602-787-7000 if you need help connecting with a helpful PVCC staff member.
Q: What is the best advice you can give students who are going to be taking online classes?
Take a look at our news article on adjusting to online classes. We offer many tips to help you succeed. Due to the ongoing pandemic, PVCC is monitoring the situation in our community closely and how it will affect our fall reopening plans. We are committed to providing our students the best experience possible while keeping your health and safety as our top priority.
Q: When I need to contact someone in advisement, what should I do?
Advising is available by appointment only. Please schedule an appointment at advising@paradisevalley.edu, chat with our welcome center, or call 602-787-7000 to connect with our agents.
Q: If an event on campus is in-person or hybrid, is it possible to request it to be remote?
We're only offering in-person and hybrid classes that have an essential component that must be completed in person. Please don't hesitate to reach out to your advisor or the instructor to discuss this further.
Q: What classes will be on campus?
Limited classes will be on-campus for the Fall 2020 semester. These will include Career Technical Education and Fine and Performing Arts classes.
Q: How will PVCC support students who are going to in-person classes and are diagnosed with COVID-19?
PVCC is offering limited in-person classes for the Fall semester. If students are diagnosed with COVID-19, PVCC will advise them to self-quarantine and we will provide support as needed. As each case will be unique, faculty and staff will work individually with each student’s situation. More details will be provided as we begin the Fall semester. For more information about COVID-19, you can go to https://www.maricopa.edu/coronavirus-covid-19.
Q: If an online student gets COVID-19, will they be allowed to make up assignments if they are too sick?
Each faculty member will be working with their students to support them during this time. If it is possible to make up assignments, students will work with their faculty to do that. If a student becomes so ill that they cannot continue the semester, we have a team that will work with that student to help determine what is best. Every situation is likely to be unique, but please know that all of us at PVCC are working together to help our students be successful.
Q: Will campus be open for students to study and will the computer commons be available?
The health and safety of our students is our first priority. The details for our Fall reopening are still being determined. We will continue to monitor the situation and post updates on our website.
Q: Are we switching back to online instead of hybrid?
As of right now, we are offering four learning options for Fall semester. Read details
Q: What are some clubs or activities students can be involved with this fall?
We have 15 active clubs and organizations. Our Club Fair is scheduled for the second week of the semester and we will be moving all clubs to a virtual experience. If you have specific questions, please contact Sam Tea at sam.tea@paradisevalley.edu. We will also be having lots of weekly trivia, game nights, and other opportunities to engage with other Pumas!
Q: Will the Puma Pantry be open again in a way to accommodate safety precautions and social distancing?
Yes, we are working to open the Puma Pantry this fall in a way that supports physical distancing. Look for more information to come or contact Sam Tea at sam.tea@paradisevalley.edu with specific questions.
Q: What are the plans for the HESI nursing entrance exam? Will it be in person or online?
The exam is available online. Please contact the testing center for more information at 602-787-7050 or email assessment@paradisevalley.edu.
Q: Will you still accept international students?
Yes, students can contact our International Admission Agent Pam Cosay at pam.Ccsay@paradisevalley.edu.
Q: Why aren't there any online labs available for sciences during the pandemic, especially chemistry?
Our Science Division Chairs are committed to offering a safe learning environment in our labs and believe the in-person experience is very valuable. This will limit costs to our students, and in some cases, medical schools where students may apply may not accept an online lab experience.
For more information on Dr. Schwartz, visit https://www.paradisevalley.edu/leadership/dr-jana-schwartz.