Goddard College is shifting to an all-virtual model beginning next semester and will eliminate some staff positions as a result.College leadership sent a letter to students on Friday announcing the decision to make all classes virtual only, saying the change was made necessary by declining enrollment and a majority of students’ desire to attend classes online.College administrators said it has grown increasingly difficult to support both their in-person and remote students equitably, especially with the high costs of campus maintenance and inflation.The Goddard College Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees has already accepted the administration’s recommendation that the school will shift to all-virtual learning for the Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 semesters. This shift will happen no later than April 1, according to the announcement.Administrators said about two-thirds of their students already attend the college in a virtual capacity. Talks are already in progress with the staff union to explore a work-from-home model to minimize campus operations, the letter says. Some of those on-campus positions will be eliminated due to a shift to a virtual model, administrators said.”Consistent with Goddard’s history of experimentation and adaptation, Goddard must continue to evolve in response to student needs and interests,” the letter reads. “We’re anticipating these changes will broaden Goddard’s reach and allow a greater number of students access to Goddard’s unique offerings.”School officials are also working with faculty and staff on how they can “re-envision” the residency experience for students at a later date, including the possibility of housing students at other sites via partnership opportunities. Discussions will continue in the hopes of fully reopening the campus at a later date.
Goddard College is shifting to an all-virtual model beginning next semester and will eliminate some staff positions as a result.
College leadership sent a letter to students on Friday announcing the decision to make all classes virtual only, saying the change was made necessary by declining enrollment and a majority of students’ desire to attend classes online.
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College administrators said it has grown increasingly difficult to support both their in-person and remote students equitably, especially with the high costs of campus maintenance and inflation.
The Goddard College Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees has already accepted the administration’s recommendation that the school will shift to all-virtual learning for the Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 semesters. This shift will happen no later than April 1, according to the announcement.
Administrators said about two-thirds of their students already attend the college in a virtual capacity.
Talks are already in progress with the staff union to explore a work-from-home model to minimize campus operations, the letter says. Some of those on-campus positions will be eliminated due to a shift to a virtual model, administrators said.
“Consistent with Goddard’s history of experimentation and adaptation, Goddard must continue to evolve in response to student needs and interests,” the letter reads. “We’re anticipating these changes will broaden Goddard’s reach and allow a greater number of students access to Goddard’s unique offerings.”
School officials are also working with faculty and staff on how they can “re-envision” the residency experience for students at a later date, including the possibility of housing students at other sites via partnership opportunities.
Discussions will continue in the hopes of fully reopening the campus at a later date.
