Coronavirus Information

The health and safety of students, faculty and staff continue to be the College’s top priority. Given current health and safety restrictions, all Spring semester classes are being offered predominantly online. Student support services will continue to be offered in a remote service environment.

Programs that have external agency and legal mandates that require face-to-face instruction have been prioritized for hybrid learning. These classes are following all College, County and State guidelines for in-person learning.

College of the Desert facilities are generally closed to students, faculty, staff and the community. Only essential faculty/staff and students attending a hybrid course are allowed on campus.

Top Questions

Will classes be cancelled?

No, the College has moved all of its classroom courses online. Programs that have external agency and legal mandates that require face-to-face instruction have been prioritized for hybrid learning. These classes are following all College, County and State guidelines for in-person learning.

Should students attend class on campus?

All College of the Desert campuses are closed to non-essential staff and students. Those required to attend a class in-person must follow the pre-screening / assessment protocol prior to visiting campus.

Students who are registered to attend a hybrid/in-person class on the College’s Palm Desert campus will be emailed instructions for accessing campus. Students who have not registered for a hybrid class or those that do not follow the pre-screening / assessment protocol will not be allowed to enter the campus.

How do I access Student Services, like Financial Aid and Counseling?

All Student Services have been transitioned into an online environment. Visit the Student Services section of our website to locate links to the online services you need.

What is the difference between a synchronous, asynchronous, combo or hybrid course, and how do I know how my course will meet?

Giving our students more learning options, there are now four types of online courses. Check the schedule or WebAdvisor for required meeting dates and times.

Synchronous learning

Is a general term used to describe forms of education, instruction, and learning that occur at the same time, but not in the same place. The term is most commonly applied to various forms of televisual, digital, and online learning in which students learn from instructors, colleagues, or peers in real-time, but not in person. For example, educational video conferences, interactive webinars, chat-based online discussions, and lectures that are broadcast at the same time they delivered would all be considered forms of synchronous learning.

Asynchronous learning

Is a general term used to describe forms of education, instruction, and learning that do not occur in the same place or at the same time. The term is most commonly applied to various forms of digital and online learning in which students learn from instruction—such as prerecorded video lessons or game-based learning tasks that students complete on their own—that is not being delivered in person or in real-time. Yet asynchronous learning may also encompass a wide variety of instructional interactions, including email exchanges between teachers, online discussion boards, and course-management systems that organize instructional materials and correspondence, among many other possible variations.

Combo

This term refers to classes that meet both Asynchronous and Synchronous.

Hybrid Learning

Hybrid classes meet mostly online with a combination of Asynchronous and Synchronous learning and also require on-campus meetings

Please note: students will not be able to register for any two synchronous, combo or hybrid courses whose scheduled meeting days and times are in conflict.

I have questions about Canvas or Zoom. Who can I contact for help?

College of the Desert’s Library Services team is available to help students access online classes. The popular “Ask a Librarian” chat box offers live help 24-hours a day.

If someone is showing signs of the flu, what should I do?

Anyone who is displaying flu-like symptoms should stay home and stay away from others as much as possible to avoid the potential spread of infection.

If you are displaying flu-like symptoms and believe that you may have been exposed to someone who is at a high risk for coronavirus and is displaying flu-like symptoms, then we encourage you to:

• Contact your primary care physician (remember to call ahead and wear a surgical mask when arriving at the health care facility)
• Notify the Riverside County Department of Health Services at 951-358-5134
• Call the College’s Health Center to report the condition 760-776-7211
• Reach out to your instructor or supervisor to inform them of your absence