<div><iframe title="NCK Tech graduation to go online amid COVID-19 concerns" height="122" width="100%" style="border: none;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/media/player/drvmc-d8bda9?from=yiiadmin&download=1&version=1&skin=3&btn-skin=101&auto=1&share=1&fonts=Helvetica&download=1&rtl=0&pbad=1"></iframe></div>By JAMES BELL Hays PostAs COVID-19 precautions shuttered doors at schools, colleges and universities across Kansas, the campus of NCK Tech is dealing with the reality of students having their hands-on education come to a halt.&nbsp;The college, however, is taking innovative approaches to keep as many programs on track as possible and is looking at options including bringing back students to campus as needed after the stay-at-home order ends to complete what they cannot complete online."We are really challenging both our instructors and our students to try to find a way through all of this, and we are trying to be as innovative as we can help people learn these skills in an online format," said NCK Tech President Eric Burks.If students need extra time to complete the hands-on learning, he said, they are considering summer sessions."Of course ,that is the most difficult thing about dealing with this entire issue is that the timeline is so uncertain," Burks said.As the semester was nearing completion at the time of the shutdown order, he said many of the competencies had been covered already, so for many students completing course work online will allow the students to complete the year remotely.But just like traditional colleges, the shift to remote course work so quickly brought concerns and difficulties to students and instructors."All of our fields are immersed in technology," he said, but they are in hand-on fields so to be "removed by a computer screen is a challenge. There is no other way to put it," Burks said.In the nursing department, the state department of nursing allows simulation training to cover some of the required competencies, and instructors have worked with carpentry and other construction program students to adapt as much as possible into home-based learning."Obviously, none of it is going to replace dealing with a real human being and being there and actually doing it in person, but some of it can be simulated," Burks said.Another saving grace of the timing of the order, he said is that many students had already completed their on-campus work and were completing internships, so as long as those businesses are operating, the students are still working toward their program completion."We are asking our students and instructors to be prepared to finish the semester completely online," Burks said.But doing so means that many hands-on projects, such as their yearly house-building project, will be impacted.If students return to campus before the end of the semester, they may yet be able to finish the house. If not, other options are being considered.He said NCK Tech also has many projects ongoing in its automotive department and other various projects for the city — related to electricity, carpentry, plumbing and HVAC — that have been delayed.And the school is reaching out to everyone with a vehicle in its shop to find out how the owner would like to proceed.With the current restriction on groups of less than 10 in place until May 1, Burks said they are leaving their options open if the campus is allowed to reopen before the end of the semester — but stressed the safety of the staff and the students is paramount.If the students are allowed to return, some of the projects may be completed while practicing social distancing with limited students working together at one time."I really applaud our instructors and staff for all of their efforts working through this and our students as well for being flexible and making the best of this situation that we are all dealing with,"&nbsp;Burks said.Even with the sudden shift to remote learning, Burks said most students are handling the situation well."They understand the severity and the seriousness of this and that we are doing all of this to protect them," he said. "I think spirits are high. They are struggling a little bit but working through it together."Even as course completions on campus remain a question, the college has already decided to shift graduation ceremonies online.Graduation was scheduled for May 8 on the Beloit campus and May 9 in Hays."We are probably going to do a video or virtual graduation," Burks said. "Even if they lift the stay-at-home order, we will still have the mass-gathering limitations."He offered the challenge to the staff to finds ways to embrace the virtual graduation by including things into the program that could not be done in person."We are pretty excited about the plans that we have and what technology might allow us to do to recognize and celebrate these students for what they have accomplished and for a big milestone in their lives," he said.

🎤NCK Tech shifts to virtual graduation; continues plans to finish semester