Fall semester at Trident Tech shaped by lessons learned during pandemic

After moving most classes online, employing new technologies and developing new teaching methodologies during the pandemic, Trident Technical College is not going back to business as usual this fall.

“Trident Tech students can anticipate a wider variety of course format offerings than ever before,” said Dr. Cathy Almquist, vice president for education at Trident Tech. “The TTC faculty are enthusiastic about employing the lessons learned during the pandemic to create the best possible learning environment while improving the accessibility and flexibility of a TTC education.”

In addition to offering traditional face-to-face classes this fall, the college has expanded its hybrid offerings, which combine traditional lecture instruction with online learning, and added additional fully online sections. The college developed two new methodologies this past year, scheduled online meetings and open labs, that will be employed again this fall. Like online courses, students in scheduled online meetings are not required to come to campus, but like traditional classes these classes meet virtually on scheduled days at specified times. Open labs allow students the opportunity to schedule times to perform hands-on lab skills.

The college has also expanded its minimester offerings, with four three-week terms available this fall. The three-week minimesters are an addition to the college’s normal seven-week and 14-week class options. Minimesters begin Aug. 23, Sept. 21, Oct. 19 and Nov. 15.

Many students will be able to attend Trident Tech tuition-free this fall. By combining different sources of financial aid, the college is offering more than 70 tuition-free programs, including the college’s new Commercial Truck Driving and Police Pre-Academy Training programs.

Summerville residents who plan to take in-person classes this fall will have the opportunity to stay closer to home with the opening of the college’s new Dorchester Campus in the Oakbrook area of Summerville. The recently opened campus on Dorchester Road features two science labs, two HVAC labs, and general education classrooms. The Dorchester Campus is Trident Tech’s fifth campus. The college has other campuses in North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, downtown Charleston and Moncks Corner.

Registration for fall semester is ongoing. Students must first submit an admission application and be accepted to the college before registering for classes. Fall semester classes begin Aug. 23. For more information visit www.tridenttech.edu.