THE UNIVERSITY of San Carlos in Cebu said that it will continue to hold remote classes in the second semester of academic year 2020-2021 because of the continuing threat of the coronavirus pandemic.

Vice President for Academic Affairs Felipe Muncada said the decision was made after a thorough evaluation of the pandemic situation in terms of transmissibility, rate of infection, and availability of public services and utilities.

“Due to the volatile situation and uncertainties concerning the present pandemic, we shall continue to deliver all lecture classes fully online and laboratory classes shall either be online or blended mode in the second semester of AY 2020-2021, subject to Inter-agency Task Force and Commission on Higher Education and Legal Education Board regulations,” Muncada said in a memorandum.

He advised department heads to immediately assign teaching loads and start creating the schedule for the second semester to avoid confusion and delay.

Muncada added that laboratory classes will continue virtually unless the IATF and the Commission on Higher Education will allow the conduct of on-campus learning.

“If allowed by IATF and CHED regulations, Departments or Schools are requested to do proper planning in coordination with the Office of the Vice President for Administration. Kindly note the important requirements such as parents’ consent form, revised schedule of laboratory classes, list of student who need campus entry on a particular day and time, and name of the laboratory coordinator or in-charge to be submitted by the Chairperson to the Office of the Administration at the endorsement by the Dean,” he said.

USC said enrollment for the second semester will begin on December 21, 2020 while classes will begin on January 11, 2021.