Iowa Central Community College students will return to classes a week earlier than originally planned following the college’s Board of Directors approval of a new schedule for the fall 2020 semester.

The Board of Directors approved the new schedule during its Tuesday night meeting.

The first day of fall classes was originally scheduled for Aug. 25. With this new schedule — an adjustment in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic — students will be on campus until Nov. 25, when they leave for Thanksgiving break.

Students will not return to campus after Thanksgiving.

The last week of the semester will be held through virtual online classes and finals will be conducted virtually, with the semester concluding on Dec. 7.

“We’ve got to be flexible this year,” said Dan Kinney, ICCC president.

Kinney previously told The Messenger that classes at Iowa Central this fall will be delivered in a mixture of face-to-face instruction, online classes, and virtual classes using video conferencing platforms like Zoom. This move is aimed at helping students and faculty stay safe and socially distanced.

“Everything that we’re looking at, and as we make these decisions, it’s the best we can for our student safety, our faculty safety and our staff safety as we face these unknown times and continue to move forward,” he said.

The spring 2021 semester is currently scheduled to start on Jan. 6.