Students standing 6 feet apart wearing tshirts that say 6ft.

Spring 2021

Campus will continue to look and feel different this spring at NIC as we strive to maintain a safe, adaptable and welcoming learning environment. We've innovated to help you get the most out of your college experience during these unique times.

Below you will find more information on our plans for what spring will look like at NIC as you choose between in-person, online, or hybrid courses.

Our plans take into account that there are many variables to our current uncertain world and things may change. While we hope this does not happen, NIC is prepared to change to fully online course delivery wherever possible, if external factors require us to close NIC's physical operations.

Please check back often. We will continue to update this webpage with our most current spring plans. We will be with you every step of the way and together, we will have a successful spring semester.

Classes begin Monday, January 11.

We can't wait to see you!

Dual Credit Info Night for High School Students
Tuesday, Jan. 12 from 5 – 6 pm

Links and more information at nic.edu/zoom

Course Delivery Types

  • Online

    Take classes online, at any time, so you do not have to come to campus. Online classes begin and end on set dates with a specified schedule of assignments and deadlines. Fully online courses offer wide flexibility on when and where you learn. Since last spring, we have enhanced our online curriculum, interactivity, and delivery for a better learning experience.

  • Online on a Schedule

    Take online classes at the scheduled time that you select when you enroll. No need to come to campus as you join live-streaming lectures or labs at a set day and time, interacting with your instructor and classmates.

  • Hybrid Set

    Choose classes held at a set day and time with a mix of on-campus, in-person attendance and live-streamed online learning. This class style helps you learn in multiple ways, as you'll come to campus on set days and live-stream online on other days, all on a consistent schedule.

    Masks/ face coverings will be required during on-campus classroom or lab attendance.

  • Hybrid Flex

    Select a mix of on-campus, in-person learning at a set day and time with the remainder of the class online so you have greater flexibility in when and where you complete your online work. Hybrid Flex combines in-person attendance with online access so you can meet all required assignments and deadlines.

    Masks/ face coverings will be required during on-campus classroom or lab attendance.

  • In-Person Instruction

    Many labs, clinical experiences, skills-based programs and fine arts courses will be offered in person, with physical distancing and other health and safety measures. Masks/ face coverings will be required during on-campus classroom or lab attendance.

Note: You have the option to choose a course delivery method when you register for a course. Once registered for a course, you must attend those classes based on the course delivery method you signed up for during registration.

Apply Now

Spring Semester Important Dates

  • Jan. 11 - Spring Semester begins

Resources


Cardinal Central logo

Lee-Kildow Hall Room 116
Phone (208) 769-3311
Fax (208) 769-3399
Email cardinalcentral@nic.edu
Monday-Wednesday 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Thursday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.



two students wearinfg masks and sitting on a bench outside an ivy-covered buildingKeep NIC Healthy and Safe through Prevention

If you are not feeling well, stay home.

Practice 6 feet physical distancing between one another at all times.

Masks at NIC

Outdoors
Masks or face coverings must be worn outdoors at NIC, on college property or at college-sponsored events, whenever 6 feet of physical distancing cannot be maintained.

Indoors
Masks AND 6 feet of physical distancing are required at all times inside any NIC buildings when two or more people are present.

**Exceptions are: documented, pre-existing medical conditions or unique programmatic considerations.

Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water, and use alcohol-based hand sanitizer when hand-washing is not available.

Sneeze guards and Plexiglas barriers are installed in high-frequency visitor areas.

All NIC buildings, including classrooms, receive thorough cleaning daily with medical-grade products approved for use against the novel coronavirus. Common areas and classrooms throughout the buildings are also equipped with wipes, hand sanitizer and other cleaning supplies for student and employee use.

male student wearing a masks and sitting on SWRC stairs

Campus Life

Residence Hall

  • Each room will be single occupancy for the 2020-21 school year.
  • Masks/face coverings, as required in all NIC buildings, will be required when you’re not in your personal room.
  • No guests will be allowed in the Residence Hall and the hall’s exterior doors will remain locked 24 hours a day with only key-card access.
  • NIC custodial staff will sanitize the hall’s common areas twice a day.
  • Residents will be responsible for the upkeep of their rooms but NIC will provide you with the disinfecting and cleaning supplies needed.
  • The hall’s game room, study room, and theatre room will be closed until further notice.
  • NIC at Night, the hall’s student store, will be monitored by dining services and undergo the same sanitation process as The Market and Caffeinated Cardinal.

Dining on Campus

The Cardinal Market

  • Mask/face coverings are required to be worn while in the Market.
  • Seating in the dining area is reduced to 50% capacity. All tables are spaced 6 feet apart and have seating for two to four people. Tables are sanitized no less than every 30 minutes during main meal, with a full sanitization of the serving and dining area between meal times.
  • All dishware and utensils are single-use and disposable.
  • The soda fountain remains open, however, there will be no refills and only disposable cups are allowed.
  • Plexiglas sneeze guards are installed as well as additional hand sanitizer units.
  • The Market has designated traffic flow for patrons.
  • All self-service areas such as the salad bar and condiments station are either self-served or prepackaged.
  • In the event a residence hall student is in isolation, arrangements are made for meal delivery.

Caffeinated Cardinal

  • Mask/face coverings are required to be worn while in the Caffeinated Cardinal.
  • All seating and tables within the café are removed.
  • The café has designated traffic flow for patrons.
  • Plexiglas sneeze guards are installed at the cafe's counter.

Student Wellness and Recreation Center (SWRC)

  • Masks/face coverings are required to be worn in the SWRC by both staff members and visitors.
  • SWRC staff will sanitize and disinfect the facility every hour, closing sections at a time during cleaning. View the SWRC’s current cleaning schedule.
  • Equipment such as basketballs and volleyballs will not be available to check out until further notice.
  • Locker rooms are open, however, showers and lockers will not be available for use.
  • Every other cardio machine is marked unavailable to encourage 6 feet physical distancing.
  • The weight room is limited to seven people at any given time.

Check-in Process
The front doors of the SWRC will remain locked. Once you have a mask/face covering on, a staff member will open the door for you, please have your Cardinal Card in hand. Check-in will be touchless by scanning your Cardinal Card. If your card is unable to scan, a SWRC staff member will assist you.

Help keep the SWRC Open and Safe

  • Avoid working out with others and using equipment for circuit training.
  • Maintain a physical distance of 6 feet from others.
  • Keep your mask/face covering properly on and fitted during your entire visit.
  • Remember to sanitize any equipment before and after use.

Testing Center

  • Masks/face coverings are required to be worn both by the Testing Center staff and users at all times.
  • Testing stations will be cleaned and sanitized by staff members after each use.
  • Testing stations will be spaced to allow for proper 6 feet physical distancing.
  • Self-cleaning wipes and hand sanitizer will be available in the testing center.

Cardinal Learning Commons (CLC)

  • Masks/face coverings are required to be worn by CLC staff and students at all times.
  • All communal workspace surfaces in the CLC will be frequently cleaned and sanitized.
  • Limited seating at workstations has been created for physical distancing by removing computers and there are no more than two chairs at all group tables.
  • Self-cleaning wipes and hand sanitizer will be available throughout the CLC.

Molstead Library

  • Masks/face coverings are required to be worn by library staff and library users at all times.
  • Library staff will clean and sanitize commonly used spaces twice a day.
  • There is a reduced number of workstations available in the library with the removal computers and seating to encourage safe physical distancing.
  • Study rooms in the library will be closed until further notice.
  • Self-cleaning wipes and hand sanitizer will be available throughout the library and at the circulation desk for library users.

male wrestler wearing a mask

Athletics

Our Cardinal family roots run deep at NIC and within the northern Idaho community. Our student-athletes, coaches, and fans are anxious to get back to competition.

Most of our athletic teams are members of the Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC). While season start dates vary by program, most will begin in February and conclude in June. Our wrestling team is a member of the National Junior Community College Association (NJCAA) and will begin their season with practice in late January and compete through late April.

College leaders continue to work closely with the NWAC, NJCAA and public health officials to ensure the health and safety of our student-athletes, coaches, and fans.

College Events and Community Facilities Use

In an effort to keep NIC's buildings open and safe, instructional use of our facilities and spaces are a top priority along with NIC's goal to reduce the overall public traffic to NIC.

With limited exceptions approved by the President's Cabinet, there will be no external reservations made or use of our NIC facilities until further notice. This applies to all NIC buildings and locations.

For internal, NIC-sponsored meetings and events, a health and safety plan will be submitted to and approved by the respective President's Cabinet member prior to reserving any of NIC's larger conference rooms or public spaces*. Priority of these non-instructional spaces are being given to instruction so that classes, labs, testing and other educational needs may be accommodated in larger spaces to achieve physical distancing and other safety measures.

This decision is effective through Spring Semester 2021 and will be evaluated again in June 2021.

*For approved reservations, the division or department reserving the space acknowledges that their reservation is not guaranteed and may be canceled if there is an instructional need for that space – with the goal of giving as much notice as possible.