Dear Southwestern College student, 

The spring semester begins this Monday, Jan. 31 and it will be unlike any other semester in Southwestern College’s history. We were scheduled to begin the spring semester with about 60 percent of in-person classes and the rest online, some classes were even a mix of both.

However, with the rise of local San Diego COVID-19 cases, Southwestern College decided to move all classes online for the first four weeks with some exceptions (explained below). We’re hoping that our 60 percent of in-person classes will be able to return to campus after Feb. 25 and we will continue to monitor local case rates to help us make that decision.

We understand this is a confusing time and many of you are wondering what your spring semester will look like. That’s why we encourage you to take the weekend to study your class schedule, log on to Canvas and reach out to your instructors if you have any questions. Plus, read this guide to help you get started for the spring semester.

Online and In-Person Classes

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You should receive more information from your instructor directly if your class has any in-person meetings, but here is an overall breakdown of spring semester courses.

In-Person Classes
Most in-person classes are temporarily shifting online through Feb. 25. These will be live and synchronous, meaning they will follow the meeting times on your class schedule.

Program Exceptions
These programs have been exempted from the shift to online and will still meet in person when the semester starts on Jan. 31: dental hygiene, MEDOP, MLT, fire science, EMT/paramedics, police academy, nursing, education and athletics.

Class Exceptions
Certain classes such as art, labs, exercise science and performing arts will be able to return in person on Feb. 7, one week after the semester starts.

View a list of in-person exemptions classes here (updated Feb.2).

Online Classes
If your class schedule says “online,” your class will begin and stay online throughout the spring semester.

Actively Check Your MySWC Email

A graphic of the MySWC portal. Graphic displays a phone with a screenshot of the portal and text that says "My SWC – Your Portal to Southwestern College" and a link to my.swccd.edu.

Now more than ever, it is imperative that students actively check your MySWC email to learn more about in-person and online classes as well as important updates to the spring semester.

Get Your Booster and Let Us Know

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Whether you got the two doses of Pfizer or Moderna or the one dose of Johnson & Johnson, we are now requiring students and employees who return in-person to get their booster shot as soon as they become eligible.

Students can access free vaccination sites throughout the County of San Diego for vaccinations and booster shots. You can find additional vaccination sites at myturn.ca.gov.

Please follow these step-by-step instructions on how to submit your vaccination status or apply for an exemption via the Vaccination Status ServiceNow form.

Important Vaccine Deadlines

To remain enrolled in classes that are approved to meet in-person beginning Feb. 7, you must submit your vaccination status by Feb. 1, 2022.

To remain enrolled in classes that will begin meeting in person on Feb. 28, you must submit your vaccination status by Feb. 21, 2022.

Classes Are Still Available

Just follow these simple steps to browse what’s still open for the spring 2022 semester:

  • Head to https://webadvisor.swccd.edu/.
  • Click on the “students” tab
  • Check “open classes”
  • Then select a department (anthropology, English, math, etc.)

After the class begins, you may still crash or get added to the waitlist, but you’ll have to email instructors directly for an add code.

Visit Our Virtual Welcome Center for Help

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In-person student services are also temporarily shifting online but our virtual Welcome Center is available to get the help you need on admissions, registration, counseling, financial aid and more.

Spring 2022 Grant

As a student enrolled in the spring 2022 semester, you are eligible to apply for federal grants that can be used for school expenses, housing, child care, technology, medical expenses and car repairs. The funding you are eligible for depends upon the number of units in which you are enrolled and other factors. You can find the full list of requirements and eligibility at our spring 2022 federal grants webpage.

All students will be required to fill out a grant application. The application will be available on Jan. 31.

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