Recently, some SCC staff can be seen on campus three days a week, a massive contrast from what was considered normal for employees in the past.

Although the Shoreline campus remains less physically populated, the college’s transition back from the coronavirus pandemic is keeping staff at SCC busy. They must adjust to a new paradigm. The pandemic brought worldwide change and specifically for educational institutions, it also brought a shift to online learning. The entire educational system required large-scale adaptations to account for the new status quo.
COVID-19 Support Coordinator Dianne Uplinger enables campus activities and events to go on as students return to in-person classes. She’s determined to keep up with the always-evolving COVID-19 considerations. As a former nurse, Uplinger maintains a patient care perspective, maximizing health and safety in SCC’s work environment. Working in a dynamic role, Uplinger continues utilizing her healthcare skills by helping students and the SCC community with her work in the health and pandemic-coordination aspects of campus.

Learning Resources support staff member Carrie Bayless is on the ground level in assisting with the wave of students and faculty currently relying on online learning. Online learning’s reliance on technology creates technical issues that Bayless works on tirelessly. Previously a student success coach, Bayless also provides extra perspective as she helps students. As observed by Bayless, online learning might be preferred to some because it provides opportunistic flexibility for those who may not have otherwise been able to attend college due to other time commitments. As online learning appears to be here to stay, Bayless provides critical support, being the human link between the online and physical campuses.
From an office window’s view of the main courtyard, Cheryl Allendoerfer, Director of Grant Development and Management, notices a quieter campus. She remembers how busy the library once was pre-pandemic. Allendoerfer, in her own personal adaptations, adjusts to a new role in which she provides grants for students and organizations so they can acquire resources and funding despite the obstacles.
Red-and-blue-colored meeting notices fill the calendar of Ann Garnsey-Harter, Associate Vice President of Academic Operations and Learning Resources, keeping her very busy. Though Garnsey-Harter is working on campus, much of her work remains online. According to Garnsey-Harter, the number of students studying fully online at SCC pre-pandemic was 18%, compared to today’s 52% of students fully online.

Garnsey-Harter’s role requires her to focus on leading the return-to-campus effort while acknowledging online learning presence as an additional mode and opportunity for education. As a contact between many of the administrative elements of SCC, Garnsey-Harter keeps connected in person and online. She remains focused on the ultimate goal of education, learning.
Through a variety of positions and work, many staff at Shoreline display their commitment to enabling student success. The world changes quickly, but Shoreline staff show that they can make change themselves too.