HOLYOKE — Given the positive indicators related to COVID-19 in Massachusetts, Holyoke Community College (HCC) will increase the number of students it allows in classrooms for face-to-face instruction in September.

Based on the recommendation of the college’s Return to Campus task force (RTC), HCC will raise the cap from 10 to 15 students per classroom for fall enrollment in all subjects, with the exception of health sciences.

For classes in health sciences, such as nursing, radiologic technology, and veterinary science, the classroom caps will be removed entirely because of the high vaccination rates among students in those fields and stringent adherence to health and safety protocols.

HCC is preparing to welcome students back to campus for in-person classes for the fall 2021 semester, which begins Sept. 7. While vaccinations against COVID-19 are strongly encouraged, they are not being required at any of the 15 community colleges in Massachusetts.

In a statement Monday to the HCC community, Narayan Sampath, vice president of Administration & Finance and a member of the RTC, noted that HCC has continually adjusted to conditions in the region throughout the pandemic based on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and the state Department of Public Health.

“In late winter, as we began to plan for the coming registration periods, fall class enrollment was capped at 10 to allow 125 square feet of space per person, to accommodate students, the instructor, plus an allowance for additional personnel for students who have an interpreter or personal-care attendant,” Sampath said. “Today, the Commonwealth leads the nation in vaccination rates. The governor has lifted all orders associated with pandemic restrictions, and there has been a dramatic drop in positive test results. The number of deaths attributed to COVID-19 has decreased from hundreds each day to weeks where there have been less than 10, or even none. School districts have announced that schools will open in the fall with students fully present, and several of our sibling community colleges have moved to increase their allowable class sizes. Given these very positive indicators, we believe it is time for HCC to adjust again.”

While the classroom caps are being increased, HCC will continue to require that students, faculty, staff, and visitors wear masks inside all campus buildings regardless of an individual’s vaccination status. HCC will also continue to maintain the high standards of cleaning and disinfection it has followed throughout the pandemic, he added.

“Should vaccination rates continue to increase and COVID-19 rates decline, we hope to be able to increase class size or remove caps altogether for all classes,” Sampath said. “Of course, should our region see a rise in COVID-19 numbers, we will again take steps to mitigate risk as appropriate.”

Campus offices, including Admission and Advising, have already reopened for in-person services, as has the fitness room in HCC’s Bartley Center for Athletics and Recreation.

Registration is underway for fall semester classes. To maximize available options for students, HCC will continue to offer multiple, flexible start dates. Full fall-semester classes start Sept. 7 and run for 14 weeks, Fall Start II classes begin Sept. 27 and run for 12 weeks, and Fall Start III classes begin Oct. 27 and run for seven weeks.

HOLYOKE — The Holyoke Community College Foundation allocated $75,000 to endow a new scholarship fund specifically for Latinx students attending HCC.

Through the Bienvenidos Latinx Scholarship, HCC will provide financial support up to $2,500 each to eligible Latinx students attending or planning to attend HCC.

The foundation plans to award Bienvenidos scholarships totaling $50,000 to 20 students during the inaugural year, with the remaining $25,000 set aside in an endowed fund for future years.

The deadline to apply for Bienvenidos scholarships for the 2021-22 academic year is Friday, Aug. 6. The online application is available on the HCC website at hcc.edu/bienvenidos.

“HCC marked a major milestone in 2016 when the U.S. Department of Education recognized the college as a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI), which means at least 25% of our students are of Latinx or Hispanic heritage,” said Amanda Sbriscia, vice president of Institutional Advancement and executive director of the HCC Foundation. “As an HSI, though, we are committed to doing more than simply serve our Latinx students. We want to see them thrive.”

Bienvenidos was chosen as the name of the scholarship program because it means ‘welcome’ in Spanish. Beyond the direct financial support, scholarship recipients will also be connected to peer and alumni mentors and workshops to ensure their ongoing success.

“The Bienvenidos scholarships will open doors to a college education and welcome Latinx students into our community with everything they need to succeed at HCC,” Sbriscia said. “That includes providing a culture that embraces inclusion and increases their sense of belonging. The name of this new scholarship was an important piece of prioritizing that welcoming culture. Bienvenidos says it all.”

Applicants selected for scholarship awards by the college’s Hispanic Leadership Committee will be invited along with their families to celebrate during a first-ever Bienvenidos Latinx Scholarship reception on the HCC campus on Saturday, Aug. 28.

To be eligible for the Bienvenidos scholarship, students must be enrolled or intend to enroll in at least six credits at Holyoke Community College for the fall 2021 semester and must identify themselves as a Hispanic, Latina/o, or Latinx. The Bienvenidos Scholarship is open (but not limited) to DACA, undocumented, and international students. Preference will be given to students residing in Holyoke, Springfield, and Chicopee.