-Submitted photo Luke Becker, left, the financial aid coordinator for Iowa Central Community College, meets with student Da’lon Jones Monday as the first group of students checked in for the 2020-2021 academic year. The registration and check-in process was conducted in a gym to create the social distancing needed to combat the spread of COVID-19.

FORT DODGE – The first group of students to check in for the 2020-2021 academic year at Iowa Central Community College on Monday walked into a whole new system.

The usual crowded scene of parents and students in the lobby of a college building was replaced with a widely spaced series of booths spread throughout a gymnasium.

“In light of all the COVID, we revamped our registration and check-in process,” said Tom Beneke, the college’s vice president of enrollment management and student services.

Registration is usually conducted in the Student Support Services Building. Beneke said often 40 to 50 people would be in the lobby of that building.

“We just didn’t feel good about that,” he said.

To eliminate that situation and create proper social distancing, representatives of all the offices that students need to meet with to register and check-in for the school year were set up in a gym in the Career Education Building. Beneke said it took about three weeks to set everything up.

Members of the football team who are the first students reporting to campus were the initial group to use the new system. Beneke said everything worked well.

The student-athletes of other fall sports teams will use the new check-in process starting July 21.

Commuter students will check in Aug. 10-14 and students who will live on campus will check in Aug. 23-24.