On March 13, 2020, American River College closed its campus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It has now been over a year and with the exception of a few classes that couldn’t be converted to online learning the college is still almost completely empty.
The campus looks very different today than it did before the COVID-19 pandemic changed everything. Here are photos from around the ARC campus, showing life before the COVID-19 pandemic, and how the campus looks now.
Student Center Then: The Student Center was always filled with people when the campus was still open. Students and staff walked through, students sat at the tables and studied or talked to each other and the Starbucks inside was always busy. There were also discussions held inside, among other things. (File photo)
Student Center Now: The Student Center is usually full of students and staff. Students were seen studying or talking to friends. Now, it is dark and empty and the Starbucks inside is also covered up. (Photo by Heather Amberson)
Beaver Bookstore Then: Business major Antahnia Watson and nursing major Hannah Zakharaza shop at the Beaver Bookstore at American River College on Aug. 26, 2019. The Beaver Bookstore was always full of students before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, who were shopping for a variety of items. (File Photo)
Beaver Bookstore Now: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the ARC campus going almost fully online, the Beaver Bookstore on campus is now closed, mostly working remotely. (Photo by Heather Amberson)
Tandori Bites Then: When everyone was still on campus, the Tandori Bites Cuisine food truck always had a line of people waiting to order food. (File Photo)
Tandori Bites Now: Now that instruction is online, the windows to the Tandori Bites Cuisine food truck are closed and no one is line to place an order. (Photo by Athena Acevedo)
Diane Bryant STEM Innovation Center Then: During its construction, the Diane Bryant STEM Innovation Center caused a headache for people trying to get around campus. The construction eliminated many walkways and there was constant noise when it was being worked on. (File Photo)
Diane Bryant STEM Innovation Center Now: Now that the center is finished, walkways are open again and the noise has disappeared. (Photo by Heather Amberson)
The Library Then: Math major Celine Castonguay browses the American River College library in-between classes and softball practice. When still open, the library was always full of students who were studying, looking for books or even just hanging out. (File Photo)
The Library Now: The library used to be full of students studying or checking out books. Now, the library is shut down and most things involving the library are done online. (Photo by Athena Acevedo)
Parking Garage Then: Before the ARC campus shut down, the parking garage was always full and often made finding a parking spot a challenge. (File Photo)
Parking Garage Now: Now, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the college is closed and the upper levels of the parking garage have been taped off. (Photo by Athena Acevedo)
Sports Then: Before the COVID-19 pandemic forced the ARC campus to close and sports to stop playing, there were always sports played throughout the year on the baseball and softball fields, as well as the stadiums and the gym. (File Photo)
Sports Now: The baseball and softball fields, the stadiums and the gym at ARC have all been empty for over a year now due to the COVID-19 pandemic forcing all sports to stop playing. (Photo by Heather Amberson)
The Quad Then: Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the quad was always full of students, staff and sometimes people petitioning or protesting things. Students and staff walked to and from classes and sometimes talked to each other. (File Photo)
The Quad Now: The quad is usually full of students and staff talking with each other or walking to and from class. Now, with only a handful of classes on-ground due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the quad is empty. (Photo by Heather Amberson)
Cafeteria Then: Before the COVID-19 pandemic forced the ARC campus to close, the cafeteria was always full of students sitting down with each other and eating food. Other students used the cafeteria as a place to sit and talk. (File Photo)
Cafeteria Now: Now that the campus is closed, the cafeteria is empty, with some chairs being placed on top of tables. (Photo by Athena Acevedo)
Campus Closure Signs Then: Just over a year ago, signs were put up across the ARC campus saying that the campus was closing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (File Photo)
Campus Closure Signs Now: Signs that were put up right before the ARC campus shut down still hang, but show wear and tear after being left up for over a year. (Photo by Athena Acevedo)
