In less than two weeks, EMU students will leave campus with an unconventional, almost-completed semester under their belts. COVID-19 has meant dozens of changes around campus—namely limited in-person interaction—and those restrictions have held steady throughout the semester. This begs the question: What about next semester? College amidst a pandemic has looked notably different, with restrictions having implications in the realm of mental health, social life, academics, and so much more. How much longer will this last?
According to the CDC, a limited amount of vaccines may be available yet before 2020 ends, but the keyword there is “limited.” Even with vaccines, there is no guarantee that everyone will have access quickly, or that the vaccines will allow a return to “normalcy.” The shift of presidents will also have some effect on our limitations—President-Elect Joe Biden has already spoken of a nationwide mask mandate. It is unclear how all of these changes will affect the EMU community directly.
Zach Yoder, Assistant Provost and head of Student Success, shed some light on EMU’s plans so far. “My thoughts are that the spring semester will be fairly similar to the fall semester as far as which classes are high-flex and which classes are all in-person,” said Yoder. He said that most classes will be hy-flex, or partially online, but while EMU has adjusted well to that model it isn’t necessarily ideal. “What I’m hearing from faculty and students is that the high-flex environment is not what they hoped it would be, and I mean that primarily from a standpoint of engagement in the class.” Yoder said that many have expressed frustration with attendance and participation when many have their cameras off on Zoom. “I’m hopeful that students will take more ownership of their education,” Yoder said about the coming semester. “When you turn your camera off, you affect not only your professor but others in your class.”
Yoder is optimistic in general for the spring. “I’m hopeful that things will get better; I’m hopeful we’ll learn from it … I do think we’ll be able to hold in-person classes without masks whether that be this spring, next fall, or in a year,” Yoder said. He hopes EMU will be able to hold more in-person events and activities to continue to build community and because EMU is doing so well with restrictions and low case numbers.
Sophomore Aliyyah Haggard opted to attend classes all virtually this semester due to being in a higher risk category for COVID-19. “I work for CAC (Campus Activities Council) so I am often around a decent-sized group of people at least once a week for a substantial amount of time,” Haggard said. “I wanted to try to lessen the time I spent around others just to be safe and to keep myself from worrying.”
Haggard is not sure if she will continue all-virtual learning for the spring semester, but she isn’t too worried. “I work pretty well online, so I wasn’t super concerned about taking classes remotely,” she said. “It’s looking like I will continue with remote learning for my spring semester, but I think I’m just going to need to cross that road when I get there.” As EMU transitions to a new semester, Haggard said she is “feeling pretty good about the whole COVID situation. I’m not someone who is really bothered by the changes or restless, but I do hope to see at least some restrictions being lifted if appropriate.”
While Haggard’s choice to go all online was ideal for her, some students could not feel more contrary. Junior Andrew Nord took this semester off because so many classes were online, and he knew that going fully online was a plausible scenario. Online learning is less than ideal for Nord. However, he plans to come back to EMU this spring, and he’s feeling hopeful about the new semester. “There is a lot less uncertainty, since there’s already been a semester of figuring stuff out,” he said, referring to COVID-19 restrictions and virtual learning. While he still fears school going online and/or everyone being sent home, the benefits of returning outweigh his doubts.
Nord has felt quite lonely at times—he is all the way in Oregon. Being with his friends again, however distant, is the biggest draw for his returning. He is cautiously excited. “I don’t really know how to feel—I’ve heard that social interaction [at EMU] is definitely lacking … but [coming back] will be more social interaction than I am getting now,” Nord said. “I’m sure it will be disappointing; I think I’m being a little too optimistic. But I think it will definitely still be bearable and definitely still be worth it.”
“Nothing’s ever going to be perfect … it’s a collaborative effort. I’m really impressed by students; it’s been really hard,” Yoder said. “Students are resourceful and resilient—keep it up.”
