On March 16, the University announced its decision to transition to remote classes for the remainder of the spring semester due to the highly contagious coronavirus. Since the announcement, students, faculty and administration alike have spent countless hours trying to normalize online education in an effort to make it as beneficial as possible for the final months of the school year.
With students from all across the globe and in a variety of different learning environments, many professors have made strenuous attempts to make sure that each student feels supported and capable of succeeding no matter their circumstance. However, despite the effort of several professors, there are still a number of students who have come forward with stories about professors who have not been accommodating or understanding in the midst of the global pandemic.
On March 31, just two weeks after the announcement regarding remote learning, a university student came forward on Twitter to talk about a classmate of hers who was asked by a professor to purchase a webcam for the class because she did not have one. The student who reported the incident continued on to explain that many students are losing jobs and family members as a result of the virus, making it nearly impossible for instructors to demand full-time educational commitment from students. Additionally, many students do not have the traditional classroom resources that are often needed to complete homework and other assignments. On top of that, not every student is able to afford a webcam and it is unfair for professors to require one.
The tweet, which directly tagged the University, garnered attention from a number of other University students with similar stories. When asked about her thoughts on the incident, University sophomore Veronica Reyes said, “I’m not surprised something like this would happen. I have fallen way behind in a lot of my classes because my professors just don’t understand what I’m going through at home.” As a result of the misunderstanding and miscommunication between students and instructors, several students have expressed the need for pass/fail courses instead of letter-based grades through University wide student petitions.
One of the most common grievances about online school noted by students is the excessive amount of schoolwork given by professors. Several students have reported that instructors have been assigning more work than ever before in the weeks following the remote learning announcement. University sophomore Vicky Navaroo said, “I understand that professors have to make up for the work missed in in-person classes and that all of us are stuck at home, but at the same time, I don’t have time to write six essays in a 48-hour period. It’s just impossible.”
With fear and anxiety already running on high as a result of the recent global events, adding excessive schoolwork to the mix has been a breaking point for some students. University sophomore Becca Ambrose said, “I am almost to the point of giving up. My parents are essential workers and I have a million other worries on my mind; I just don’t have the time or the mental capacity to be devoting my time to a class project that just seems irrelevant at this point.” While school was once a safe haven and distraction from the external worries and anxieties, for many it has become an almost unmanageable stressor amid a sea of other troubles.
Despite these challenges, many students remain hopeful about the rest of the school year. University sophomore Matt Cartwright said, “I really hope that this is a learning experience for both students and professors. I think after these first few weeks, professors will see that it’s just not possible for school to be the main focus right now and they’ll start to be more flexible.”
Although the world may seem upside down right now, one thing is clear: University students are more than ready for fall semester and a return to a blissful sense of normalcy.
