Saint Xavier University continues to take steps in the direction of reopening the campus for Spring 2022. Although, the constant changing of campus plans has impassioned many strong opinions from students about how the pandemic has affected, and continues to affect, their education.
Read SXU’s Campus Plan for Spring 2022 for further information on the university’s plans.
As COVID-19 cases continue to fluctuate two years into the pandemic, and universities are frequently switching back and forth between in-person and online classes, we can only ask, when will the input of students actually be considered?
Members of the Xavierite Editorial Board have noted the many ramifications and struggles of moving between online and in-person learning constantly.
One board member highlighted the particular struggles of moving from an online to an in-person environment for labs.
“Most of the things we have to do should be hands-on, so the fact that for a long time it was online made it hard to get used to being back in the classroom”.
Despite the various complications students have faced with readjusting to being in a classroom, another board member reminds us of the benefits of online learning.
“Online learning at the University gives me a lot more time to manage my workload”.
It’s easy to overlook the positives of online learning because of how frustrating it can be. But this board member is trying to keep things in perspective for all students, while also being realistic about student needs.
“We need more choices in having remote work and learning availability”.
In spite of many students preferring to be on campus, it would be beneficial to continue offering online courses because they allow students to have more flexibility and control over their schedules.
Another consequence of the pandemic is how it affects students outside of school. When personal life clashes with academics, it creates an even more difficult relationship with school work.
An overarching feeling students have felt throughout the pandemic is that some professors aren’t taking into consideration how the pandemic has completely altered their lives. Whether it be online or in-person classes, balancing the workloads they are receiving has been more difficult now, than it was in pre-pandemic times.
As one board member puts it, “some teachers have not fully taken into consideration that just because we’re online, doesn’t mean we should get more work”.
Is it time for professors to reevaluate their curriculum requirements?
If we weren’t still dealing with aftereffects of lockdowns and quarantines, there would be a different attitude towards the amount of work received. But unfortunately, that isn’t our reality.
Albeit, another board member is giving faculty the benefit of the doubt.
“I’ve definitely received more work from these professors, but I’m indifferent about whether that might become a dealbreaker”.
The pandemic has also isolated students from involvement, causing them to feel “uncertain and sad.”
A board member, who transferred to SXU in the Fall of 2020, is aware of how much participation they lost. They were online for their first full year, then completely in-person for their second.
“I feel like I’m barely getting started, but now I have to leave in May because I’m graduating”.
Regardless of differing experiences and opinions students have about receiving an education during the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s understood that the university and its professors have been doing their best to provide adequate schooling for everyone.