H W ARE WE DOING?
Giving it the old college try
For most college students returning to school this fall, campus life and matriculation as they knew it prior to COVID-19 was greatly altered. Virtually every aspect of university life — including classes, traditional dorm living, dining options, clubs and activities, and even meeting new students — has changed.
And for freshmen and those students starting for the first time, it was most likely not the experience they were expecting (or possibly hoping for).
It’s well over a month since most students have returned to campus, and while there have admittedly been both successes and glitches at most universities, how are things really going now that the dust has settled? We contacted administrators and students at several Connecticut colleges and universities, including Connecticut State Colleges & Universities (CSCU), and here is what they had to say.
Western Connecticut State University (WCSU), Danbury
At the end of August, students attending WCSU were preparing to move into their dorms when an outbreak of COVID-19 cases in Danbury resulted in the school’s administrators delaying the return to campus for two weeks. Some parents and students were outraged and confused, and since the end of August, students had been taking classes online.
Many students had already moved in and were told to stay in their dorms during this time. For others, move-in days were delayed. It wasn’t until Sept. 12 to 13 that the remaining students were allowed back.
“We have not had any COVID-19 cases to report, but will have a dashboard operational by Sept. 21, that will give daily updates,” said Paul Steinmetz, director, university relations & community relations, who spoke with Hearst Connecticut Media Group in mid-September.
Steinmetz also said that administrators are cautiously hopeful, since the school has asked students, faculty, and staff to always wear masks when in classrooms and in other common areas on campus, wash their hands frequently, and to socially distance themselves.
“We will be randomly testing 10 percent of the residential student population every week and are looking forward to getting back to semblance of normal — the first time since spring break back in March,” said Steinmetz.
Naugatuck Valley Community College (NVCC), Waterbury and Danbury
For NVCC students like Shyanne Caporuscio, the COVID-19 changes have been for the most part positive, even though student life this semester looks a lot different for her. While a small percentage of classes are being held in person, on campus, most have switched to remote (video classes — either on Zoom or Webex) or a fully online format.
Although she is a visual arts major,
Caporuscio plans on switching her focus to English studies. She is taking a variety of classes ranging from sociology, biology, British literature, and public speaking.
“All of my classes are in an online only format, except public speaking, which is an LRON class … this means we meet twice a week in an online platform for a video chat class,” Caporuscio explained.
She also said that classes are a bit more challenging due to the fact that most of them are online. “It feels like there is a lot more reading material, which is time-consuming,” she noted.
Norwalk Community College (NCC), Norwalk
Lisa Kober, a student at NCC, feels that the school connects science and creativity, which builds the groundwork for new traditions and lifestyles. With the help of the college’s resources, such as myCommNet, a platform that the school uses for its email system and which allows students to check grades, add/ drop classes, and perform any other administrative functions, and Blackboard — an online platform where professors and students can communicate with one another — Kober has had the opportunity to research and develop her course content.
Donna Christopher, an adviser to The Voice, NCC’s student-run newspaper, and also a freelance writer for Hearst Connecticut Media Group, explains that students in both the spring and now the fall have been willing to be taught newspaper publishing remotely, and they hold their meetings over Webex. In addition, the club is also credited as a course.
“We have actually attracted more students in the online format primarily, my sense is, because it eases the burden of traveling to campus two evenings a week, but also there are writers at NCC who want to participate and can come into meetings occasionally to contribute stories and ideas,” said Christopher, who added that the newspaper continues to publish stories regularly online with success.
University of Connecticut, Storrs
On Aug. 31, students were welcomed back to campus to start off the fall semester. Those who arrived on campus for resident halls, however, were tested for COVID-19.
“All off-campus students who will be visiting campus for at least one class are also being tested and returning their results to us,” said Stephanie Reitz, university spokesperson & manager of media relations.
Reitz added that the school will continue to conduct large-scale testing on campus, along with implementing other measures, such as monitoring wastewater for coronavirus.
Throughout UConn, classes are being provided in a range of formats, including in person, online, and a combination of the two. The only difference for this academic year is that students will not return to the physical campus after Thanksgiving break and will resume the rest of their fall semester classes online.
Students who are unable to return home will be permitted to remain on campus following a review by the Department of Residential Life; however, they will not be permitted to leave campus for the Thanksgiving break.
Connecticut State Colleges & Universities (CSCU)
CSCU, the Hartford-based organization which includes the Connecticut community colleges, is following the state’s reopening guidance, and consequently, the campuses at most schools look very different this semester. First, there are fewer people on campuses, with a majority of classes taking place online; most in-person classes are labs and other workforcebased courses, such as advanced manufacturing, that require on-ground instruction. Next, campus spaces have been reconfigured to allow for physical distancing and distancing is strictly enforced. Finally, the use of PPE (i.e., masks) by students and faculty is required.
Leigh Appleby, director of communications at Board of Regents for Higher Education, believes that the CSCU community is cognizant that having a successful semester requires more than just a good plan, and that it requires students, faculty, and staff to take the threat of the virus seriously and to follow all public health guidance.
“To that end, our campuses have put forward a robust messaging effort to ensure compliance,” said Appleby.
Guidance recommends that all residential students, who were required to submit a negative test result before moving onto campus, be tested throughout the semester on a random basis to monitor the health of students.
“Symptomatic students will be tested when needed and, in consultation with the state, we will test additional groups as needed if the virus spikes in particular communities,” Appleby explained.
For commuter students, faculty, or staff that do not live in the residence halls, the DPH guidance does not currently recommend testing.