OU students, employees push for more online options
NORMAN—Scores of students, faculty and staff have urged the University of Oklahoma to allow more freedom to choose online classes.
A petition demanding free choice to host or take OU courses online gained about 1,700 signatures this week.
The petition demands no instructors or students be required to attend in-person courses this fall. All professors should have the choice to teach entirely online, the petition states.
A group of faculty and staff cal l ed OU Workers United organized the petition.
“The fear is real in the community, because the university has taken a heavyhanded approach to deprive people of their rights of self-protection during a pandemic,” the group wrote in an email to The Oklahoman.
The petition requested the university not require disclosure of medical conditions for permission to teach or attend an online class.
No employee should have to use paid sick leave or family
medical leave because of exposure to COVID- 1 9, it says.
A nO U spokeswoman confirmed the university has reviewed the petition and is “keeping the safety, health, and welfare of each community member in mind as plans for a fall return continue to develop.”
The university is aiming
for a“primarily in-person educational experience” this fall, Interim Provost Jill Irvine wrote in a message to faculty on Tuesday.
“We have heard from many of you who have trepidations about returning to the classroom,” Irvine wrote. “I know that this situation has created a great deal of uncertainty for faculty and a desire to be as informed as possible as you plan for the fall.”
OU moved all classes online after spring break last semester to prevent spread of the corona virus. The Norman campus expects to welcome students and employees back in person for the 2020-21 academic year.
Instructors had until Friday to request a change in their mode of teaching to a hybrid or online delivery.
The university instructed departments toprior itize requests in the following order: faculty with an increased risk of severe illness from C OVID -19, those who are caregivers or have a household member at increased risk, and those with other reasons.
Faculty can appeal the decision made on their requests. Those who are not granted the teaching method they find satisfactory could ask for administrative leave without pay, according to the university' s Flexible Teaching Guidelines.
Associate professor Mir elsie V el azquez said she didn' t apply to move her classes online because she believe dO U would deny her request.
V el azquez will teach in-person classes for student-teachers in the Rain bolt College of Education. She said OU administrators created reopening guidelines without enough faculty input, which is why she signed the petition.
“No, I don't feel comfortable being in a classroom setting ,” V el azquez said. “My preference would be to be online, and my preference would be to find that out now so I can spend the next month prepping for that.”
Not all students are eager for face-to-face classes, either. Human relations junior Nia Blackwell said she didn't feel safe going back in person.
Blackwell said she doesn't think O U' she al th precautions will be effective against COVID-19. Just because she is careful about social distancing doesn't mean others will be, especially with restaurants and bars open.
“It' s kind of like putting your life in other people' s hands,” Blackwell said. “I just think that's a higher risk when I have to go in person when I could be cautious within my own vicinity.”