The Transition: Students and Professors Move Online
With COVID-19 turning the world upside down, college students and professors have been forced to adapt to a new learning style. Classes have been moved online as colleges in New York sent all students home to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Students have had to adjust to online learning halfway through a semester, while professors have had to change entire syllabuses in some cases.
“I don’t think it has impacted my learning abilities negatively. I do a lot online in the first place as a media major, so I think the only thing I’m missing is that face to face learning,” said Jessica Giusti, a Junior at SUNY New Paltz. “Some professors have tried to make it seem like in person classes but it’s not the same.”
Though professors are trying to transition to the new online format as well, and they are feeling overwhelmed just like the students. This can especially be seen in a Sports Broadcasting class taught by Chris Riviezzo at Marist College, whose class thrives on live sports.
“For me and what I am trying to do with this class it’s been a little challenging just because this class is more hands on and covers sports on campus,” said Riviezzo. “Clearly with there no sports to be covered it makes it a little bit more difficult.”
Professors and students are trying to work hand in hand on making the most of the current situation.
“Professors are learning how to navigate this new medium as we are, so they are being very lenient on how they are grading us,” Giusti said. “They’re very understanding of how coronavirus is impacting us and trying to make it accommodating for all of us.”
Colleges across the Hudson Valley and the state of New York have been giving updates to students consistently as the Spring semester has moved to online. Recently SUNY New Paltz released this statement to students by Kristina Johnson, the Chancellor of The State University of New York.
“Your SUNY family is here for you,” said Johnson. “The SUNY system and each campus president, the faculty and staff are committed to supporting you and to delivering a great education.”
The Culinary Institute of America also recently sent out a statement to its students, regarding the pandemic.
“When this crisis is over, the world will need all of us and our industry like never before. We will be called upon to do what we do best: to bring people together; to nurture community; to feed the stomach and the soul; and to improve our health and the health of our planet.”
The CIA has been there for its students, but with the COVID-19 outbreak, there is no telling when restaurants will look to the University to fill cooking positions.
“I’d say the CIA community has done their best in regard to uplifting each other with the major uncertainty in our industry due to this pandemic,” said Jenny Dunger, a student at CIA. “Before this started, employers at the career fair couldn’t hire us fast enough; now, who knows.”
Transitioning to online classes for students has not been easy. Yet, it is also a hard time for students searching for internships and jobs in their selective fields.
“There is nothing like learning from professors and peers in person,” Jeffery Eng said, who is a Junior at Marist College. “It has been very tough on me as a young adult trying to figure out my career, this roadblock certainly doesn’t help my development.”
