While dealing with the impacts of COVID-19, the WSU Vancouver population faced numerous successes and challenges when presented with a mix of online, hybrid and in-person classes. With this in mind, The VanCougar interviewed undergrads on campus to gain perspectives into their academic experiences during the fall 2021 semester.
What successes or challenges did you face while attending classes this semester?
Ian Urias, sophomore business entrepreneurship major
“Challenges? Honestly, just getting used to being around people again. You have to be respectful of other people’s boundaries in the sense of where I feel like everyone turned a little introverted. It’s hard because I’m confusing people in class with who I thought I knew, and they’ll say ‘I’m sorry?’ and I say, ‘it’s me!’ and then they take off the mask, and say ‘no,’ and then I say, ‘oof good luck with your day, sorry!’ I totally confuse people all the time, it’s okay though.… And also, it’s weird to reconnect with teachers, it’s still weird to meet with them during office hours, and the thing is, I still have online classes, so there is still some overlapping struggle from quarantine to now.”
Lindsey Luis, junior social sciences major
(Emily Baumann/The VanCougar)
“[In terms of] successes, I would say I definitely like that I can be on campus if I need resources. The library is available, I can just go there, or even just the aspect of being in the Center for Intercultural Learning and Affirmation where I always hang out and see other friends there, and not feel so alone. Some of the challenges though, I feel like some of my classes have been hybrid more than others, some I meet in person once a week, or once every other week, so it gets difficult to adjust with half-hybrid [instruction]. I feel like there are some good aspects of being online in terms of having that flexibility, that your professors understand, but I feel like with hybrid classes, it’s not as flexible anymore, there are more expectations. It’s hard because I feel we are in the same place with the pandemic, so I would want to see more flexibility from [professors].”
(Emily Baumann/The VanCougar)
Sydney Brower, senior digital technology and culture major
“Transportation and getting to campus every week, that’s a challenge I haven’t had in a little while with COVID-19. But, it’s been really nice having in-person classes with teachers, and being able to have more conversations with students. With teachers themselves, [it’s nice] to be able to casually walk up to them and talk one-on-one after class or before class. There’s a lot more participation, so you get more quality from what you’re learning about, and get students’ input, it’s not all awkward silence with no cameras on [Zoom]… I do prefer hybrid, but what I would want to see more of is straightforward communication about documents and files and assignments on Canvas, and said out loud in person, whether online, asynchronous, or synchronous, just clear communication.”
Cassia Gehl, senior English major
“As for challenges, getting back into the routine of having to come to campus, having to get up, not just roll over and sign in to Zoom. But successes, I think being involved more in class and engaging with what’s going on as opposed to online is better. I prefer in-person, especially since we have such a great campus, it just feels better to have access to the facilities we have on campus as well. I don’t mind Zoom class every once-in-awhile, but when everything is shut down, it’s rough.… I think teachers could utilize the fact that students all know how to use Zoom now, so it could create more opportunities for students…. I think we’ve seen now, that for people who need different circumstances, Zoom is available for more hybrid classes.”
The return to in-person classes created a unique experience for the university as the campus navigated its way through a new world of academic instruction. Considering their responses provided on the quad, students continue to reflect upon another question: What will the 2022 spring semester look like?
Olivia is a senior studying English at WSU Vancouver.