Each year, the return of college students to Aggieland in August has a certain chaotic familiarity to it. This year, however, what Texas A&M University, as well as Bryan College Station, will look like in the new school year remains to be seen due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic continues to throw plans and normalcy to the wind for just about everyone, but especially college students and professors. Accessible communication between professors and students, good time management, and recognizing that everyone is adjusting to unprecedented times will be crucial as students, faculty, and staff enter the new school year.
When spring break ended in confusion and online classes for Texas A&M students, professors had to adapt quickly to the changed class format. Angelique Gammon, instructional assistant professor in the department of Communication/Journalism Studies, used her small class sizes as an opportunity to ask students what they needed.
“Students are worried about families and finances,” Gammon says. “If you have a small class, you should empower students to help them meet their classroom needs. It was calming to my students to have me leading class and seeing each other, so we did synchronous classes.”
Having professors who make themselves readily available to their students has and will continue to make all the difference, says Molly Talbott, senior recreation parks and tourism science major.
“I think professors did the best they could in the spring, but I wish there were better means of communication in some instances,” Talbott says. “Some professors made GroupMes so you could talk to them easily, but others were really hard to get a hold of. I think that goes along with how important good communication is during this confusion.”
If the spring semester was any indication, students with online classes will have to stay on top of time management, says Tom Burton, lecturer in the department of Communication.
“If students manage their day right, they can get through their online classes efficiently,” Burton says. “I think it’s been a bigger jump for some students than faculty would presume.”
In the first week of July, Texas A&M students discovered many of their classes would be online. Keeping online classes accessible to all students is a top priority, says Gammon.
“In the spring semester, and with permission, when someone could not join the class Zoom, they would call or FaceTime in for the audio to hear class,” Gammon says. “Nobody should feel like they are not getting the full experience.”
While keeping class accessible to all students is key, Burton says it is important to note that education received online simply is not the same as it is in person.
“You have to remember that the teaching methods change the education you receive,” Burton says. “Your lecture and message have to adapt to the new medium.”
Despite the various challenges posed to students in upcoming online classes, Gammon says there are some benefits.
“Being able to continue your education safely is the most important factor here,” Gammon says. “The students who choose to come back to College Station will be coming in from essentially all over the world, so you have to consider how that will affect the community health-wise. We have needed bold leadership to say, ‘Let’s be selfless and stay home,’ which is what many students will be doing through their online classes. In addition to safety, some students appreciate the chance to prepare for tests at their own pace.”
Burton says the trick to these challenging times is to be adaptive, adopt new practices where we can, and make the most out of it.
“It’s a challenging time for everyone,” Burton says. “It’s kind of like a test. Everyone has a comfort level to which they want to control things, but we are all adapting.”
