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@universityofga is barreling towards August 20th like everything is fine, so since we’re heading that route, UNDERGRAD STUDENTS: let me tell you what “in-person” in a HyFlex model will look like for classes like mine.
You will be divvied into groups (usually groups of 3, all depends on the class and the classroom capacity) that rotate. Some days your group will meet in person. Some days your group will Zoom in to that classroom.
You’re going to be doing this for a lot of your classes so BE PREPARED with your planners. Make sure you know when you’re supposed to be in class/when you aren’t supposed to be. Obviously only so many students can safely fit in a classroom at a given time.
The classrooms will be thoroughly cleaned by underpaid and overworked custodial staff once daily, but you’ll need to be sure to wipe down your spaces, too. Lots of folks in and out of different rooms & it’s unclear how contact tracing will work (just per class or per classroom?)
Some of your instructors won’t actually be seeing you face to face (or mask to mask). They’ll be teaching remotely due to accommodations. You may be a different person in your classroom, likely a TA, for instance. Both folks are important and want the best for you.
Instructors DO NOT get a casual choice for giving online instruction or not. So please don’t be upset with the decisions your instructors make; chances are they haven’t been able to make many decisions this summer at all. Please be patient as they are learning, too.
You should be planning on what to do if you get sick now. I know it makes sense for our admin to do that, but if you attended the webinar Tuesday, you know it’s what a VP said, too. Talk to your roommates and family now.
I know a lot of you signed petitions, started petitions, wrote letters, and completed surveys. I know a lot of y’all want online instruction and I am sorry that instructors can’t readily give that to you and I’m sorry admin didn’t listen well. We are doing our best.
I also know a lot of folks are saying that students should have a choice to be in person. But please be aware, this means a HyFlex teaching model in the majority of cases. Everyone wearing a mask. Difficulty with communication. It’s a choice, yes. Just know what you’re advocating
@universityofga and @BORUSG had a whole summer to find ways to make online learning work. They had a whole summer to ensure hotspot access to students in need, adequate time for families to plan about housing, ample time to ramp up online (not pivoting) learning.
If you see my name in papers, know I’m not unhappy with seeing y’all, being in person. I’d have LOVED for the US and Georgia to have gotten their shit together and this virus under control so I could teach like I always do.
But they didn’t, and I can’t. I want y’all safe. I don’t want to have to tell your classmates someone they don’t have a peer review partner anymore (and everyone will know why). I don’t want to have to send you the number for grief counseling.
I don’t want to hurt workers whose jobs require being on campus. We can support each other by not showing up when we can better teach and learn virtually. Some classes will need to meet in person, sure. But if not, I’m advocating for this option - to teach, learn, work remotely
I love UGA and I love teaching. I love my colleagues and Athens and my students. So if you see me with @UcwgaUGA protesting, know it’s because we have tried to ensure a just, safe campus all summer. But I’m not confident that’s the product you or we are getting anymore.
