CUNY and City College Plan for a Potential Return to Campus in the Fall
Words by Ruth Martinez.
Photo courtesy of CCNY.
The month of March marked one year of CUNY’s transition to online learning, a decision made to reduce the spread of COVID-19 at a time where relatively little was known about the virus. While the pandemic continues to be a serious situation and precautions are still in place, there is an ongoing conversation about the possibility of returning to campus this fall. Summer courses have been confirmed to be online, but the plans for the fall semester are less certain. In an email on January 5th, CUNY Chancellor Matos Rodriguez stated that for Fall 2021, the university will plan “for a safe and gradual return to mostly in-person instruction and support,” but the logistics of this possible return are still in question.
City College is working collaboratively to prepare for the upcoming Fall semester. As outlined in an announcement from the office of the President, the possibility of either 25% or 50% classroom occupancy is being considered. However, it was also emphasized that under both these possibilities, many classes will likely remain fully online or be hybrid classes. Priority will be given depending on the needs of each class. In a town hall meeting, City College President Vince Boudreau stated that factors like ventilation systems are also being worked on to ensure the safety of everyone. In the event of re-opening, the Chancellor emphasized that anyone who visits any campus will be expected to wear masks and follow other safety protocols, like hand washing, sanitizing, and maintaining social distance. In August 2020, CUNY also announced the launch of the Everbridge health screening app that must be filled out to be allowed entry on campus.
The possibility of an in-person fall semester is partly dependent on COVID-19 vaccination rates. According to the New York City Health website, over 3.2 million vaccine doses have already been administered in the city. The rate of vaccination varies largely by age, an important factor to consider for re-opening campuses. Citywide, of those who are between the ages of 18-24, only 9% have been vaccinated. This statistic is likely due to the criteria for eligibility pertaining to underlying health conditions, age, occupation, and other factors. NYC Health announced that starting March 23, the next eligible group for vaccination is residents age 50 or older. The vaccine is expected to become more widely available by midyear 2021 to those who are not considered high-risk under the current criteria, which likely applies to many college students.
If eligible, City College students can look into the vaccination site right next to campus at the Philip Randolph High School. The city’s COVID-19 Vaccine Finder indicates that the school offers the Moderna vaccine, but currently has no first dose appointments available. These appointments depend on citywide availability of doses, which is currently over 24,000 for the first dose and over 239,000 for the second dose according to New York’s compiled data. Students can also use resources like Turbovax and the NYC Vaccine List to search for other possible options for their first dose.
Many City College students are hopeful about a return to in-person instruction. Dayan Solano, a junior, expressed her excitement about being in a classroom again. “I understand the need for virtual learning, but it’s been difficult for me to learn and concentrate on my work,” she says, “I miss interacting with my classmates and meeting new people. I just hope everything is done safely.” These sentiments mirror the concerns of the effectiveness of online instruction and the social isolation that many students are experiencing across the nation. While some students share this concern, there are also those who enjoy the flexibility of online learning. One student expressed that online learning allows him to have a more open schedule and work more hours. “It seems like a small thing, but I like not having to commute to campus,” he shared, “It saves me money and time that I can spend on assignments or at my job, which has been really helpful during this time.”
Other students are very concerned about the risks posed by in-person classes and fear the possibility of an increase in COVID transmissions. Art history major Melissa De Jesus says she is worried about those who are most vulnerable to the virus. “I’m more worried about students who have health concerns or professors and faculty who are older and more at risk of having severe symptoms.” she says. “Some classrooms are pretty small, and they need to be really careful about how many students are on campus at once. I think the best thing to do is keep options open for everyone and make sure they’re enforcing safety protocols.”
There is not yet any concrete picture for what the fall semester is going to look like. Although there are different perspectives on what approach should be taken, the university should continue to focus on prioritizing the safety of students and faculty while we try to make the best of our experiences with online learning.
Students wearing masks to participate in in-person classes during COVID-19. Image courtesy of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
