In times of uncertainty due to COVID-19, it’s important to plan ahead and maintain somewhat of a schedule. It’s difficult to do so when the nature of one’s commitments is unclear. So, when the Geneseo community was left in the dark about how fall semester would be after Thanksgiving break, many were unsure of how to make plans for their responsibilities and living arrangements.
It wasn’t until Sept. 25 that President Denise Battles sent out an email to Geneseo students and faculty stating that all classes would transition to online learning after Thanksgiving for the remainder of the semester. On Aug. 25, a month prior, Battles sent out an email with the revised calendar for the spring 2021 semester.
Many other SUNY schools informed their students early on that the campus would close after Thanksgiving break and classes would be fully remote for the remainder of the semester. Students and faculty knew what their fall semester would be like before they returned to campus, so they were able to plan ahead and make necessary arrangements.
Geneseo professors would have more time to prepare their classes for a smooth transition to online learning had they known about the fall semester plans sooner. Similarly, student-run organizations would be able to create schedules for the entire semester, rather than having to come up with multiple backup plans in case campus functions changed.
A big issue that this last-minute decision for classes to go remote after Thanksgiving is how it has affected students’ living arrangements. Off-campus students have already signed leases that last to the end of the semester, and now they have no reason to return to them after Thanksgiving. Some students may not be able to return home earlier than they had already planned due to a surplus of reasons (i.e. lack of funds or transportation, home unavailable until end of semester).
Fortunately, Battles stated in the email, “we anticipate being able to make the residence halls available for those students who need to remain at Geneseo through and after the Thanksgiving holiday, and possibly during the winter break. Our preliminary plan calls for those who will live or receive services on campus to undergo post-arrival quarantine and testing.”
Hopefully, these accommodations will meet every students’ needs and allow for the successful completion of fall semester courses and responsibilities.