Trace Phillips
Reporter
Most classes at Mississippi University for Women are looking a lot different this semester as they move to more remote environments due to safety regulations implemented because of the coronavirus.
But courses that require a more in-class setting such as science labs, videography classes and some Nursing classes are having to learn how to adapt to an entirely new way of learning with these added safety measures.
The W has been focusing on the health and safety of its students and faculty with a campus renewal plan that focuses on moving as many classes to online as possible to decrease the number of students on campus and ensure social distancing measures. With a less densely populated campus, the university can focus more on the health of students, and classes that require a more hands-on learning experience can continue without putting students’ health at risk.
For classes that require on-campus instruction, all students and faculty have to wear masks when around others on campus, all buildings are receiving intensive cleaning and disinfecting, and designated entrances and exits have been set up in each building. All of these measures are being taken to limit the spread of COVID-19 on The W’s campus.
“In my lab, we have a lot of safety guidelines that we have to go by every day. We were supposed to clean all of our equipment anyways, but now with the coronavirus going on, we have to be extremely thorough with sanitizing each piece of equipment and our individual sections,” said Piper Bergstrom, a student in a Physiology of Exercise lab course. “We obviously have to wear our masks in the lab and social-distance, too.”
Several different programs and classes are not able to move to virtual teaching as easily. There are more specific safety guidelines to follow depending on the class and the equipment used. A lot of the programs that are offered at The W are very hands-on and use a variety of materials.
An example of one of these classes is the media technology class, which requires students to use video cameras and other equipment owned by the school. Because this requires more hands-on learning, certain safety guidelines are incorporated into this particular class. Each student’s section is cleaned daily, as well as all of the equipment used. This is just one example of the many programs that have these added extra precautions in place.
“I started the ASN program the fall semester of 2020, and while I haven’t experienced the program without the new guidelines and regulations, it has still been a challenging adjustment for everyone involved,” said Kaylee Perrigin, a freshmen Nursing student at The W. “For instance, when instructors are demonstrating our skills, we have to observe through a video so we’re not all together in one small space. Previously, classes would be able to learn these types of things face to face, which would definitely be more helpful. However, the instructors are doing their absolute best to make sure we thoroughly understand the material we are learning!”