Fayetteville State University: The Road Ahead
posted by Law | May 5, 2020 | In NewsWe’re bucking forward!
“FSU should open as scheduled on August 19th,” said Provost Dr. Pamela Jackson, adding that most UNC campuses are expected to open in August with a limited number of face-to-face classes. The UNC System office is developing public health guidelines which all campuses will implement to ensure our campuses are safe for students and faculty.
Since the initial announcement of the closure of the UNC system, including Fayetteville State University, it would be an understatement to say our lives are changing. And it might never return to exactly the way it was.
It begs the question, what will it be?
A global pandemic can only lead to something new for us.
According to the European Journal of Social Psychology, it takes roughly 18 to 245 days to establish a new habit and on average 66 days to create a new practice, a new norm. What does the new normal look like for us moving forward?
On behalf of the university, Provost Jackson outlined the future of academics here at FSU: “Our new normal will be characterized by PPE (personal protective equipment) and social distancing protocols. Facilities will be working throughout the summer to make sure we have protocols in place to sanitize classrooms between classes.”
The Office of the Provost shared details about the return to the classrooms, which will entail splitting classes into two groups with half meeting in-person one day and the other half meeting the next.
She added, “we will be reworking the fall schedule this summer to make sure classes are staggered in a way to accommodate the need for ongoing sanitizing.”
Students should be reminded that 6 feet of social distancing is the minimum as we move forward. Additionally, as the World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) gather new information daily, the university’s position is to look to them for guidance on how it should proceed during this pandemic.
“The goal is to make this semester just like any other by offering many of the same educational, social, and athletic programs that we normally offer. It’s all about following the advice of the medical professionals,” said Associate Vice Chancellor for Communications Jeffery Womble.
As we await the reopening of the UNC System, may we find comfort in the establishment of new normal behaviors, and maybe enjoy some of what we knew yesterday. But today, campus remains closed.
Summer school will be online. The university is using the data submitted by over 1,000 students who responded to the COVID-19 survey, which was posted on Canvas for several weeks, to identify the courses which are most challenging in an online format.
For students with courses being offered online only, learning can be difficult to say the least.
“Some of us are visual learners, and that makes online courses more challenging,” said Elijah Henry, a junior within the Department of Communication, Languages, and Cultures.
The end state is to work on those classes this summer to employ better ways to convey information and enhance student success.
The administration of Fayetteville State University issued these helpful tips for moving forward in this unique circumstance:
- Start thinking about new skills or knowledge you can gain while you wait for the economy to recover.
- Be creative in thinking of ways to create an income. Turn a hobby or passion into a small online business, or use the skills that you’ve learned in your major to generate income.
- Think about how your skills can fit in with industries that are thriving right now. Employers in these industries are always looking for employees with critical thinking, leadership, decision making, research, and design skills.
- Create a robust LinkedIn profile and then target hiring managers, human resources professionals, and others who can help you get a foot in the door.
- The bottom line is that you will need to use all of the tools in your toolbox to succeed.
For those who will continue the journey toward higher education, there is still work to do. Yes, the road ahead may be unfamiliar territory, but it is not impossible. While we are yet separate, we are still together in this.
Secure the bag. Obtain the goal. Earn the degree. To state it plainly: do the work. That’s what Broncos do.
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