Story by Maddie Epley

Last semester, COVID-19 impacted students’ ability to learn by university officials’ decision to go virtual. This semester, students are speaking out about their preference of learning: going back to virtual or staying on campus.

Of about 32,600 students, faculty and staff, there are currently 94 active cases at the university, according to the Pat Walker Health Center COVID-19 Dashboard. The current positivity rate for COVID-19 on campus is 3.8%.

After asking 55 students, 60% said they appreciate being back on campus, while 40% wished they were back online. Amanda Steddum, a senior, said she misses online learning.

“I can manage my own schedule,” Steddum said. “If I feel like I just can’t do it that day, I can put it off one day and still completely catch up.”

Other students said they enjoyed online classes for the sake of time, or because they just don’t like being around people. Jacob O’Grady, a senior, said that online school was better than having to walk across campus and spend time driving to school. Grady liked the idea of having more free time instead of having to sit through lectures, he said.

Going back online would also influence programs like Greek life. Reagan Webb, a freshman, just joined Alpha Chi Omega, one of the sororities on campus. Webb assumed going back to virtual learning would hinder activities, she said. Sororities wouldn’t be able to do sponsorships or help with philanthropy.

“You wouldn’t get to do the in-person things that you want to do,” Webb said.

On the other hand, many students liked the idea of being in a campus atmosphere again.

“It just holds me more accountable to go to class,” Nathan Short, a senior, said. “If I’m at home and have an online class, I’m just more prone to skip it.”

Anjolina Reed, a freshman, had the same to add. Reed feared she couldn’t connect with her teachers through a computer screen as much as she could in person, she said. She also said being in an in-person classroom gave her more of an ability to stay focused while being at home gave her more distractions.

“Personally, I find it easier for me to focus on my schoolwork and not get distracted,” Reed said.

Being online has affected students in majors that require more in-person practices and equipment, such as theater. Freshman theater major Sam Chandler said it’s important for the theater kids to have that capability to learn within a classroom.

“A lot of things need to be shown to us in person,” Chandler said.

Joe Millett, assistant professor in the theater program, said he liked being on campus more, but both options have their advantages. Millett said being on campus gave him — and students — more access to material, but the only problem he had with virtual learning was the challenges of technology.

After switching to virtual learning last semester, Theater Department Chair Michael Riha found that many aspects of online learning were superior to face-to-face meetings. Riha believes video teachings were a lot better for students, rather than crowding around in a classroom setting, he said.

“Although I wasn’t looking forward to it,” Riha said, “I ended up using it a lot more.”

However, Riha also talked about parts of on-campus learning he liked. He said he preferred in-person classes for student presentations and critiques. There were also a few things he didn’t appreciate about online learning.

“It doubled the amount of prep time I had to do,” Riha said. “There’s a lot of post-production work.”

The University of Arkansas’ response to COVID-19 has not yet included anything about going back online but instead includes incentivized vaccination prizes, where students that get vaccinated can participate in weekly drawings.

The drawings started Sept. 1 and will continue throughout the semester. The incentives include $500 scholarships, $100 credits, trips, and tickets, according to the university’s COVID-19 response page.

The response page also has a campus guidance section with multiple resources on how to respond to COVID-19 that aligns with regulations from the Centers for Disease Control, as well as the Arkansas Department of Health. The website posts regular updates on housing, dining, and recreational programs, along with more information. The page explains how to prioritize personal health as well as the health of others, and goes through the basic steps on how to succeed academically.

For more information about campus safety and additional sources, visit COVID-19 Campus Guidance.