Tuesday, January 19, 2021

Minnesota students, professors say college during pandemic was 'not a lot of fun' - RICHARD TSONG-TAATARII, Star Tribune

Months of online classes and social distancing took a toll on many. But the various campus life restrictions that institutions put in place appear to have paid off.  Students lined up for COVID-19 tests at the University of Minnesota before the Thanksgiving holiday. Minnesota colleges have closed the book on the strangest fall semester in recent memory, one in which students and professors alike spent much of their time perched behind a computer screen and isolated from their peers. Months of online classes and social distancing took a toll on many students and faculty, who reported struggling with loneliness, stress and burnout. But the various campus life restrictions that institutions put in place appear to have paid off, as most Minnesota colleges managed to avoid large outbreaks of COVID-19. As they look toward the spring, college leaders say they will likely continue to operate under strict campus safety measures until vaccines become widely available.

https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-students-professors-say-college-during-pandemic-was-not-a-lot-of-fun/573484212/