Allow ETSU Students the Choice of Attending In-Person Classes
Allow ETSU Students the Choice of Attending In-Person Classes
The Issue
On October 16th, the university sent out an email stating that classes in the spring semester of 2021 will be 80% online. Many students are incredibly frustrated and upset by this decision. Students are paying thousands of dollars to attend ETSU, but we are not receiving the education we are paying for. Online classes are not beneficial to our learning whatsoever. Many of us feel as though we are teaching ourselves the material as well as just trying to turn our assignments in by the due date every week. Many students are also struggling to pay attention in Zoom meetings (if their classes are even having Zoom meetings) due to the immense amount of distractions from being at home or in their dorm/apartment. In addition, students are struggling with their mental health. According to a CDC report on June 24th, 40% of adults reported that they were struggling with mental health or substance abuse, and 25.5% of adults age 18-24 had “seriously considered suicide.” Another study conducted by the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Texas A&M University found that 89% of students surveyed at a large public university said that they have had difficulty concentrating, 86% had disruptions to sleeping patterns, 82% had increased concerns about academic performance, and 71% had increased stress and anxiety. These numbers are tremendously concerning. We as students implore the university to seriously reconsider their decision, and to allow students the option of having their classes online or in-person. Of course, in person classes can have the necessary safety measures in place. We are adults, and are completely capable of making the right decision for ourselves. For some that may be to stay home and do classes online, and for others it is to attend classes in-person. For these reasons, we kindly request that the university allow the option of in-person classes.
Links to studies cited:
The Issue
On October 16th, the university sent out an email stating that classes in the spring semester of 2021 will be 80% online. Many students are incredibly frustrated and upset by this decision. Students are paying thousands of dollars to attend ETSU, but we are not receiving the education we are paying for. Online classes are not beneficial to our learning whatsoever. Many of us feel as though we are teaching ourselves the material as well as just trying to turn our assignments in by the due date every week. Many students are also struggling to pay attention in Zoom meetings (if their classes are even having Zoom meetings) due to the immense amount of distractions from being at home or in their dorm/apartment. In addition, students are struggling with their mental health. According to a CDC report on June 24th, 40% of adults reported that they were struggling with mental health or substance abuse, and 25.5% of adults age 18-24 had “seriously considered suicide.” Another study conducted by the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Texas A&M University found that 89% of students surveyed at a large public university said that they have had difficulty concentrating, 86% had disruptions to sleeping patterns, 82% had increased concerns about academic performance, and 71% had increased stress and anxiety. These numbers are tremendously concerning. We as students implore the university to seriously reconsider their decision, and to allow students the option of having their classes online or in-person. Of course, in person classes can have the necessary safety measures in place. We are adults, and are completely capable of making the right decision for ourselves. For some that may be to stay home and do classes online, and for others it is to attend classes in-person. For these reasons, we kindly request that the university allow the option of in-person classes.
Links to studies cited:
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Petition created on October 16, 2020