The Reality of Online Classes at Warren Wilson
Ruby Jane Moser | October 8, 2021
Ruby Jane Moser
Jay Roberts teaching his The Future of College course.
Students at Warren Wilson College (WWC) are petitioning for more online classes. Students state that offering the option of online classes would make classes more accessible to students whose immune systems are compromised. Online classes would also help students that need more mental health days to still join class if not in-person.
“I want the option to choose,” said Sarah Puterbaugh, a freshman at WWC, “because if I'm not feeling well and I don’t feel comfortable going into class, I would still have the option to get an education without having to decide between my physical health or my academic career.”
Having the right to choose, according to Puterbaugh, could help students who are struggling with stress around the pandemic and being in-person with others.
Currently, WWC follows both the regional and national guidelines for COVID-19. These guidelines come from the National Center for Disease Control (CDC) Considerations for Institutions of Higher Education and the CDC Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People. All students and employees are required to be vaccinated unless given an exemption for religious or medical reasons. When a positive test does occur, students and faculty must quarantine off campus.
WWC currently offers less than five virtual courses, even with the pandemic still going on. WWC is accredited by The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and with that they are not able to offer more and remain an in-person learning institution. While they cannot offer more online courses during the school year, virtual summer courses are an option WWC is looking to grow. More virtual summer courses would make it easier for WWC students to take courses through WWC while being home during summer.
“We’re always exploring and thinking about how we can innovate and develop a variety of teaching and learning experiences for our faculty and our students,” said Provost Jay Roberts.
During the 2020-2021 school year, WWC spent time doing both fully virtual and hybrid courses. Many students lived in the dorms while attending school virtually. Roberts said that the faculty voiced the difficulties they had surrounding technology and double planning for courses, as well as finding online classes to be not as effective.
“It is extraordinarily taxing on faculty,” Roberts said, while talking about the faculty's experience during hybrid learning. “Essentially what every faculty member has to do in a hybrid environment like that is to plan for two different courses.”
Christey Carwile, a professor of anthropology, talks about the difficulties she experienced while teaching hybrid courses. Having the classroom divided by online and virtual students created a disconnect between her and her students, and she chose to move her classes to all virtual learning.
“I am trying to give my all in the classroom to the students who are there and trying to give my all to the students who are online, and I’m being pulled in opposite directions,” said Carwile.
She also struggled with teaching hybrid courses because of the lack of technological resources within the college. Hybrid teaching requires multiple computers and high quality sound, which is something that got in the way.
According to Deborah Braden, director of disability access, students have many mixed feelings on virtual classes. Many students with learning disabilities prefer in-person classes, and students struggling with mental or physical health prefer some online classes. WWC offers accommodations, within the essential course requirements, around the attendance policy for students who voice their need for it.
“I know a lot of people who struggled with (online classes) but personally I loved online learning,” said Devin Gildner, a junior at WWC who attended virtual classes on campus in 2020-2021. “As a 20 year old, I had no qualms staying in my pajamas to enter class.”
To reach out to someone about accommodations you can email Lyn O'Hare, associate dean of educational and academic support access, at lohare@warren-wilson.edu, Deborah Braden at dbraden@warren-wilson.edu or visit the Center for Integrated Advising and Careers in Jensen on the first floor.