WU
Holly Hendershot
For the Greene County Messenger
Waynesburg University overcomes challenges as semester progresses
Colleges and universities across the country made difficult decisions concerning this year’s fall semester, as they chose whether to hold in-person classes and activities.
While California University of Pennsylvania in Washington County held its semester online, Waynesburg University in Greene County opted to hold both virtual and in-person classes, based on factors such as space available and the number of students in each class.
As the semester has progressed, Stacey Brodak, vice president of university relations at WU, said they have continued to improve the system they put into place at the beginning of the semester and plan to hold in-person classes during the spring semester as well.
“We have continued to develop our online presence as well as our resources for online and remote learning for both students and faculty to ensure a seamless transition to remote learning should conditions require it,” Brodak said.
One of the biggest challenges was finding space for classes and activities with larger numbers to keep appropriate social distancing. For students, the challenges lie in learning style changes.
“It is certainly a unique semester, but we have been grateful for the way that our faculty, staff and students have met the challenges,” Brodak said. “There is such a sense of caring for others here that comes through with everyone’s commitment to the guidance that we give in the Keep Waynesburg Well Plan.”
The plan, available on WU’s website, is flexible, Brodak said, and continually adjusted according to guidance from the PDR and CDC.
As of now, there are no plans to move to a fully remote format, Brodak said, although they are prepared in case the situation changes. Many courses that are not currently remote use “hybrid methods of instruction” that involve both in-person experiences as well as online components, making a transition easier if necessary.
Sami Morad, senior arts administration major, has a mix of online, in-person and hybrid classes this semester. She said she enjoys the hybrid format, although it has been a challenge to adapt her learning style.
Morad is the president of the Student Activities Board at Waynesburg University. She said the board has been making constant decisions as far as what activities they can host in person and which annual activities they must replace with other opportunities for students.
One activity that has been a staple at the university is Bingo Night. For this semester, SAB is holding the monthly event online, using paper Bingo boards that can be picked up prior to the virtual event.
“The hardest thing has been transitioning to online events and keeping our audience,” Morad said. “We’ve been doing everything that we can, and our events are just so different than they were before.”
Morad said they are still hosting many events in person, making sure social distancing is in place by using chalk as guidance outside, and placing only three chairs to each large table inside, as well as using other creative methods to hold the events safely.
“Our feedback indicates that our students are happy to be able to have an on-campus experience, even if it looks different this year,” Brodak said.
Pat Bristor, interim dean of students, said that before October, the few activities that were held in person were used as “pilots” and evaluated carefully to see how in person events could be conducted safely.
“They have set a good example for other programs, with what to do and how to do it,” she said. “Slowly, we are starting to do some face-to-face programs, but not completely at this time, nor do I anticipate that throughout the remainder of the semester and probably not into next semester either. It’ll all depend on the virus.”
One group of students at the university has worked together to form the “Stay at WU Team,” dedicated to helping other students follow the Keep Waynesburg Well plan, lowering the probability that the university would have to transition to remote learning. They have created and shared videos about wearing masks properly on campus and social distancing.
“I think we are doing an exceptional job,” Bristor said. “Ultimately, of course, we all hope to be able to go back to face-to-face soon.”