Spring 2022:Back on campus

As the 20-month mark of the COVID-19 pandemic approaches, the university plans to make a full return to on campus operations in Spring 2022. 

UTRGV is doing its best to provide a mix of modalities that will be beneficial to students, according to a campus-wide email sent Oct. 11 by the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost Janna Arney and School of Medicine Dean Michael Hocker.

The email also included plans for Spring 2022 courses to be 59.56% traditional and 19.96% online asynchronous, with the rest being a mix of online synchronous, hybrid and interactive video (ITV). 

Course modalities for this spring are determined in collaboration with UTRGV health officials and are influenced by health information regarding COVID-19, according to Arney.

“Our modalities look far more like they did, you know, pre-pandemic,” she said. “But we’ve made a conscious effort to try to include options for students. We heard loud and clear from students that not everybody wants to be online, not everyone wants to be traditional.” 

The accreditation procedures to change class modalities to online are also in action again. 

“Accreditation standards are not new in the spring,” Arney said. “We are in compliance on an ongoing basis with the accreditation standards.” 

She said in the recent semesters, there was a “blanket waiver” which allowed schools to move courses online without going through the full accreditation process. 

The blanket waiver is now expired, Arney said.

UTRGV will also continue to take caution when it comes to COVID-19.

“We know what measures work to prevent and to mitigate the spread, and we will continue to reinforce those measures,” she said. “And we will continue to work with our School of Medicine and our health faculty and our health students … to make accessible vaccines and accessible boosters.” 

UTRGV’s self-reported vaccination rates reveal that 90% of employees and 83% of students are vaccinated, according to the email. 

“I’m encouraged by the case numbers going down, the high levels of vaccinations and the respect and responsibility that I’ve seen on both campuses,” said Karin Lewis, UTRGV’s Faculty Senate president. “I’ve been to both campuses this fall, and I see people being very responsible wearing masks.” 

Last summer, there was a task force created to prepare for the return to campus this fall. 

Lewis said the most beneficial accommodation was the room for flexibility and experimentation. 

“It can be daunting,” she said. “It can be really challenging, too, but we as faculty continue to learn just as students continue to learn.” 

Lewis said that although campus operations will make a full return in spring, it will do so with compassion and sensitivity to each student’s situation. 

“Everyone is impacted by the pandemic in a variety of different ways,” she said. “So, we continue to do our very best to respond to this situation, respond to student needs and provide the best education possible.” 

Modalities are determined in a way that will be most effective for each course. Before the pandemic, modality was determined based on faculty choice, interests and preference.  

During the pandemic, that changed to respond to need. 

“The primary focus is the pedagogical practice that is best for that particular course in that program,” Lewis said. “I think it’s opened up a lot of possibilities.” 

Allison Castillo, a biomedical sciences freshman, said the university has been very helpful during the pandemic. 

“A lot of my classes are hybrid,” Castillo said. “I’m glad that the teachers are able to go ahead and accommodate for students so they’re online and in person. They both get the same learning experience.” 

She said that while she has adjusted to and likes online classes, she is looking forward to traditional classes in the spring semester. 

“I am, myself, vaccinated,” Castillo said. “It’s to help, not only, to decrease the rates of infection between COVID, but also to literally return everything back to normal.” 

Ximena Zepeda, an integrated health sciences freshman, said that hybrid classes made it easier to stay safe during the pandemic, but that traditional classes are better. 

“I prefer traditional because if I have questions, I can ask the professor face to face,” Zepeda said. “If there’s any concerns, he can respond right away instead of in an email.” 

She said that she is vaccinated, and believes the vaccine is an important part of the return. 

“I feel like it’s necessary,” Zepeda said. “Because, at the end of the day, like, the vaccine is what’s going to help us end COVID.” 

Lewis said one of her hopes is to work with her students and colleagues again in a way closer to normal. 

“I hope to see the continued respect and responsibility in our community and support for each other and continued focus on our wellbeing and stay open to learning,” she said. “We never know what’s around the next corner. If we’re there for each other, then we can make it through anything, as this past almost two years has shown.” 

Arney hopes for students and faculty to remain safe but engaged. 

 “Our students are our first priority,” she said. “Making sure that they stay on track for them to reach their educational goals is what we’re here to do and what we’re most proud of, and what I hope spring continues to look like.”