As the Spring 2020 semester comes to an end, some students at LBCC have strong opinions about their experience.
Unexpected disruptions and challenges that manifested as a result of the COVID-19 campus shutdowns have led to student anxiety regarding their academic careers at LBCC.
However, many students have recognized LBCC’s efforts in supporting students during this time of global crises.
Fall semester took a turn as classes were forced to transition to remote or virtual learning instruction, with a dependence on Zoom for lecturing and meetings.
Student Lakeisha Goree said she was upset when the college first closed because she was looking forward to in-person classes.
Keeping up with online academic responsibilities during a global pandemic has caused her stress and anxiety.
Deadlines are coming up fast and with the last stretch of the semester approaching, pressure and anxiety are building up.
Even so, the college’s efforts have not gone unnoticed.
“The college has really reached out to students in so many ways and provides so much help to students,” Goree said.
Some of the resources the college has helped Goree with have been mental health counseling and the food drive-thrus provided by the Office of Basic Needs.
Additionally, the school extended the course withdrawal deadline and the pass/no-pass option for students.
Goree believes that the school continues to do an amazing job at reaching out to students and providing much needed resources.
“I really can’t think of anything else the school could do. They have been doing such a good job as far as I can see.”
LBCC student Rene Sandoval mentioned he was upset about remote instruction because it doesn’t compare to the face-to-face interaction with professors.
“I enjoy communicating with my professors and having them there physically to ask questions or to have things explained directly to my face, it’s just personally easier for me to learn that way,” Sandoval said.
Like many other students, Sandoval said his work ethic has suffered as a result of virtual instruction.
“Classes like English 3H were not created to be online because of it’s difficulty regardless of online meetings… It’s just not the same for people like me who need a different environment to focus in.”
Just like Goree, Sandoval believes opening campus in the fall is not a correct move by the college.
“I definitely don’t think it’s safe to return to campus during the fall. We just got the stay-at-home order extended until August and that’s when fall classes usually start and I am positive it will be extended even longer,” Sandoval said.
Even though he believes the college is doing everything they possibly can to help students, he believes LBCC along with all other colleges should be passing students.
“It is saddening that we are living through a global crisis, thousands are dying [and] people who suffer from mental health issues like me are suffering, yet we still have to go to school when no one is in the mindset for it,” Sandoval said.
According to the LBCC website some classes are set to remain online through distance learning but the college is attempting to maintain some in-person classes based on course needs.