How desert colleges are responding to coronavirus concerns
Schools throughout the valley are taking action in the wake of the coronavirus spreading.
All have continued posting the latest information online, as well as updating students on whether any decision has been made to alter classes.
"I'm happy class hasn't been canceled. It makes it a lot easier to get through the semester," College of the Desert sophomore, Celestine Price said.
There are about 2 months left in the semester at COD.
"I don’t know how I’d take my organic chemistry class online because labs," Price said. "Everything makes it harder and I really don’t want to have to take it again."
Price said if classes were to be canceled, she would have to wait a year to take the class she needs because it is only offered every other semester. Several other students are facing the same predicament.
"I think that if classes were to close here my only concern here would be it would take me longer to finish," College of the Desert sophomore, Genna Munoz said.
Taking science classes often includes having to fulfill a laboratory requirement. Students say class cancellation, or online classes can pose a struggle when it is not physically offered on campus.
"Speaking personally, I don’t learn as well online. I prefer face-to-face interaction with my peers and fellow professors so I think it would be a struggle," College of the Desert student, Bronwyn Horton said.
Several higher-education schools throughout California have switched to online classes in recent days due to concerns over the coronavirus.
Superintendent and President of College of the Desert, Joel L. Kinnamon released a statement on behalf of the school:
The health and safety of our students, faculty and staff continues to be the college’s top priority. The College Board of Trustees and leadership are taking all appropriate measures and will continue to follow the expert guidance of state and county public health officials. Consistent with this, we are not canceling classes or suspending operations at this time. The current instruction mode for classes has not changed; however, individual faculty members have the purview to accommodate students who miss class time for legitimate medical reasons.
We are monitoring the situation closely and will provide updates to our campus community by email and through our website as new information becomes available.
Meanwhile, Cal State San Bernardino is holding classes as normal. The CSU system suspended all university-related travel until May 31st.
"At this point I don’t think people would be too much concerned. At this part of the year, we’re kind of finishing up with the quarter so it wouldn’t affect us too much," Cal State University San Bernardino student, Daniel Brown said.
The UC Riverside has switched its classes at the Palm Desert extension campus, and on the main campus to online until April 3rd.
"Most of the classes are online. Professors have been instructed to conduct their final examinations for the winter quarter online," UCR Palm Desert Director, Agam Patel said.
