USD confirms plans for in-person learning

After a one and a half year hiatus, the university confirms its plans for all classes to be taught synchronously for the fall

Karisa Kampbell / News Editor / The USD Vista

Finally, on the other side of a long year and a half of online courses, the university confirmed its plan to be fully in-person for all classes this fall. 

In an email sent on August 9, by Roger C. Pace, Ph.D., Professor in Communication Studies, Interim Program Director and Interim Vice Provost, the university confirmed its plans for a completely synchronous semester. 

“Today I write to remind you that all classes will be in person,” Pace said. “All classes will be in person and synchronously in the Fall 2021 semester.”

This update, released a week after the mandatory mask announcement went out to students, regardless of vaccination status, fostered a lot of hopes as well as anxieties in students. 

USD sophomore, Gage Mcphail, shared his thoughts on going back to in-person classes. 

“I am super excited for in-person classes. I was excited for in-person classes last semester, although it didn’t really happen,” McPhail said. “I am nervous because I could see them (USD) overreacting to first and second week cases again. I could see however if we have just a couple of cases, that we could  go into full lock down, and I am really hoping that is not the case. I think the mask mandate in place is a step towards keeping us inside and keeping us away from online classes.”

While all students may not feel as comfortable and optimistic as Mcphail, Dr. Roger Pace offered his insight on in-person classes, the state of USD, and his appreciation for students who want to be extra mindful about the health and safety of the USD community. 

“I appreciate the anxiety that students are experiencing in our return to campus for in-person instruction. While the pandemic is constantly evolving, it is our goal to have students on campus for in-person classes for the entirety of the semester,” Pace wrote. “Students need to understand that our success in keeping the university protected is in how we all take collective responsibility for each other by following health protocols.”

Pace also offered his insight on the lessons the university learned last year and the ways in which USD continues to move forward through the pandemic. 

“Some of the biggest lessons we learned from our experiences over the past year is that we all need to remain patient and flexible as we respond collectively to the changing public health situation,” Pace wrote. “We are continuing the highly effective mitigation strategies that we have put in place and have learned so much over the course of this pandemic –this information will guide us into the future.”

Returning to in-person classes is a monumental moment that many USD students were waiting for. While the pandemic continues to remain omnipresent in students’ lives, it is important to remember that it is the responsibility of everybody to follow the health and safety protocols in order to keep in-person classes a reality for the entirety of the semester.