By Josh Grewal, Asst. Social Media Editor
Despite the college discontinuing most online and hybrid class options in the current academic year, the course catalog for the summer and fall of 2022 will include brief offerings of remote learning for further flexibility.
This year, students saw some hybrid implementation of both online and in person courses, mainly due to the looming threat of COVID. In the future, the college encourages that we will be back to a higher majority of in person classes, rather than their online counterparts.
An email sent from the Office of the President on March 19, 2021, announced the full in-person return of Jaspers to campus for the 2021-2022 academic year.
“We expect all students, faculty, and staff to be on campus, in-person. It is vital that we return to campus to provide students with the robust living and learning experiences that are a hallmark of the Manhattan College experience,” the email stated.
Because of the full return, remote classes were mostly discontinued, which caused some problems for students who contracted the COVID-19 virus and could not attend classes.
Despite the information regarding the specific amount of online options for future classes being unknown, it can be said that online options will be present in the future for graduates and possibly undergraduate students. For the upcoming fall semester, the registration website includes offering a few hybrid instruction and completely online courses.
Provost Steven Schreiner states each learning style is important, about the matter. He breaks down the components that went into each learning style, and made it clear what was required for each, and how they would benefit the overall student body.
Schreiner was able to touch upon the importance of each learning style while comparing between in person learning and online learning, and how they differ from each other. He emphasizes the value of in person learning on the Manhattan College campus.
“Not that online isn’t equivalent to good, but for our typical undergraduate population, being in person and in interaction with the professors and with each other in the classroom is of high value,” Schreiner said. “So, I put it this way, gee, it would be strange if a student would be sitting in their dorm room and have all online classes, that’d be weird, right? That doesn’t make sense, you’re not taking full advantage of the environment you’re in.”
Schreiner highlights the importance of flexible options during intercessions for students looking to make progress on their degrees, yet cannot have access to campus. Yet, he emphasizes the value of in-person learning for students on campus.
“For example, in intercession, we do offer online courses strategically, to help students get access to those courses and make progress to the degree,” Schreiner said. “So, in terms of summer and intersession courses, yes, undergraduates will have access to online programming, but not necessarily during the semesters.”
However, graduate programs will continue to offer online or hybrid course offerings, with some of the programs being completely online.
“The graduate program is a different story,” Schreiner said. “We have some graduate programs that are completely online, some of them asynchronous meaning, I go online and I take the course at my own place, in my own time, then sometimes there’s synchronous where it’s like no, I have scheduled meeting times, I’m actually going to be online, virtually with the faculty member, which we think has high value as well given the interaction with a faculty member. So our graduate programs have a variety of ways the online plays out.”
Schreiner believes the classroom is essential in Manhattan College’s future, yet will adapt to new advancements in technology.
“It’s amazing that you can learn deeper and faster than my generation did. That’s what technology is going to do. So, we have to be open to that,” Schreiner said.
Freshman Evan O’Grady, a student who is contemplating taking classes in the summer, believes online course offerings have various benefits for the student body.
“Online classes are good because students who live farther from the school or have a hard time commuting can easily access a good education and people who do not want to fully commit to living inside a residence hall or owning a car if they are, even if gas prices are high even. That’s what online classes are best for. I am personally considering taking online classes,” O’Grady said.
Freshman Xavier Peña, a student who doesn’t have easy access to the campus during breaks, believes the system of retaining some online course options is really important.
“Well, currently I’m having a great semester at Manhattan College,” Peña said. “But this summer I’m thinking of taking an online course. Or, at least I’m planning on taking an online course. I don’t know. I think online courses are very convenient in the summer because I live very far. I’m currently living in California with my family. So, I’ll definitely prefer an online course but it doesn’t mean I don’t like in person classes. Honestly, it’s better. I learned better when I’m in person but an online course in the summer will be very helpful.”
Online classes are tools that are in place looking to assist those trying to advance their degrees. With these unprecedented times, the college is continuing to adapt their learning styles.