Santa Clara Announces Return to In-Person Learning

The university announces plans to return to in-person instruction after a month-long hiatus, despite apprehension from some students and faculty

Updated Jan. 28

Classes will be back in person next Monday, according to a message sent to students on Jan. 25 from Acting Provosts Kate Morris and Ed Ryan. 

The announcement follows a decline in the number of total positive tests reported, both at the university and the state of California. The most recent “Prepared SCU” roundup email delivered to the Santa Clara community on Jan. 28 reported that “total positive tests through Color fell by 40% from the previous week.”

Seven-day positivity rates on campus had increased from 7.6% at the end of Week 1, to 9.6% at the end of Week 3. Now, the university’s 7-day positivity rate has fallen to 4.7%, These numbers remain lower than the county’s positivity rate of 14.1% and California’s of 18.8%, according to data published on the state’s COVID-19 dashboard as of Jan. 27. 

 Following the Provost’s message, students will once again be welcomed back into public spaces around campus, including lecture halls, dining areas and all other additional facilities, with “continued precautions,” Morris and Ryan wrote.

Indoor gatherings will remain limited until mid-February, including Benson Memorial Center and the SCDI engineering facilities. Masks will continue to be required (with KN-95 usage recommended) in all indoor public spaces. These masks will also be available for pick-up at the SCU Health Ambassadors table in front of the Learning Commons on Monday through Friday. 

Weekly testing also remains essential to the university’s plan for a safe return, with testing recommended for all students returning to campus for the first time since December. Positive tests continue to be recorded and reported through the Color System and subsequent isolation protocols continue to be mandatory following a positive test result. 

Many students have expressed their excitement to return to campus again. 

“I can’t wait to get back into the classrooms,” said sophomore Grace Knight. “I am a little worried about the adjustment since we have been online for so long, but hopefully professors will be more understanding of students’ needs.” 

While some express an eagerness to return to some form of normal, others remain apprehensive about ending remote learning after returning to it again this winter. 

“I’m actually not excited for classes to be in-person again,” said junior Kristine Fischer-Colbrie. “Because midterms are coming up in the next week or two, I will be evaluated in person as if I have been attending in-person class for the past five weeks.”

“Many of my teachers have not changed their curriculum to fit online format and stressors, expecting us to perform and turn in the same amount of work as if we were in person this whole time,” Fischer-Colbrie continued. “It makes it harder to be motivated and provide the same level of effort since no leeway is being given for us having to constantly switch to a new environment.” 

Senior Caitlin Fitter expressed concern about another surge in COVID-19 cases among resident students, especially given the university’s recent isolation space shortage. 

“Obviously we had a huge surge at the beginning of the quarter, and I’m just assuming that with one hundred percent of people back on campus, there will be another surge,” Fitter said. “I’m getting to a point where I’m just burnt out trying to advocate for my peers and their physical health.” 

While students have experienced a significant amount of stress in relation to navigating online class, no group has had to pivot more so than faculty.

Professors are among the most at-risk with a return to in-person learning, as oftentimes their primary — or sole — exposure to the virus is during class time.

“Some of the decisions the university has made so far don’t make a lot of sense to me,” said Robert Shanklin, a professor in the philosophy department. “It seems to be a little bit of a justice issue. Any student who wants to be online can be at this point, but professors don’t have that same option, and I think they absolutely should.”