By: Sadie Murphy
Regarding COVID-19, Dr. Gary Morris, Vice President of Academic Affairs, told The Phoenix he would “like to say a lot [to his students during this crisis]” but mainly remind them that “they’re the reason wer'e here.” GSC has been working hard to keep students safe and promote their success during this pandemic. The following are updates we have so far.
Resident Hall Retrieval Process
On March 24, Trae Sprague emailed students to explain how they would be affected by Governor Justice’s “stay-at-home” order. The Phoenix’s last article, “What to expect when expecting (to return to campus – or not” revealed that students who left residency at Glenville would not be permitted to return to stay on campus.1 In another article, “Campus closes due to COVID-19 crisis” Sprague was questioned but unable to answer because he was “awaiting instruction from Administration.”2
That same day, a Phoenix Reporter scheduled to retrieve their belongs from Goodwin Hall by using https//www.cognitoforms.com/GlenvilleStateCollege1/ReturnToCampusRequest and filling out their name, ID, and phone number. Students should fill out the online survey before picking up their belongings to prevent conflict or chaos. You may schedule an appointment “Monday through Friday ONLY between 8:30 AM and 4:00 PM.” No students will be allowed to remain on campus if they have left for Spring Break, not even to stay the night and drive back in the morning. This can increase the likelihood of exposure. Give yourself plenty of time to retrieve your belongings and return home safely.
Please note that you may only bring one additional person (other than yourself) with you to help you pack up your personal belongings. This is to ensure the safety of those who have remained on campus since before Spring Break and minimize the possible spread of the illness.
On arrival to the campus, the Reporter was directed to the Waco Center where a tent was set up in front of Minnie Hamilton (a healthcare center) to screen for fever, possible contact with anyone who has had the Corona virus (that you are aware of), and any symptoms you may currently have. If you chose to bring an additional person to help you, they are required to be screened too. All health screenings for entrance into the school are free. Some individuals may require additional testing. Upon successful completion of the health screening, you will be given a paper with your name, the date and time of completion, and the signature of a healthcare professional. Take this paper with you before you enter residential buildings.
All residential students should report to the Residential Life Office after the completion of their health screening. There they must pick up their masks and gloves, which are required for students removing their belongings. A member of the GSC staff will be with you shortly to reactivate your key cards. All key cards have been disabled to prevent students from returning after leaving for Spring Break. Bolt locks have also been secured. The school is working very hard to protect you and those who have remained on campus. “When possible, the student should avoid contact with other members of the campus community,” the email reads.
When you are finished removing your belongings, you should turn your key into a wooden box at the front desk in Goodwin Hall. You will also need to fill out a return address for mail and return your mail key in the same box. The forms will be located at the front desk.
The reporter stated that their experience on the campus was very friendly and calming. In his email, Sprague apologized for the inconvenience this has caused students and assured them “your possessions are safe.” Dr. Morris also assured students that their rooms would remain theirs and locked until the semester is over. Students should not worry about their belongings being stolen or thrown away. No deadline has been set yet to determine the latest you can pick up your belongings.
Campus Counseling Information
Licensed Professional Counselor at Glenville Tim Underwood informed The Phoenix about his plans to “help [in] anyway [he] can.” He gave a hearty chuckled as he said, “I’m stuck at home too.” Despite this, Underwood has purchased a platform to help him meet remotely with students from Glenville. His patients this semester can have “therapy face-to-face on the computer.” While he is still checking the legality of working with students who live out-of-state, in-state students can feel free to email him at Timothy.Underwood@glenville.edu. You can also leave a message on his office phone at 304-462-6432. Student who have not seen him this semester or at all in the past can still set up appointments with him. Underwood explained that you can expect a response within 24 hours as he works the “best he can on [his] end.”
So far, Underwood’s work has involved linking students with medication problems and having them taken care of. If you’ve had referrals from Underwood for medications through Minnie Hamilton in the past, he can help you get in touch with your healthcare provider to help you get your medications.
Advice for Students Dealing with Anxiety or Depression Due to COVID-19
If you are struggling with anxiety or depression during this crisis, you can visit http://www.ulifeline.org/glenville/ to find counseling services and self-assessments. You can also access this site by going to the Glenville homepage, going to Student Life on the top right of the webpage, scrolling down until you find Counseling Center and click on it, then find the section titled, “ULifeline.”
It’s important to maintain a healthy mind while going through these hard times. Underwood told The Phoenix that he was planning on getting some “light therapy” with his wife this evening by going on a nice walk.
An article he supplied, “Coping and Staying Emotionally Well During COVID-19-related School Closures,” reminds us that anxiety is a perfectly healthy response to what were currently facing.3 The article advises to “maintain routines as much as possible.” He advises that you treat your classes like a job, get out for exercise, hang in tight, and follow the laws of your state.
The article also reminds of us to “practice healthy habits and the kinds of self-care that [are of] most benefit.” Underwood stresses the importance of just getting up and getting a shower and putting on some nice clean clothes to help with depression.
The article warns “avoid crowd - but stay connected.” Many students are missing hanging out with their “homies (a common meme slang meaning friends)” but Underwood was fast to list several ways you can now stay in touch online. From Facebook to Snapchat, Skype to Instagram, there are endless ways to keep in touch despite stay-at-home orders. However, do not use Facebook to gather all your new information. The article reminds students to “seek news only from reliable sources, and only in short stints.” It’s important to not become absorbed in COVID-19 news and to “appropriately disconnect.” Underwood suggests “lov[ing] up on your animals.”
“Take breaks to ease your mind and distract yourself when you start to worry,” is the last bit of wisdom the article provides. Underwood wants students to know that they can contact their professors on Blackboard for help and contact the ACS center for assistance. Dr. Morris wants students to know that he believes “the faculty and staff have been incredibly responsive to students but if students do have trouble and can’t get ahold of anyone, they can contact him.”
Underwood also suggests to “monitoring college emails daily to see changes being made” and “stay positive” because “it is going to be okay.”
Regarding Student Concerns About This Being A “Test Run For An All Online College”
While many students worry that the switch to all online classes are a “test run for making Glenville an online college,” Dr. Morris spoke to The Phoenix about the different demographics that are considered when planning online courses. Many students in face-to-face, traditional courses are mainly around 21 years of age. The online populous is made up of mostly 25-39-year-old students. “There are no intentions to move away from face-to-face classes,” Morris said, “No. [The ability of all classes to be held online] is not going to change the nature of our face-to-face classes but we have worked on expanding online courses. That’s not going to change face-to-face courses.”
Additional Charges or Refunds
Morris told The Phoenix that “we are keeping a close eye on [funds]. It depends a lot on what the state and national government decide to due and how they can help us.” He empathizes with students who are anxious about their financial efforts toward their education. For now, Morris “ask[s] for patience.”
Summer Classes
Morris told The Phoenix that “summer is less of a problem because in the past five years, most have been online.” There should be no impact to course offerings for the summer semester. They should be running as planned.
Student Government
The Phoenix has not yet made contact with SGA President Colton Ring, however Vice President Scott Barber said, “As far as I know from our group chat, we’re not planning on it because we aren’t on campus,” regarding being asked at what compacity Student Government will be working for the rest of the semester.
Morris said he would be working with the SGA at “whatever compacity they accept [him] to.” He explained that they had made serval mechanisms available, “if they want to meet.” This includes Zoom. Morris is ready to “participate as much or as little as they invite [him] to.” However, he does not wish to “overextend [his] welcome.”
Tutoring Centers
Dr. Melody Wise told The Phoenix that “we are trying to work this out. I will let you know when I have more information,” regarding the future of the writing center during this crisis.
Multiple attempts to contact Stacy Adkins, regarding the academic success center student tutors, were not successful.
Statement from Student Workers
Emily Turner tells The Phoenix that "the physical plant has been downsized temporarily due to the corona virus. The student workers and part-time workers have been deemed non-essential personal and now have to be left without a paycheck for who knows how long. This is a big cause of anxiety for me; I have bills and rent to pay and I’m not sure when I’ll be able to go back to work and get my next paycheck. I also feel that there are not enough options for people who work part-time to get financial support for unprecedented situations like this. I'm not sure how many student workers in different departments have been affected like I have but I do know that at least four people from my department have been affected."
One job physical plant student workers, like Emily Turner (pictured below), were tasked with before being sent home was bleaching the doors of the resident halls to sanitize the area.
Nicole Hall, an RA from our last article, provided the update “the only thing that’s different is a lot of people are retrieving their belongings.”1
Personal Statement From Our Interim President
Dr. Kathleen Nelson sent a statement to The Phoenix to reach out to her students during this critical time. For the end of the article, that is what we leave you with.
“Dear Pioneers,
While each day is seeing rapid changes in how our nation, state, and college respond to issues relating to the coronavirus, two things remain constant…..the commitment you, as students, demonstrate to fulfilling your academic courses and the commitment we as faculty, staff, and administrators bring to ensure that you can do so in a healthy and safe environment. I know that your challenges have been many and that not all questions yet have answers. Such uncertainty can cause frustration, I know. In times of uncertainty, reach out to one another (with appropriate social distancing, of course) and to those of us at GSC who can assist you. YOUR successful completion of the spring semester is our number one goal!
I wish you well as you meet the challenges ahead of you. I believe, sincerely, that you and GSC will be stronger on the other side of this pandemic and all it has brought into our lives.
With best regards,
Kathy
Dr. Kathleen L. Nelson
Interim President”
***Additional Updates will occur as additional information becomes available.
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