As many of us prepare to return to campus— both as we kick off a new academic year and, physically, as we approach a new phase of the pandemic— Jivanto van Hemert, Communications Chair, Director of Case Management & COVID Response Operations, Ohio University shares 5 things on his mind about navigating this new part of our collective adventure:
- We're all personally facing an unintended destination just like we were at the height of the pandemic. I wrote about this experience (linked here) earlier in the pandemic (in the wake of campus closures) and it's a fascinating reflection to see how much of this is still (or again) true now.
- What has it been like to be a student in college during a pandemic? I often wonder what students think or feel about this past year. Check out the Student Voice survey (linked here) to learn more about student’s ambivalent feelings about their college experiences as well as what has worked for them and what hasn’t.
- We are welcoming a group of second-year students that have an atypical set of institutional knowledge—they may know their faculty members from behind a screen but not be able to find their way to the classroom. Even for folks (students & staff alike) returning physically to campus, this fall will feel different. Read more about the culture shock they (we) are likely to experience in this Inside Higher Ed piece.
- Now, more than ever, I’m wondering about how we find the balance. In a world where everything has been turned on its head, we have a unique opportunity to improve rather than simply “return to normal.” How do we craft systems and structures to support and empower the people within our organizations? Let’s capitalize on this call to engage in self and communal care. To support that effort, I like some of the resources from the Audre Lorde Project linked here.
- We are all navigating difficult—personal and organizational situations: When is the risk of being around others worth it and when isn’t it? How can we be intentional about crafting the in-person experiences many of us are craving while maintaining critical public health & personal safety measures? We owe it to ourselves and each other to follow the science, lean into the challenges of navigating the ever-evolving world of COVID, and explore resources like this myth-busting page from the Ohio Department of Health.