What began as an extended spring break in March 2020 evolved into three fully online semesters for most UWM students. The full classrooms of this semester are in stark contrast to what students have grown used to. After the first few weeks of classes, students are beginning to feel more comfortable – but the adjustment back to campus is difficult for some.
Students cite the physical, social and academic changes associated with in-person learning for the learning curve. The physical adjustment back to campus was noted by students as being the most difficult, but also the most welcomed. Changes in routines and habits contributed to this.
Danielle Burroughs, a sixth-year American Sign Language interpretation student, felt that online learning didn’t provide enough structure, making it difficult to stay motivated. This semester, she moved from all online classes to all in-person ones.
“I don’t really think I had a routine,” Burroughs said. “In the beginning, I would actually try to get up and get ready for my day, and then it slowly turned into just getting up right before class.”
Burroughs said she wants to be there for younger students, primarily freshmen. She feels they are in a particularly vulnerable place as they deal with the normal adjustments of freshmen year, on top of going back to in-person learning for the first time in a while.
First-year student Nate Pulda, a psychology major, compared his daily routines from last year and this semester. In high school, he had online, hybrid and in-person learning, which wasn’t all bad. Now, he says he finds it easier to focus and create structure on campus, though sometimes misses the flexibility of learning from home.
“Now I wake up at a reasonable time and eat meals more frequently, also I am just out of my bedroom more often,” Pulda said. “I know it doesn’t sound like much but coming off of online school it is. Staying in bed all day in the dark wasn’t good for me, but I do miss it in a way.”
Natalie Hernandez, a third-year urban studies student, has been talking with peers in her classes and says she has picked up on how those around her are feeling.
“There’s a lot of mixed emotions on campus based on who I’ve talked to,” Hernandez said. “We’re excited and nervous, but also appreciative of human connection and learning after not having it for over a year.”
University Counseling Services had been anticipating an influx in students seeking care; particularly after many students chose providers nearer to their homes while off campus.
Carrie Fleider, the director of University Counseling Services, has noticed students returning to university counseling after spending time on campus around other students.
“We definitely have seen students who, after a year of living alone or being more socially isolated, are having difficulty with social interactions,” Fleider said. “They’re feeling more socially awkward; [socializing is] not coming back as easily as they had anticipated. They’re feeling more self-conscious and less confident in their social skills.”
Fleider emphasized that each student is experiencing things differently and while some are struggling, others are thriving on campus.
“They’ve come to appreciate what they couldn’t have during the pandemic and online semesters,” Fleider said. “They are taking full advantage of the opportunities on campus.”
However, the academic and social opportunities can be overwhelming to students. Especially after multiple semesters where many activities and interactions were not offered or were optional. Hernandez, who has a full class schedule and a job at Target, wants to get involved but struggles to find the time.
“Everyone feels like a year and a half has been robbed and like we need to play catch up,” Hernandez said. “I want to join clubs and interact with other students now that I have a chance but I feel a pressure to do it quickly and, with regular school work and a job, it can be a little stressful.”
The University Counseling Center has seen graduate students being particularly affected during this first in-person semester.
“They have to teach classes and are on the front lines in a way; they don’t really have a choice,” Fleider said. “We’re hearing that they’re feeling particularly vulnerable because of COVID. Some are angry about the university not mandating vaccinations and such.”
When the pandemic began and classes were temporarily moved online, the return to campus seemed close. But almost three semesters later, campus life is still being defined by COVID-19.
“Being surrounded by everyone for the first time in so long and also with masks and all it made it feel different,” Hernandez said. “I guess we all were expecting to come back and pick up exactly where we left off, but after so much time and COVID still being around it’s… it’s just different.”