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How a Rhode Island College Was Forced to Adapt How a Rhode Island College Was Forced to Adapt
(8 days later)
Meghan Hughes is the president of the Community College of Rhode Island.Meghan Hughes is the president of the Community College of Rhode Island.
This article is part of our latest Learning special report, which focuses on the challenges of online education during the coronavirus outbreak.This article is part of our latest Learning special report, which focuses on the challenges of online education during the coronavirus outbreak.
Forty-eight miles long and 37 miles wide, Rhode Island is the smallest state in the country. With a population of about a million people, we’re made up of towns and small cities, and that means you almost always see someone you know when you go to the grocery store.Forty-eight miles long and 37 miles wide, Rhode Island is the smallest state in the country. With a population of about a million people, we’re made up of towns and small cities, and that means you almost always see someone you know when you go to the grocery store.
We had our first confirmed case of Covid-19 on March 1, and that day changed our college forever.We had our first confirmed case of Covid-19 on March 1, and that day changed our college forever.
C.C.R.I. is the only community college in Rhode Island, and the largest in New England. What I learned right away is that my team and I would need to make decisions quickly, with imperfect and incomplete information, to maximize the safety of our 13,000 students and 1,300 employees.C.C.R.I. is the only community college in Rhode Island, and the largest in New England. What I learned right away is that my team and I would need to make decisions quickly, with imperfect and incomplete information, to maximize the safety of our 13,000 students and 1,300 employees.
As the number of coronavirus cases in Rhode Island and nationwide grew, we announced on March 11 that we were moving to remote teaching and learning beginning March 23.As the number of coronavirus cases in Rhode Island and nationwide grew, we announced on March 11 that we were moving to remote teaching and learning beginning March 23.
It’s hard to describe to outsiders the kind of effort that was required to make that move in just 12 days. Well-run colleges are known for thoughtful planning and intentional execution. The pandemic forced us to work in a new way and to do it instantaneously. This semester, our faculty members are teaching 2,400 sections of 600 different courses.It’s hard to describe to outsiders the kind of effort that was required to make that move in just 12 days. Well-run colleges are known for thoughtful planning and intentional execution. The pandemic forced us to work in a new way and to do it instantaneously. This semester, our faculty members are teaching 2,400 sections of 600 different courses.
Before March 23, just 13 percent of our courses were delivered online, and only 19 percent of our faculty had taught an online course before. That’s true for a lot of American colleges. What makes it even more challenging for community colleges is that many of our students come from low-income families.Before March 23, just 13 percent of our courses were delivered online, and only 19 percent of our faculty had taught an online course before. That’s true for a lot of American colleges. What makes it even more challenging for community colleges is that many of our students come from low-income families.
More than 900 students let us know they didn’t have access to Wi-Fi at home, or a device like a laptop to attend classes remotely. Half of our students had never taken an online class.More than 900 students let us know they didn’t have access to Wi-Fi at home, or a device like a laptop to attend classes remotely. Half of our students had never taken an online class.
So we had faculty who needed to learn how to teach their courses in a new way, and students who needed to learn how to go to college in a new way. We had administrators, including me, and staff members who all had to learn how to work entirely from home. And we had to learn it while doing it.So we had faculty who needed to learn how to teach their courses in a new way, and students who needed to learn how to go to college in a new way. We had administrators, including me, and staff members who all had to learn how to work entirely from home. And we had to learn it while doing it.
The faculty spent the week before we launched doing virtual training with our instructional design team and getting support from our I.T. group. Our student services team started doing video meetings with students for services like admissions coaching, advising and tutoring, and our finance team figured out how to move a 50-year-old paper payment system online in a week.The faculty spent the week before we launched doing virtual training with our instructional design team and getting support from our I.T. group. Our student services team started doing video meetings with students for services like admissions coaching, advising and tutoring, and our finance team figured out how to move a 50-year-old paper payment system online in a week.
We had wanted to adapt our work in this way for a long time, but the urgency imperative to do it hadn’t been there, and other priorities took its place. The foundation board, our executive director and his team went into overdrive to find the money to pay for the new student devices, the wireless access, and emergency student support. Our union leadership reached out right away and asked how they could help.We had wanted to adapt our work in this way for a long time, but the urgency imperative to do it hadn’t been there, and other priorities took its place. The foundation board, our executive director and his team went into overdrive to find the money to pay for the new student devices, the wireless access, and emergency student support. Our union leadership reached out right away and asked how they could help.
Community colleges educate nearly half of all American college students. We spend our lives jury-rigging solutions with limited resources. We know what’s at stake in this crisis: our students’ ability to stay in college so they can graduate and get good jobs. The economic crash in our state now means unemployment numbers exceeding those of the great recession.Community colleges educate nearly half of all American college students. We spend our lives jury-rigging solutions with limited resources. We know what’s at stake in this crisis: our students’ ability to stay in college so they can graduate and get good jobs. The economic crash in our state now means unemployment numbers exceeding those of the great recession.
Our students work in restaurants, malls, casinos and other industries that have been hit hard by what is going on, and they have been laid off in significant numbers. We hear from them around the clock through our texting tool.Our students work in restaurants, malls, casinos and other industries that have been hit hard by what is going on, and they have been laid off in significant numbers. We hear from them around the clock through our texting tool.
“This is extremely hard. My entire family got laid off this week,” wrote one. Another said, “I’m trying to take care of my two kids, ages five and seven, and figure out online schooling for all of us.”“This is extremely hard. My entire family got laid off this week,” wrote one. Another said, “I’m trying to take care of my two kids, ages five and seven, and figure out online schooling for all of us.”
Or: “We’re making the best of it. I’m juggling one computer with two younger siblings who are both trying to do high school online.”Or: “We’re making the best of it. I’m juggling one computer with two younger siblings who are both trying to do high school online.”
And because we train the most health care workers of all the Rhode Island colleges, our students tell us they’re on the front lines of the Covid-19 crisis working long hours on the front line for the National Guard, hospitals and nursing homes.And because we train the most health care workers of all the Rhode Island colleges, our students tell us they’re on the front lines of the Covid-19 crisis working long hours on the front line for the National Guard, hospitals and nursing homes.
It’s too early for me to predict what the fallout will be, but I know what wakes me up at night. First, it’s our students who won’t be able to stay in college because they just can’t right now, either because they couldn’t make the switch to remote learning quickly enough or because what they are shouldering in their own families because of the virus means their education gets put on hold. Second, it’s people in this community getting the virus — our faculty, our staff, our administrators, our students.It’s too early for me to predict what the fallout will be, but I know what wakes me up at night. First, it’s our students who won’t be able to stay in college because they just can’t right now, either because they couldn’t make the switch to remote learning quickly enough or because what they are shouldering in their own families because of the virus means their education gets put on hold. Second, it’s people in this community getting the virus — our faculty, our staff, our administrators, our students.
Updated June 24, 2020 Updated June 30, 2020
Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days.
Scientists around the country have tried to identify everyday materials that do a good job of filtering microscopic particles. In recent tests, HEPA furnace filters scored high, as did vacuum cleaner bags, fabric similar to flannel pajamas and those of 600-count pillowcases. Other materials tested included layered coffee filters and scarves and bandannas. These scored lower, but still captured a small percentage of particles.Scientists around the country have tried to identify everyday materials that do a good job of filtering microscopic particles. In recent tests, HEPA furnace filters scored high, as did vacuum cleaner bags, fabric similar to flannel pajamas and those of 600-count pillowcases. Other materials tested included layered coffee filters and scarves and bandannas. These scored lower, but still captured a small percentage of particles.
A commentary published this month on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine points out that covering your face during exercise “comes with issues of potential breathing restriction and discomfort” and requires “balancing benefits versus possible adverse events.” Masks do alter exercise, says Cedric X. Bryant, the president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit organization that funds exercise research and certifies fitness professionals. “In my personal experience,” he says, “heart rates are higher at the same relative intensity when you wear a mask.” Some people also could experience lightheadedness during familiar workouts while masked, says Len Kravitz, a professor of exercise science at the University of New Mexico.A commentary published this month on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine points out that covering your face during exercise “comes with issues of potential breathing restriction and discomfort” and requires “balancing benefits versus possible adverse events.” Masks do alter exercise, says Cedric X. Bryant, the president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit organization that funds exercise research and certifies fitness professionals. “In my personal experience,” he says, “heart rates are higher at the same relative intensity when you wear a mask.” Some people also could experience lightheadedness during familiar workouts while masked, says Len Kravitz, a professor of exercise science at the University of New Mexico.
The steroid, dexamethasone, is the first treatment shown to reduce mortality in severely ill patients, according to scientists in Britain. The drug appears to reduce inflammation caused by the immune system, protecting the tissues. In the study, dexamethasone reduced deaths of patients on ventilators by one-third, and deaths of patients on oxygen by one-fifth.The steroid, dexamethasone, is the first treatment shown to reduce mortality in severely ill patients, according to scientists in Britain. The drug appears to reduce inflammation caused by the immune system, protecting the tissues. In the study, dexamethasone reduced deaths of patients on ventilators by one-third, and deaths of patients on oxygen by one-fifth.
The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the virus. It gives qualified workers two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. It gives 12 weeks of paid leave to people caring for children whose schools are closed or whose child care provider is unavailable because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the United States has had widespread federally mandated paid leave, and includes people who don’t typically get such benefits, like part-time and gig economy workers. But the measure excludes at least half of private-sector workers, including those at the country’s largest employers, and gives small employers significant leeway to deny leave.The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the virus. It gives qualified workers two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. It gives 12 weeks of paid leave to people caring for children whose schools are closed or whose child care provider is unavailable because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the United States has had widespread federally mandated paid leave, and includes people who don’t typically get such benefits, like part-time and gig economy workers. But the measure excludes at least half of private-sector workers, including those at the country’s largest employers, and gives small employers significant leeway to deny leave.
So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement.So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement.
Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks.Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks.
A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study.A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study.
The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April.The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April.
Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days.
If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.)If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.)
If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.
This pandemic has already changed higher education, and this fall I believe we will see early indicators of what the lasting change may be. The return on investment of a college degree will be under the microscope with college students and their families forced to reconsider their pre-pandemic selection of a college and identify more affordable options.This pandemic has already changed higher education, and this fall I believe we will see early indicators of what the lasting change may be. The return on investment of a college degree will be under the microscope with college students and their families forced to reconsider their pre-pandemic selection of a college and identify more affordable options.
Instead of going to a four-year college out of state, a student may stay in the state, possibly living at home and attending a four-year institution as a commuting student or enrolling at the local community college. Now that students have spent half of a semester going to college remotely, some will likely look to online coursework and online degrees to reduce the cost of a degree and increase flexibility.Instead of going to a four-year college out of state, a student may stay in the state, possibly living at home and attending a four-year institution as a commuting student or enrolling at the local community college. Now that students have spent half of a semester going to college remotely, some will likely look to online coursework and online degrees to reduce the cost of a degree and increase flexibility.
I agree with Patrick Methvin, the head of postsecondary-success programs at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, that some colleges will close. Tuition-dependent colleges that are facing diminished fall enrollment, running operating deficits, and have dwindling endowments are at the greatest risk. Both private and public institutions will need to quickly build a strong online presence in order to compete for students and stabilize enrollment.I agree with Patrick Methvin, the head of postsecondary-success programs at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, that some colleges will close. Tuition-dependent colleges that are facing diminished fall enrollment, running operating deficits, and have dwindling endowments are at the greatest risk. Both private and public institutions will need to quickly build a strong online presence in order to compete for students and stabilize enrollment.
How we measure learning may change. Will competency-based learning gain widespread acceptance, or will the traditional credit-hour remain in place and largely unchallenged? Finally, I think we will see continued expansion of delivery models, both hybrid models — combining in-person and online learning — and exclusively online models.How we measure learning may change. Will competency-based learning gain widespread acceptance, or will the traditional credit-hour remain in place and largely unchallenged? Finally, I think we will see continued expansion of delivery models, both hybrid models — combining in-person and online learning — and exclusively online models.
The pandemic mandated that we innovate, and I’m optimistic the innovation will be retained, adapted and, with luck, taken to scale across individual institutions and ultimately across the country.The pandemic mandated that we innovate, and I’m optimistic the innovation will be retained, adapted and, with luck, taken to scale across individual institutions and ultimately across the country.
I believe in this community. I’ve watched C.C.R.I. go from being an underperforming college graduating too few students to leading the way nationally in just a few short years. I feel extremely lucky and proud to be working here, and I know we are going to make it through this crisis stronger and better than we were before.I believe in this community. I’ve watched C.C.R.I. go from being an underperforming college graduating too few students to leading the way nationally in just a few short years. I feel extremely lucky and proud to be working here, and I know we are going to make it through this crisis stronger and better than we were before.