Hunter
04/15/20
Faculty and students at the University of Iowa are experiencing anxiety over the uncertainty of the fall semester, as they adapt to online instruction to finish the spring semester.
The Daily Iowan reports that the Faculty Council held its first virtual meeting since the school effectively closed brick and mortar buildings and sent students home. They quote law professor Caroline Sheerin as saying students are wondering if they should take a gap year or should faculty take a leave.
In the last Board of Regents meeting, President Mike Richards said all systems are go for a regular fall semester, including full campus operations.
Faculty Senate President Sandra Daack-Hirsch agreed that the fall semester is uppermost on everyone’s minds, and being shared by faculty, staff and students.
Tippie College of Business marketing professor Gary Russell said if the university is to continue online instruction in the fall, everyone involved should be notified as soon as possible, adding that telling the community in August isn’t an option.
The UI has cancelled the first three of five summer sessions, which runs through Mid June. The DI reports the school has yet to make a decision on sessions four and five.
