SULLIVAN COUNTY -- In early March, college students across the United States were affected by the COVID-19 outbreak that had its first case reported in Wuhan, China on Dec. 31, 2019. Colleges and Universities suspended in-person classes and moved entirely online, as well as cancelled on campus events. The abrupt change that forced students to move back home or off campus caused a shift in education that would soon be faced by the entire country.

“I was really hoping that we would just have a two week break at first,” SUNY Cortland student Jenna Kratz wrote. She is a sophomore and graduated from Sullivan West, and majors in physical education and health education. “Then within a matter of hours all of that changed to online learning and as of yesterday, not going back at all.”

Kratz is part of Colleges Against Cancer, Alliance of Physical Education Majors, and she had an internship through the Institute for Civic Engagement. All of these engagements were cancelled, which meant Kratz, like many other students, were deprived of project hours and skills she would later use for professional development.

In addition to these activities, Kratz works as a tour guide at SUNY Cortland, where colleges now have tour guides meet with prospective students online through video and messaging chats. When it comes to academics, it is not as easy to shift online.

“I have a few activity courses as a Physical Education major and I can't really play tennis online so now it's depriving me of the skill sets,” wrote Kratz. “Plus, I haven't been able to go into the schools for observations and such.”

Students of different majors are all affected differently by COVID-19. However, the most common issue is the inability to perform certain projects or major requirements.

“I don't have access to the music facilities,” College of Saint Rose student Kaleigh Gonzalez wrote. She is a junior in their music education program, and a graduate of the Livingston Manor Central School District. “Some of my courses require conducting which cannot be accomplished both by vocal and instrumental.”

A significant number of students are restricted when it comes to online courses because of their major. Gonzalez and Kratz both require resources that are hard to offer online such as music facilities and tennis courts, and Misericordia University senior and Sullivan West graduate Alexa Santoro faces the same issues while trying to complete her degree.

“I personally am adjusted to online classes because with my major, it has given me that experience already. However, for this senior year, I am taking classes that are difficult to do online, Anatomy and Physiology and Sign language,” wrote Santoro, who is a patient navigation major with a minor in psychology. “The cancellations are making it complicated to get in my lab practicals and finish my field placements that I need in order to graduate.”

These issues are faced by nearly all college students, and Santoro, also addressed the issue of graduation. This day allows seniors to celebrate their accomplishments, but colleges are beginning to consider postponing graduation or even cancelling without current plans to reschedule.

“In all honesty, I am not sure if I will be able to graduate on time, even if seniors get the chance to walk the stage in May,” wrote Santoro. A graduation requirement for her is to complete placements within hospitals, and that cannot be completed online. “I am also unable to complete all the labs necessary to complete my certifications for graduation.”

The quick, unpredictable changes that students and professors had to make is a pivotal moment in education. One lesson that students will not receive in the classroom or on a computer screen is the resilience that will come with the challenges faced by everyone in education.

“It feels as though we are being attacked right now, not being able to experience everything we have been working hard to achieve for all these years,” wrote Santoro, “however, we have to remember that everyone is going through the same thing and this is going to be our new normal for awhile.”