From moving classes online to postponing graduation, Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK) has joined the many universities that have made changes because of the outbreak of COVID-19 in the United States.
During Spring Break, on March 13, the University emailed faculty, staff and current students that the holiday would be extended for an extra week while the university determined its plan of action. After schools across the country began announcing they would be moving classes online, TAMUK students took to social media to question if Javelina Nation would do the same.
Students questions were answered when the University officially confirmed it would be moving all classes and labs online on Tuesday, March 17.
“Texas A&M University-Kingsville faculty have been working to ensure we can deliver course content in the most effective manner during [these] rapidly-evolving times. We want to ensure you are able to complete this semester. As such, beginning March 23, all lecture courses and labs will be delivered in a virtual format,” said Dr. George Allen Rasmussen the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs in an email sent to students
Those majoring in veterinary technology, social work, communication sciences and disorders, nutrition and music were encouraged to contact their program coordinators to learn more about how their labs will be conducted. Engineering students enrolled in a Senior Design course where advised to do the same.
Dr. Jaya Goswami, the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, said that the Deans of each college and faculty made the decisions on which classes would be moving online after careful consideration.
While the university will be having classes online, campus will still be open. Residence halls, food services, computer labs and the library remain open. The hours each of these places will be open can be found at https://www.tamuk.edu/coronavirus/FAQ.html under the “Will Texas A&M-Kingsville be open following the extended spring break?”
Dr. Goswami confirmed that student workers will still be able to work during this time. However, the University states they can work if they have work that needs to be completed and are able to work. Students are advised to check in with their supervisors to see if they can work on campus.
Along with moving classes online, the university has also postponed May graduation. Graduates will receive their diploma in the mail and will be given the opportunity to walk across the stage in a future commencement ceremony this year.
The university does not foresee expected graduates to experience graduation delays.
“Students planning to complete their studies this May should be able to so. Currently, the university is considering alternative methods of instruction delivery that will keep students on track toward graduation in May,” Dr. Goswami said.
After hearing of graduation being cancelled, students were sad to hear they would not be able to experience a meaningful moment.
“The spring commencement ceremony is canceled for TAMUK. Probably the worst news I’ve heard this week with everything going on. I can understand both sides of this situation, but man does this one hit home for me,” one student posted on social media.
There has yet to be a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the Kingsville or the surrounding areas, however as students may come back from places with cases, the university is putting preventative methods in place to keep students safe.
One way the university is working to slow the spread of the virus is by increasing sanitization.
“SSC has increased sanitization of all campus touch points, including door handles, tables, light switches, countertops, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, sinks, push bars and stairwell handrails) and phones and are intensifying their sanitization of public spaces. Aramark continues to intensify sanitizing efforts, replacing utensils at appropriate food stations, such as the tongs at the salad bar and other touch points. Sanitization is occurring every 15 minutes,” the university COVID-19 website said.
The University is still developing and adjusting plans to deal with the COVID-19 outbreak. University updates can be found at https://www.tamuk.edu/coronavirus/index.html and on Javelina Nation’s social media.
