LSU students return to school today for the first time in two weeks, but they won’t be on campus as all classes have been moved online for the semester.
English Lit Professor Kevin Cope says there will be something lost in the translation to online for all students, but he expects those in traditional liberal arts classes will fare best, while some others may not fare as well.
“This is hardest for laboratory sciences, and second behind that would be things involving community engagement such as sociology, social work, anything related to pre-professional education,” says Cope.
The campus has been closed to all but the few students who couldn’t leave and are at the dorms, and essential staff.
Cope says the transition to online learning has gone about well as it could considering the short notice, but LSU was not fully prepared to make the jump.
“We don’t have enough of a library to support massive use of online resources if you look up a journal your chances are about one out of three that we will have an online subscription,” says Cope.
Cope says the school has not been able to invest in its online capabilities due to chronic underfunding of state schools.
“The difficulties that we face are in a way predictable because if you leave something neglected or underfunded for 30, 40, 50 years then of course when an emergency or surprise comes along you are going to have to scramble,” says Cope.
LSU’s campus is currently set to stay closed at least through the end of May.
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