On June 2, William Jewell College announced changes to the fall 2020 schedule in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to these changes, the College is shifting potential modes of delivery for classes to account for more variability between in-person, online and hybrid courses. 

The faculty ultimately made the decision to make all classes after Thanksgiving virtual. Dr. Ian Coleman, professor of music and Faculty Council chairman, described the decision-making process on the part of the faculty and explained that there was overwhelming support for the changes to the schedule – in order for both faculty and students to plan for the semester ahead.

“Faculty are being asked to consider some additional formal classifications for class instruction… This means that from the beginning, students will know what to expect in terms of their classroom environment. Some of these class formats require more in-class experience and others less, but whatever format is chosen, students will know ahead, and be able to plan their semester accordingly. Temporarily, and I stress that this is temporary, until we overcome this virus, life on The Hill will be different,” Coleman said.

“As much as we can plan knowing that fact, and communicate expectations to Students and Faculty, the better for all,” Coleman continued. “Once we have selected our modes of delivery [where each faculty member will be able to pick the appropriate mode for each class], we will all receive training in best practices for crafting classes that are effective in that particular format.”

On June 15, faculty confirmed five potential modes of delivery. The five modes of delivery are: face to face, hybrid asynchronous, hybrid synchronous, online asynchronous and online synchronous. Dr. Anne Dema, provost of the College, recommended to the faculty the changes in modes of delivery after consultation with academic department chairs and signature program leaders. The five modes of delivery will replace current categories of Web-Enhanced, Hybrid, and Online. These changes will be permanent – not just for the 2020-2021 school year. 

The mode of delivery of each class will be determined before the start of classes so students will be aware of the course plans. Syllabi templates will also be updated to include modes of delivery. Every class will be required to have a presence on Moodle with syllabi posted. The mode of delivery will determine how much course material will be required to be available on Moodle.

• Face to face (FtF) courses will meet physically in person for 76-100 percent of contact hours prescribed by the course type and units. The syllabus and some course materials and activities will be made available on Moodle
• Hybrid asynchronous (HA) courses will have both face to face and asynchronous instructional modes. Between 25-75 percent of contact hours will be physically face-to-face. Syllabi and many course materials and activities will be made available on Moodle
• Hybrid synchronous (HS) courses will have both face to face and synchronous instructional modes. Between 25-75 percent of contact hours will be physically face-to-face. Syllabi and many course materials and activities will be made available on Moodle
• Online asynchronous (OA) courses will be 100 percent online with asynchronous instruction modes. When feasible, instructors may schedule physical face-to-face meetings for orientation and student evaluation. Syllabi and all course materials and activities will be made available on Moodle. Grades must be posted to Moodle
• Online synchronous (OS) courses will be 100 percent online with synchronous instruction modes. When feasible, instructors may schedule physical face-to-face meetings for orientation and student evaluation. Syllabi and all course materials and activities will be made available on Moodle. Grades must be posted to Moodle

“The idea is to allow faculty to construct the best learning environment possible, as opposed to asking them to react to a particular campus incident like in spring. That said, we are also developing protocols for Operation Safe Campus that define how each mode of delivery will adapt should the threat levels change, so that we can keep the campus safe,” said Dema.

The College is also discussing placing an iPad in all classrooms to allow students unable to attend face-to-face classes due to illness to participate via Zoom. 

Further fall semester plans are not yet finalized, but the potential decisions are being considered with the safety and health of the community in mind. Once faculty individually decide the format with which each class will take place, other protocols regarding classes will be determined. 

These protocols could include, but are not limited to: keeping a distance in the classroom, deciding when and where to wear masks, being creative in how ensembles are offered, considering ways to offer laboratory courses effectively and developing cleaning routines before and after each class. This could lead to using larger spaces on campus for larger classes and using outdoor spaces, weather permitting.

Coleman stressed that further plans for how classes may look in the fall cannot be finalized until faculty choose modes of delivery. The following infographic includes drafted – not final or definitive – measures for various modes of delivery associated with different Operation Safe Campus threat levels.

Kaylie Kappelmann, sophomore psychology, non-profit leadership and ACT-In triple major, has been making good use of her newly found free time, courtesy of William Jewell College’s transition to online school in the wake of COVID-19. 

On campus Kappelmann was heavily involved in organizations such as the soccer team, Alpha Gamma Delta sorority and Student Senate. Since returning to her home in Olathe, Kansas, Kappelmann has had to adjust to online classes, organization meetings and a new job. To fill up some of her time she has started working the night shift three times a week at Hyvee. 

Here’s a look at her Monday schedule. 

6 a.m.: Shift ends at Hyvee

Kappelmann works at Hyvee from 10 p.m. Sunday night until 6 a.m. Monday morning. She unloads trucks and stocks shelves. Kappelmann has noticed that since Kansas extended the stay-at-home order to May 3 the shipments have gotten much larger. Hyvee provides masks and gloves for employees and requires them to wash hands frequently and keep six feet apart from each other. After working, she’ll eat breakfast and get ready for class. 

9 a.m.:  Business law class

Kappelmann has some classes that meet via Zoom every class period and others that never meet. She has noticed that her workload has significantly lightened for the classes that don’t meet, as she has more time to do assignments. In other classes she feels the work has increased because she needs to spend more time teaching herself the material.

10:05 a.m.: Soccer meeting

Since the team can’t practice in person, they have been spending time scouting next season’s opponents. Kappelmann and her teammates divide into groups to watch game footage and take notes. 

11:15 a.m.: Accounting class

12:20 p.m.: Lunch 

12:30 p.m.: Nap

Since Kappelman works the night shift, she spends the afternoon catching up on sleep. While working nights was difficult at first, she quickly adjusted to sleeping during the day and says that she has actually gotten more sleep that she would get at Jewell.

6 p.m.: Wake up, eat dinner

7 p.m.: Sorority meeting

Similar to class, Kappelmann’s sorority has continued meeting via Zoom. 

8 p.m.: Workout 

Since she can’t work out with the soccer team in person, Kappelmann does her workouts on her own. She has suffered from multiple injuries and does physical therapy exercises during this time as well. 

To keep a consistent sleep schedule and make working the night shift easier, Kappelmann stays up until three or four in the morning each night. During this time she likes to work on homework, do puzzles and watch TikTok and Netflix. Her current Netflix picks have been “Tiger King,” “Supergirl” and “How to Get Away with Murder.”

One of her favorite hobbies she has picked up since returning home has been yoga. She plans to continue doing yoga even after social distancing guidelines have been lifted.

Kappelmann has been keeping a positive outlook throughout this time, noticing a lot of good has come out of it. 

“The positive is the time I have,” said Kappelmann. “Having a lot more time, being a lot less stressed, having time to do things that I didn’t have time to do on campus – time to do yoga, watch [N]etflix, time to be with family.” 

After the stay-at-home orders end, Kappelmann plans to continue carving out time to relax.

“I definitely think I’ll focus more on taking care of myself,” Kappelmann said. “Now that I do have a lot more time I’ve been taking a lot better care of myself.”

She also notes that this time has made her grateful for the relationships she built at Jewell. Kappelmann sees online school as a reminder not to take friendships and her college experience for granted. 

“It reiterates that I know I made the right choice with the college I went to,” said Kappelman of missing Jewell. “I can’t wait to be back on campus and see everyone. I really cherish my friendships now.”