Texas State University students return to campus

Kevin Baxter | Staff Reporter

SAN MARCOS — On January 31, Texas State University returned to in-person classes after the first two weeks of the spring semester began virtual due to the spread of the Omicron COVID-19 Variant. In just their first week back on campus, Texas State students and staff had to take two more days off of instruction due to the winter storm.

Because of concerns about students traveling safely to campus during the winter storm on Feb. 3 and Feb. 4, 2022, students had an additional two days off from in-person instruction. Monday, Feb. 7, 2022, was the start of their first full week of on campus classes.

Before the semester began, Texas State University President Denise M. Trauth made a statement about the university’s plan for returning to in-person classes.

Trauth explained that the decision to have the first two weeks online was made to limit the disruption caused by the latest omicron surge and protect the Texas State University community.

She assured that Texas State would be returning to in-person instruction on January 31, 2022, and elaborated on the reasons the decision to return to on-campus teaching was made.

“We are returning to face-to-face instruction and experiences for a very important reason — the good of our students. While our students learn in a variety of delivery modalities including face-to-face, online, and hybrid instruction, we know many of our students positively benefit from engagement in face-to-face learning and activities,” stated Trauth.

Grant Garrison, a junior Engineering Technologies major, said his main worry was getting covid and having to miss class and quarantine.

“I don’t mind staying at home to stop the spread, but many teachers seem to not be accommodating for students who do catch covid or any illness of any sort. I wish that these professors would understand that this virus is still an ongoing issue, and making students feel like they can’t miss class isn’t going to help,” stated Garrison.

All but one of Garrison’s classes have returned to in-person; though he did mention that he still has the option to take them virtually if he chooses.

“One of the biggest changes I’ve seen with returning to in-person is the lack or lowered level of student involvement on campus. Being part of an organization myself and having relations with others, I’ve seen a noticeable lack of interest and enrollment into student groups after being online for so long,” stated Garrison. “I’m hoping that the amount of engagement returns to normal at some point but I’m not entirely sure.”

On January 25, Emilio Carranco, Texas State’s chief medical officer, released a newsletter titled: COVID-19 Update: Reducing Risk During Spring Semester. The newsletter detailed some of the precautions Texas State recommends for faculty, staff, and students to reduce the risk of infection.

Testing and booster shots were recommended, as well as five-day isolation after a positive COVID-19 test, following CDC guidelines. Individuals were also recommended to report their positive tests to Bobcat Trace, Texas State’s self-reporting contact tracing system.

Although college students and staff have had to start the Spring Semester amid the spread of the Omicron Variant and a record setting freeze, Texas State University is adapting to these unprecedented times.