Student Union
- By VOA News
Cambridge Cancels In-Person Classes Until Summer 2021
The University of Cambridge in Britain announced late Tuesday that due to the coronavirus pandemic it would cancel all in-person lectures until summer 2021.
The prestigious university is the first among Britain’s prominent schools to move all classes online for the next academic year.
The university stated that small-group instruction which follows safe physical distancing might be possible. Its decision follows a plan by Prime Minister Boris Johnson to phase out the existing lockdown slowly. Britain has the fourth-highest number of coronavirus cases globally, with more than 250,000 confirmed cases as of May 20.
In New York, where COVID-19 cases are concentrated, major institutions like Cornell University and Columbia University initially transitioned to virtual lectures in early March but have yet to announce plans for the 2020/21 academic year.
California State University last week became the first major U.S. college to announce it will move to a primarily virtual classroom this fall.
As U.S. colleges have grappled with this dilemma, there have been many disappointed college seniors and incoming college freshmen, canceled sports teams and unique challenges facing historically black colleges and universities. Some students have demanded refunds and discounts, saying the level of instruction is inadequate, and virtual classes should come at a reduced tuition.
The move to online education in higher education and lower grades has raised questions about the quality and effectiveness of virtual learning.
A 2017 Brookings Institution study provided evidence that students in online courses “perform substantially worse than students in traditional in-person courses,” and such experiences can “impact performance in future classes and their likelihood of dropping out of college as well.”
A 2014 MIT study produced different results, saying an on-campus experience was not superior to a virtual one.
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Competition grows for international students eyeing Yale
It’s tough to gain admission to Yale University, and it’s getting even tougher for international students as standout students from around the world set their sights on Yale.
The Yale Dale News, the campus newspaper, takes a look at the situation here.
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Student from Ethiopia says Whitman College culture made it easy to settle in
Ruth Chane, a computer science major from Ethiopia, writes about her experiences settling into student life at Whitman College in the U.S. state of Washington.
"The community at Whitman College made sure I felt welcomed even before I stepped foot on campus," she says.
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Claremont Colleges student gets a shock when she heads home to Shanghai
In The Student Life, the student newspaper for the Claremont Colleges, a consortium of five liberal art colleges and two graduate schools in Claremont, California, student Rochelle Lu writes about readjusting to her Shanghai home after spending a semester in the United States.
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Cedarville University aims to ease transition for international students
Cedarville University in the U.S. state of Ohio says it’s got more than 140 international students representing 44 countries.
Here, the school interviews Jonathan Sutton, director of international student services. He talks about his job and the opportunities for international students on campus.
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Morehouse College offers prospective students tips on applying and thriving
Morehouse College, a private, historically Black liberal arts college in the U.S. state of Georgia, offers a guide for international students interested in attending the school.
Among the tips to apply and thrive at Morehouse:
- Take advantage of the school’s orientation program
- Turn to the school’s Center for Academic Success for tutoring, support and more
- Immerse yourself in campus life via clubs and societies
