Here & Now

Universities Turn to Online Classes

Frederica Freyberg:

As we’ve reported, universities across the state have made the decision to conduct classes online following spring break, at least through April 10th. In tonight’s closer look, we check in with the Associate Vice-chancellor and Executive Director of University Health Services at UW-Madison Jake Baggott for more. Thanks for being here.

Jake Baggott:

Thank you.

Frederica Freyberg:

First, has UW-Madison had any suspected or confirmed cases of coronavirus at this point?

Jake Baggott:

We’ve had a few cases that we suspected but all the tests now are negative and so we have no positive cases with students on campus.

Frederica Freyberg:

Okay. And so as of close of class today, spring break starts for these students for one week. And then what?

Jake Baggott:

So right. So we’ve prepared students for the idea that we’re going to be shifting to an online delivery of academic instruction. We’ve asked them to take their materials from their residence halls, or their apartments if they’re traveling away and to be prepared to resume academic instruction in an online mode or other alternative delivery method when spring breaks term ends.

Frederica Freyberg:

Why did the university make this decision at this time?

Jake Baggott:

So it’s a carefully considered decision, considering our particular environment, the quickly-developing circumstances across the country with the influenza and then recognizing that if we can get in front of this and control the potential risk, that we can better protect our community and our students.

Frederica Freyberg:

So at this point, it would potentially delay any kind of surge in cases that were represented by the UW-Madison community, but what happens when these students return?

Jake Baggott:

Certainly. Well, and what we hope and what we’ve asked is that students be prepared to stay at home. So as the situation develops and we continue to assess that, we may need to make a decision to continue that through the balance of the semester. We’re preparing as if that’s going to be the case.

Frederica Freyberg:

The balance of the semester?

Jake Baggott:

Teaching online, right. We’ll reevaluate the early part of April and determine is that still the appropriate path for us and how do we best support that. So we’re prepared for that contingency. So students, most won’t return necessarily to the community. Some obviously will. We’ve encouraged them not to travel actually if that’s the case, if they’re already residing here in the community. The residence halls is one of our biggest challenges.

Frederica Freyberg:

Right. How many students live in the dorms that this would affect that they literally had to move out of their dorm rooms?

Jake Baggott:

Sure and so we’ve not asked them to actually move out, but take the things they would need to continue their instruction. But about 7 — little over 7,000 students actually reside in the residence halls. Because of the demand for those, they’re generally very full.

Frederica Freyberg:

What provisions for students who can’t leave their dorms or stay off campus?

Jake Baggott:

Right. So we know that there are certain students who will not be able to travel or they might be in situations that going home would put them at a disadvantage in terms of continuing their education online because of access to technology and so forth. So we have a process in place to consider how to continue to house them in the residence halls. But those numbers will be considerably less.

Frederica Freyberg:

Do you know about how many?

Jake Baggott:

We expect 1,000 to 2,000. That’s still a developing process. Right now there’s an ongoing process for applying for that ability to retain that. We have a large number of international students that we think will make up a certain portion of that.

Frederica Freyberg:

How prepared are professors and other instructors to teach classes online?

Jake Baggott:

Yeah. So that’s going to vary of course. Some have already been using that technology, will do well. We’ve got a team already working with that technology and that support. So some of those classes will start off very, very smoothly, with no interruption necessarily and others might take a little more time to get fully functional. But we feel like our faculty will adapt to that and understand the necessity for that.

Frederica Freyberg:

Should students actually return to campus around that April 10 date and should they be coming from places like New Rochelle, New York, or Washington State, would there then be some process where they would be tested for coronavirus upon their return?

Jake Baggott:

Sure. So the guidance right now — and it could change, of course, but the guidance right now, people who are returning from areas where CDC has already confirmed there is community spread, we would ask them first of all to self-quarantine at that point. That’s a 14-day period. So that would require them to limit their contact. Actually to stay pretty much within wherever they’re going to be residing during that period of time until they could be fully engaged in the community. But that shouldn’t interrupt online learning that might be going on.

Frederica Freyberg:

Why are staff not working remotely at this point unless there’s changing guidance on that?

Jake Baggott:

Sure and actually some staff are. We’re very — I mean one of the important considerations about this decision is not putting our employees and our staff at any necessary risk. And so we’ve had some employees who have already transitioned to online. That will continue to develop as a possibility as circumstances warrant. And so that’s always been an option. It’s just not something that has been widespread.

Frederica Freyberg:

All right. We’ll leave it there. We’ll watch this as it develops. Jake Baggett, thanks very much.

Jake Baggott:

Thank you.