Dankook University announced their plans to return to face to face classes for the upcoming first semester of 2022. The decision to return to the classroom was based on an announcement made by the Ministry of Education (MoE) with the release of their 2022 National Agenda Report tabled at the beginning of this year, that the government plans to return to full academic recovery with the help of strict school disinfection policies. With the new semester right around the corner, the MoE announced a detailed academic operation procedure in response to Omicron. They requested universities actively increase the number of in-person classes, but at the same time prepare alternative ways for students to attend during COVID-19 and quarantine. Based on the announcement, the policy of DKU states that the school will offer in-person classes for courses with less than 40 students, and virtual classes for courses with more than 41 students. There is an exception for courses requiring practical training, design practice, and experiments, all of which will be conducted in-person. Consequently, many classes are making the switch to face to face learning. Laboratory classes for the College of Engineering, College of Science & Technology, and all the classes for Dept. of Public Administration, College of Medicine are also planning to hold in-person classes. In addition, the Dept. of Political Science and International Relations is planning to hold all classes but two, in-person.

▲ Dankook University starts in-person classes in 2022 (Photo from Datanet)

   Other universities are announcing their guidelines for the next semester, too. Seoul National University presented their ‘Guide to Operating First Semester’ saying they will prioritize in-person classes. Only in cases where a virtual class that emphasizes flipped-learning shows prominent effectiveness, will the course be conducted online. Hanyang University is also going to start in-person classes for undergraduate studies, but they will allow a few sizable classes, which consist of 80 or more students, to continue operating virtual lectures. Besides these universities, about 28 schools are planning to prioritize in-person classes. Kyonggi and Ajou University, which are located near DKU, have also prioritized in-person classes. They will progress with in-person classes if the number of students is less half the classroom capacity. When a class exceeds that capacity, the lessons will be conducted both in-person and online. However, large-scale classes with 100 or more students will only be offered virtually. DKU said the decision was made to respond to the MoE’s concerns regarding learning deficits caused by COVID-19. DKU assured students that they will do their best to prevent infection from COVID-19 through enforcement of social distancing and the use of partitions between desks. Despite their best efforts, there are a lot of Dankookians (Students of DKU) who have questions and concerns about the school’s policy. The Dankook Herald (DKH) interviewed Mr. Park, a member of the academic affairs team of DKU about their new plan. First, regarding the possibility that the teaching method might change with the spread of Omicron he replied, there will be no change. But if the government policy changes, DKU will have no choice but to alter their plans. He also said, students and staff should be assured, any changes will be announced prior to implementation, giving them time to adapt to the new situation. With regards to attendance, a person with symptoms, a COVID-19 patient and close contacts, do not need to participate in face-to-face classes as the attendance will be excused. But in the case of virtual classes, students must participate in the class no matter what their state is. He also explained when a COVID-19 patient or close contact is a professor, in-person classes will be converted to virtual lessons, be conducted by another professor or be rescheduled for a later date. The professor can only return to the classroom if they submit a negative COVID-19 test or a confirmation of release from quarantine to the university. Finally, it was decided that all classes, with the exception of pass/fail courses, will be scored according to absolute grading.

   There are also universities that have left the decision to their own professors. For example, Yonsei University will let professors choose their teaching methods on their own, no matter how many students take the class. If the class has 70 or less students, Ewha Woman’s University has asked faculty members to decide how the class will proceed.

   Despite the spread of the Omicron variance, about 47 universities are trying to offer a hybrid of both in-person and virtual classes. They usually run their in-person classes when the course content requires experimentation or is a performance-based. Overall, the rate of in-person classes has increased over the past two years.

▲ Classrooms of Dankook University are being prepared for upcoming in-person classes. (Photo from UNN)

   Dankookians have had mixed reaction to the plans. When asked if they were in favor of in-person classes, all interviewees said yes and they seemed to be satisfied with the proposed teaching method. When asked about their opinions on in-person classes, Lee Young-sun, a student in the School of Communications said, "When COVID-19 first spread, students who started at DKU were unable to enjoy their school life. Furthermore, many Dankookians expressed concerns about the quality of online lectures and exams every year, so these problems are expected to be somewhat resolved. However, quarantine measures and procedure manuals should be prepared in the event of a contagion in the classroom. If the number of confirmed patients in Korea explodes further, the conversion of the scheduled in-person classes should be considered according to the government's quarantine plans and any MoE policy.” Kook Yoo-jin, a student in the Dept. of British and American Humanities also said, “Learning efficiency is likely to increase significantly because we can directly communicate with the professor, ask questions immediately about things we do not understand and get feedback. I think I will also be able to experience a ‘real university life’ by strengthening friendships with my colleagues face to face for the first time.“ Lim Eun-bin, a student of the School of Communications said “Virtual classes also have advantages in that active self-directed learning is possible, but in person classes will be more effective for us to focus on field experience and to be able to communicate with professors directly. I think it is time for college students to prioritize the right to learn as two years have already passed. DKU's response to COVID-19 was good, but it would be better if the notice of in-person classes were speedier.”

   After the long and exhausting run of virtual courses, campuses are opening their doors to return to face to face classes. However, the danger of exposure to COVID-19 still exists, even on campus. For a safer school life, the academic operation procedure has changed frequently and there are many opinions on the issue. While many Dankookians welcome these changes, concerns about the current rate of infections remain. After the semester starts in March, and the number of in-person classes increases, DKU will undoubtedly experience unexpected situations. For a safe and more satisfying academic life, the school needs to thoroughly prepare for emergencies and act swiftly and wisely to address the matters. Students attending school should also keep in mind that one infection can multiply rapidly, so they should be responsible and look after themselves and their classmates. Everyone deserves access to a safe and successful academic environment.