CCNY Students Demand Online Courses for Spring 2022: Here’s Why

Emely Rodriguez, a third-year sociology student at City College, had to pick up a job during the pandemic to help her family stay afloat financially. Taking classes online proved to be convenient, given her schedule. “The main benefit I had from remote learning was quickly getting a job when both my parents lost theirs at the beginning of quarantine,” said Rodriguez, 19. “Since then I’ve kept that job to keep providing for my family. So forcing students to be completely in-person seems unfair; they should have a choice.”

Rodriguez is reacting to the news that in Spring 2022 the vast majority of classes at CUNY will be held in person despite the fact that for the past 19 months students have had to adapt to online learning. With vaccine rates and mandates increasing, beginning in January, CUNY plans to have the most in-person semester since COVID-19 restrictions began. Though some students and faculty are eager to return to campus, others, like Rodriguez, have become comfortable with remote learning and have conflicting thoughts about CUNY’s plans. Last month, Brian D., a CUNY student, created a Change.org petition titled “CUNY: SPRING 2022 SHOULD BE ONLINE!” It was aimed at Dr. Felix Matos Rodriguez, the university’s chancellor. So far, over 700 students have signed the petition. 

It’s not that students are entirely against in-person classes ever happening again; it’s that they believe they should have a choice moving forward. Many have full-time jobs, have lower incomes, and are single parents. Having online courses that they attend, whether at work or when taking care of their children (or other loved ones), can be very helpful. 

Some students prefer online learning to avoid long commutes; traveling one or more hours to attend one class doesn’t seem necessary anymore in a COVID-19 world, not to mention the costs of MetroCards and the continuous threat of fares rising. Kharell Leslie, a senior psychology major at CCNY, has to take one class next semester to complete his degree. “I just moved to Connecticut two weeks ago, and my final class is at 8 a.m. twice a week in person,” said Leslie, 28. “Having to drive one and a half hours to uptown, possibly more depending on traffic—yeah, I think an online option would’ve definitely been more convenient.” 

Jarrin Choudhary, a 20-year-old junior at CCNY, says that hybrid is ultimately the best choice because CUNY should be accessible. Yet she yearns for in-person learning, missing the in-person connection. “Online, teachers are more likely to speak at you than with you, which makes sense. It’s a bunch of dark boxes on Zoom,” said Choudhary, who changed her major from political science to art during the pandemic. “If I could say something to the CUNY [chancellor] it’d be: Have open discussions with students and listen to our needs; don’t just assume what we want.”