“Additionally, if next semester’s workload proves to be anything like this one’s, students will feel obligated to use those days to catch up on work, or they simply will not be able to finish assignments.”
The days are scattered across the semester calendar in an attempt to accommodate scheduling and there has been no real insurance that professors cannot assign work nor expect work to be due on those days,” the Grove said. The current plan of ‘Mind, Body and Spirit’ days is laughable at best. “The main premise of spring break - which is an opportunity for rest and stress release for students and faculty - must be honored. However, students - especially The Grove Collective - have been vocal to administrators in their belief that these days will not be a day where students will be able relax, but will instead have to focus on getting more work done. These days were added in an attempt to give students days off while limiting the spread of COVID-19 by canceling spring break. 24, March 11, April 9 and April 19 - days which will replace spring break. 19 to May 13, but will include “Mind, Body and Spirit Days” on Feb.
Grove collective update#
29, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Barbara Lyman and Vice President for Enrollment Management David Eaton, emailed an update to students regarding the cancelation of spring break “in order to keep the COVID-19 case count low,” as previously reported in the Oracle. In this 15-week period, there were no schoolwide days off.
To limit the spread of COVID-19, the fall 2020 semester began on Aug. This is due to the fact that “students are struggling with family health, keeping grades up and trying to keep in touch with friends who are often further away than ever before,” as previously reported in the New Paltz Oracle.Īcademic burnout is another concern, as students struggle to balance keeping up with their grades, attendance and overall well-being, concerns that are heightened during a semester that is unlike any other. One called it the “worst semester of my college education,” while another said “I’m so burnt out I want to drop out every single day.” Comments similar to these filled the responses.ĭuring the COVID-19 pandemic, reports from a study conducted at Texas A&M University said that 44% of its participants - all of whom were students currently enrolled in a university - reported an increase in depressive thoughts. When signing the petition, students are offered the option to make a post as to why they signed. 10, nearly 1,300 students have signed, bringing it closer to its new 1,500 signature goal. “We like to consider the Grove as a movement of the student body as opposed to a specific group or ‘club,’” the Grove said.Īt first, the goal of the petition was 1,000 signatures, but as of Nov. The Grove includes Torrez, two third-year theatre arts majors, Hunter Lypen and Will Galarneau, third-year anthropology and geology major Naomi Hertz, and third-year anthropology major Benn Cook. Soon, they realized education during the COVID-19 era needs to be altered, and not just by small fixes. The idea of the Grove Collective sprouted from friendly conversation. The group preferred to respond to questions as a collective. We also recognize that these issues have become practically universal for our peers all over campus so when we began putting together our demands, we were taking input and concerns from students beyond ourselves,” said representatives from the Grove.
“These concerns are incredibly personal and something we are passionate about changing, which is why the petition exists. The petition lists “actions that would be conducive to creating a better learning environment”: one, the reconfiguration of “Mind, Body and Spirit” days to allow students to have actual downtime away from schoolwork two, the reinstatement of the pass/fail (P/F) grading option operating as it did in the spring 2020 semester three, furthering the education of professors regarding a virtual learning environment and four, transparency between students and administrators regarding fees and where they are allocated. Two weeks ago, third-year theatre arts major Dom Torrez started a petition on behalf of the New Paltz Grove Collective - a small group of students whose mission is to take initiative due to decisions of the SUNY New Paltz administration and guide them to make tangible changes, and to allow the voices of the student body to be heard. SUNY New Paltz students are tired, distraught, stressed and overworked this semester, which begs the question: what can they do about it? The Grove Collective posted print-outs of their demands around campus on bulletin boards, hoping to catch attention from students.
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