“I didn’t enroll in college online,” says frustrated Brock University student

After completing a full year of online school last year, Grace Rawsthorne was hoping that classes would be in person this fall at Brock University.

But entering her third year of studying media communications, Rawsthorne said when she received her fall semester schedule in early July, she realized that most of her classes would be online, with a single course functioning as a hybrid of in-person and online components. – and despite the publicity of in-person lessons at the school.

“I think last year I didn’t learn anything. This is not how I learn, ”said Rawsthorne. “I need to get out of my bedroom and I need to be in a space where I am encouraged to learn.”

Not only are most of its classes online, they are asynchronous, which means there is no specific class time and students simply take classes at their own pace.

Brock first announcement his plans for a return to campus in January, with those plans confirmed in May.

“Brock anticipates a significant return to campus for the fall term of 2021, including offering as many classes as possible on campus under public health guidelines,” a press release then said.

Rawsthorne, who is fully vaccinated, said she was frustrated the school was announcing a return to campus.

“I understand why it was online last year, it was horrible for everyone, and we were trying to figure it out. But I don’t think it’s fair for them to announce to the public that everything is back to normal, ”Rawsthorne said.

The cost of the classes is also frustrating for Rawsthorne, who said his tuition fees haven’t gone down even though his classes won’t be in person.

She is worried about her academic performance and the quality of her education with another year online.

“It’s just like, how am I supposed to concentrate, when I’m sitting in my room and they’re just emailing me with videos to watch?” I could do college online for a lot less, but I didn’t enroll in college online, “Rawsthorne said.

The media and communications student has asked Brock for help on several occasions, she said. While the staff she spoke with were supportive and understanding, Rawsthorne said it was clear it was beyond their control.

In a statement to The Standard, Brock said he did not expect any class changes for students in the coming weeks.

“The balance between the varied needs of faculty and students made this fall’s schedule difficult to establish. About 60 percent of Brock’s fall semester courses will include at least some sort of on-campus component, which is consistent with other institutions in the university sector.

“The timetable has been available to students since the beginning of July. Unless there are significant changes in the public health situation, we are only expecting minor schedule changes between now and the start of classes, ”the statement said.

This leaves Rawsthorne disheartened. She believes doubly vaccinated students should have the option of taking classes in person.

“I think they have to make the decisions for the students, not the teachers. At the end of the day, we fund everything, ”she said.