Faculty members respond to saliva testing program on Olivet Nazarene University’s campus.
A Season of Change…
March of 2020 was an extremely pivotal moment for so many across the globe, one such demographic was our teachers and professors. At this time, universities were shutting down and classes moving online – impacting both students and faculty alike.
An article published in early February of last year in the Chronicle of Higher Education covering the University of Arizona’s experience says, “If the public-health crisis continues beyond the scheduled February 17 reopening, the university could consider alternatives, such as online courses, holding classes in a different location, or suspending the semester.”
That is exactly what unfolded over the following months for nearly every university.
Just as students were forced to adjust to new norms and new online platforms, faculty were also pushed to make major adjustments as well. From wearing masks, to learning new technology, to social distancing, to reframing their entire curriculum, professors across Olivet’s campus fought to adapt to the new norms and continue furthering their students’ education.
*Disclaimer: Professor Chalfant has received her COVID vaccine, and the interviewer wore a mask and remained compliant to social distancing rules*
Despite these changes and challenges, Olivet as a whole has continued to work together to seek out ways to bring back that sense of normalcy to our campus grounds. One of these ways, as we know, was the saliva testing program that has been implemented this spring semester.
*Click here to read Olivet’s informative news article that was released at the beginning of the spring 2021 semester.
It Takes a Village…
Olivet students were assigned specific times and days throughout the week to submit their saliva tests to the drop boxes on campus. What may not be as well-known is that faculty have also been partaking in the saliva testing program. They, too, received the opportunity to be tested weekly on campus, and many of them jumped at the opportunity to play their part. Many of them would agree that it does indeed take a village so overcome challenges such as this.
Dr. Jay Martinson, former department Chair of communication and current Dean of Online Learning, said, “Jeanette [his wife] and I both submit our saliva tests each and every week just like the students on campus. I mean, if it helps open things up on campus and brings us back that sense of normalcy, we are more than happy to do it!”
Professor Susan Wolff agreed with Martinson, Chalfant, and many other professors on campus. She sums up their mutual feeling well here:
Students and their parents can rest assured that Olivet faculty are taking this testing program very seriously and are seeking a sense of normalcy for students and faculty alike.
A Faculty’s Perspective…
Though saliva testing in itself may not be the most fun and exciting thing to add to their list of to-do’s each day, faculty members believe it is worth it for the sake of their students and the campus’ educational atmosphere. Most, if not all, faculty members have nothing but positive things to say in response to Olivet’s saliva testing program.
“I think that because we have this new testing program in place, students and faculty are less on edge. I see people becoming less fearful, and I see bits of normalcy returning to us,” Martinson said.
Martinson went on to talk about how impressed he has been with how compliant the student body and faculty have been with this program.
“We figured there might be a chance that a small group of students would refuse to partake in the testing, but that has not been the case here,” he said. “I am very impressed with how well the student body adjusted and how they have stayed compliant with the protocols and the testing on campus.”
Olivet has been blessed with a community of students and faculty that work together to fight through this pandemic. Some universities have not been as lucky. Click here to read about the challenges the University of Massachusetts Amherst has experienced thus far.
Looking ahead…
For more information on Olivet’s current status and for more insight on what next semester could look like, please click here to be directed to Olivet’s COVID response page.
To read more about Olivetians’ response to the university’s saliva testing program, please visit the following pages:
Drew’s Link:
Alli’s Link:
Darren’s Link:
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