Whether it’s new students anxiously anticipating their emergence into university life, or returning students, equally as anxious but likely with less optimism, a key question resides amongst us all: what is university going to be like this year? Concerns over what lectures will be like and fears about returning to socialisation are expected to be running through students’ minds. As we undergo the long-awaited emancipation from isolation, for freshers, this could be a source of anxiety, transitioning to a new environment with the added complexity of an ongoing pandemic.
The impacts of the virus have altered the student experience at university since the nationwide lockdown was announced in March of 2020. Semesters have passed, forcing students to adapt and persevere through periods of solitude, learning to navigate what was a novel realm of online learning. Although universities are declaring the intended reintroduction of face-to-face teaching, the presence of digital learning is still expected, as institutions suggest this will serve to support the teaching delivery. Each independent university will present their own recommended guidance to their students, with the University of Sheffield specifically encouraging its students and staff to get their COVID-19 vaccinations prior to returning to campus, as well as reiterating the importance of face masks, social distancing, and regular hand sanitising.
The success so far of the COVID-19 vaccine offers a hopeful prospect, an incandescent silver lining amongst what has felt like a ceaseless cloud of restrictions over the past 18 months. According to ‘Our World in Data’, as of the 9th of September 2021, 64.22% of UK residents have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Thus, it is understandable that many students may expect at least a grain of resemblance of the ‘normal’ pre-pandemic status-quo upon returning or arriving to campus at the start of this academic year. But, by rooting hopes of a return to normality in the apparent success of the vaccine distribution amongst young people, are we falling for a fallacy? Can we realistically expect things to return to normal safely or is this simply a façade? As we are nearing the end of September, counting down the days, any excitement elicited for the upcoming semester is shadowed by concerns of what lies ahead.
Most restrictions have been lifted, with less social distancing guidelines and masks no longer being enforced, authorising more autonomy to individuals; it is now our personal responsibility to ensure we are still protecting ourselves and others around us from the virus. However, despite the alleviations of the rules, the reality of the persisting pandemic does not parallel the same liberation. According to data published by Public Health England on the 11th of September 2021 , the UK has seen 147 more coronavirus-related deaths, with 37,622 new infections across the last 24 hours. With the virus still severely impacting the lives of those around us, it is unlikely that things can return to normal at university, at least safely. Social events are one aspect of the ‘normal’ university experience for many but university professors across the UK are raising their concerns. Susan Michie, UCL Professor and Scientist at the Sage group, expressed fears in an interview with The Guardian over the potential consequences of fresher’s parties, describing them as “high risk”, holding the potential to become “super-spreader events”. Despite such concerns, many institutions still intend for their events to take place.
The mercurial nature of the past 18 months has instilled almost a collective acceptance that any preconceived definitions of normality at university are unlikely to prevail, especially in this current COVID era. The traditional university system has expired, and instead, it is more reasonable to expect a new form of normal. Despite this disheartening reality, throughout the pandemic, as a generation, we have become accustomed to the inevitability of unpredictability. Consequently, as we approach the start of the semester, presented with conflicting guidelines, and worries for how the experience will unfold, as evidenced, it is highly likely that students will continue to adapt and persevere through the challenges and changes during a ‘neo-normal’ university experience this upcoming year.
