A new era of "normal"

Mia Martino - Features Editor

Five years after the start of the pandemic, its impact on college campuses remains evident, especially at Monmouth College. While in-person classes and activities have returned, the lasting effects of the pandemic have shaped student and campus life in both subtle and significant ways.

At Monmouth, changes in academics, mental health support, and social interactions continue to influence the college experience. According to Dean Karen Ogorzalek, Monmouth College has spent the last five years adapting to these shifts and changes, blending elements of the past with a new post-pandemic world.

            One of the most noticeable changes during the pandemic was the switch to remote learning. While at Monmouth, all in-person classes have resumed, the impact of online education has left its mark. “Classes are back in session now,” said Ogorzalek, “We’re no longer enforcing distancing, and while it's not 100 percent back to what it was, it's getting closer to how it was before the pandemic.” Monmouth students are fully back in the classroom, however, certain pandemic-era policies have remained, such as an increased use of digital platforms for assignments and communication.

            The pandemic’s impact on mental health in students cannot be overstated. The National Institutes of Health said, “In a survey by Best Colleges, it was found that over 90% of students had negative mental health as a result of the pandemic and the three most common of them (negative mental health effects) were isolation, lack of focus, and anxiety among many others.”

Monmouth has seen these effects in its own students. “Mental health, anxiety, and stress are always going to exist,” said Ogorzalek, “those are concerns that students are always going to have because you lived through [the pandemic]. But in the last couple of years, students are finally becoming more interested in getting out and interacting with other people.” Despite the growing need for support, there has been a positive shift in campus culture. Conversations around mental health are now more open and students are more likely to seek help when they need it.

            There’s been a gradual return to pre-pandemic levels of participation in campus events, though it did take some time for student groups to adjust over the last few semesters. Some have become more selective about social interactions, and the community. There is still more progress to make in social recovery.

            While higher education faced many challenges during the pandemic, it also taught valuable lessons, bringing new innovations to structure, safety, and communication. Ogorzalek emphasized that the college has learned to be more flexible and responsive to student needs.    “There was a lot of learning going on during that time. Crisis management, whether it's a pandemic, an active shooter, etc. is important for handling a problem in the most protective way possible for the students and community,” Ogorzalek said.