Following AUI’s decision for Fall 2020, only freshman, graduating seniors, mentors, and students with special circumstances were granted access to campus. Others were obliged to stay at home. Clearly, this decision had many effects on the student community as it was divided into two parts: on and off-campus students. As hard as it was to accept this unexpected decision for the off-campus students, their struggles were seldom discussed within the community. Thus, we aim at analyzing the cases of those who haven’t regained their campus life yet and conveying their thoughts on the university’s decision through interviews and testimonies.
On academics
AUI, like other universities, had to switch to online teaching since Spring 2020. Although nothing can replace the efficiency of human interaction in face-to-face classes, it is fair to assert that after months of trials, students and professors are now more adapted to online classes than ever before. However, this semester, the two main academic struggles for off-campus students are the new hybrid classes and the flipped learning method.
Oftentimes in hybrid classes, professors fail to provide online students with the same attention as those studying face to face. In this case, one could understand since professors usually prefer close contact with students, and they are not used to that type of multitasking. Still, is it fair for students to pay the same tuition fees to get different qualities of education?
When I see Instagram posts and stories with AUI’s buildings or Ifrane’s beautiful trees as backgrounds, it feels strange not to be there. I wish we could all be there
Aya Kabiri, junior student at AUI
Moreover, the implementation of the flipped learning method in online/hybrid classes made the situation even more rigid for students studying from home. Ibtissam Bourhnane, a sophomore student confessed: “with the new flipped learning method, professors are putting extra stress on us. With the lack of motivation that we face in the comfort of our houses and with all types of distractions, it does not help at all.”
In this sense, it is crucial to stress that even though students were studying from home since the beginning of the lockdown, it does not mean that they would agree to do so for this semester. For instance, the library’s quiet atmosphere, the availability of labs, and the possibility of studying in groups definitely create a proper environment for students. While on-campus students get to benefit from these facilities, off-campus ones are still obliged to adapt to their own circumstances and worry about keeping their GPA. In this context, Mehdi Knouzi, a Junior student asserts: “it is still difficult for us to focus from an environment that is not noise-free, especially that we have to constantly check our computer’s working state and connection.”
Moreover, students faced issues resulting from AUI’s mismanagement and lack of transparency. They were left in confusion for several weeks before the beginning of classes. Yet, they were asked to pay for the semester before a specific deadline.
There was a huge miscommunication from AUI. Important decisions were declared very late such as the application of hybrid classes. It would have been more practical if we knew about it before registration and payment to consider the possibility of taking a semester off because honestly, these classes are very hard to survive online
Mohamed Adnane Al Khiati, sophomore student at AUI
On student life
Being active is one of the most important components of a successful college experience. Luckily, AUI offers a diverse range of clubs and athletic teams that are here to enable students to learn new skills, have fun, and create solid social links. Currently, with the university’s decision, students cannot equally benefit from these opportunities. The situation is even more complicated for sophomore students (newcomers of fall 2019) that couldn’t complete more than one full semester on campus.
As a sophomore, I feel like my integration in clubs and athletics was interrupted since early-spring 2020
Chaymaa Chbouk, sophomore student at AUI
Indeed, for many off-campus AUIers, the hardest part about staying home is not being able to take part in student life. Chada Nachit, a Junior student at AUI states: “My friends and I have this tradition of going on trips with the extreme sports club and organizing the yearly MUN conference. Sadly, none of these can be done this year”.
On mental health
It is always important to put one’s mental health first in these circumstances. Indeed, each and every off-campus student deals with the situation differently. Arrach Rima, a sophomore student at AUI, missed the psychological impact of being on campus. She states that “I miss the effect campus life had on my mental health. Since quarantine, we felt the emptiness and the lack of human interaction, and the situation is not changed yet. Campus outdoor activities, as simple as they were, had always brought a positive impact on my mental health.”
“As students, we are used to studying efficiently in the lab and the library. Now that we’re staying at home, we don’t even have the energy to focus on studies because our mental health is completely damaged. Imagine being stuck at home, while watching the other 50% of students enjoying the costs of the registration fees that you have paid as well.”
Nada Bouzlafa, Senior student at AUI
On the university’s long-term vision
The university hasn’t discussed the current situation of the off-campus students yet. Even worse, it hasn’t given any promises for future semesters; Off-campus students are living in the unknown. They were treated unfairly in many ways, they paid extra fees that they couldn’t benefit from, and still, they’re not even guaranteed to be the university’s priority for further semesters. Usually, this confusion makes them even more unmotivated to focus on their studies since they feel neglected and forgotten compared to the other part of the community.
“Hope was what saved my academic performance. Now, this decision made us live in the unknown. If I was patient enough to survive both spring and summer 2020, it is because I knew that we’d all come back again. My hopes for this semester are gone, but what about future semesters? Am I even considered a priority?”
Aya Ghazali, Sophomore Student at AUI
On this matter, one could only wonder about the various and possible scenarios for Spring 2020. The current strategy does not include any information about the following semester. The latter is causing concern among students who were deprived to access campus during Fall 2020.
How will priorities be sorted for spring 2020? How will the current freshman overload affect the fate of those forced to stay home for fall 2020?
Elrhidani Saad, a junior student
