Thriving through a new normal

The switch flipped, and what started as a disquieting new reality quickly turned into a more settled way of life. While the majority of UCI undergraduates moved home, those remaining on campus saw the implementation of health and safety guidelines and social distancing. From mandatory temperature checks outside the Student Health Center to near-empty cafeterias with only takeout service, the Anteater community was forced to pivot. Coping, however, soon transformed into thriving, as innovation and ingenuity bred novel ways of teaching and learning for faculty, who shifted classes online, and students, who came up with creative COVID-19-related projects. Each day brought a familiar set of questions: How long will this last? Will things ever return to normal? But a sense of hope and optimism prevailed – as did a resolve to get through this the right way, setting aside personal interests for the sake of the common good. Said Willie Banks Jr., vice chancellor for student affairs: “This has been a great lesson in resilience and flexibility.”

Link to the full magazine: https://issuu.com/ucimagazine/docs/uci_magazine_online_version-rev?fr=sMDQzMzEzNjA1MTU