Fall semester is back in session on campus, and so are physical classes. Even though two thirds of course are still online, the campus is once again bustling nicely with activity. People are queuing up outside of the library before it opens at 8:00AM! Students lost in buildings not knowing where their classrooms are! Teachers complaining about the audio and visual equipment! San Francisco State is back, baby.
As someone who did very little working from home during this pandemic, it’s really nice to see other people around campus again. It’s no longer a ghost town lacking in amenities. There was but one eatery open during the last 18 months, and now there’s variety again. Personally I’m happy the Peet’s coffee upstairs from us in the library is back. I bring my own coffee, but some days you need that additional pick-me-up after the initial supply runs out (he says like a drug addict).
On the IT support side, we are absolutely strained to capacity in supporting both online learning and physical classes. Compounding matters is attrition in personnel (of their own accord, thankfully, rather than lay offs). The built-in excuse is that we are still in a pandemic; sorry if the supreme service you were used to is no longer the case. Things that take two hours now takes two days. Thankfully most people are very understanding, but of course there are the unfortunate few who are too selfish to realize what’s going on.
Services are short-staffed everywhere, including at a university.
What is comforting however is that our campus is 98% vaccinated, which is kind of amazing, given San Francisco as a city only just reached above 80%. It does put me at ease with being in rooms full of people again. Masks are of course still required indoors, because we’re not idiots. if things continue to progress in a positive direction, I can see even more in-person classes happening during the Spring semester.
It’s good to be back!
Wok the party!