online
Due to the success of last year’s virtual commencement, Highline will be holding a virtual commencement ceremony and a cross-the-stage event on June 17.
Thomas Bui, director of the Center for Leadership & Service at Highline, said that there is a difference between graduation and commencement.
Students say the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is making college more of a challenge than usual. But they are pushing ahead anyway.
Highline student Emma McLaughlin said it is harder “staying motivated and wanting to do the work since summer is right around the corner.”
For some, working from home has been an easy shift that’s improved both work and home life.
Others though, have had a harder time.
Since COVID-19, working remotely has become a new norm. According to Stanford Economist Nicholas Bloom, 42 percent of jobs in the United States are completely remote.
Highline students have a variety of methods to study for finals, from reviewing notes to having specific study schedules.
Finals at Highline will be Dec. 14 to Dec. 18. With the pandemic restrictions still in place, most finals will be online.
Due to the rise of cases in the virus COVID-19, Spring Quarter at Highline will continue to be online.
Dating back to last spring, this will be the fifth straight quarter Highline has offered most of its classes online. Highline President Dr. John Mosby announced the decision recently.
Students seem to not mind that Winter Quarter will continue through online learning. Some say they even prefer online compared to face-to-face.
“This wasn’t a surprise at all,” said Luis Carrera-Lara. “No one wears masks, people are still going out — clearly no one cares about following quarantine.”
The Public Speaking Center is available to support students for their communications needs, despite changes to how students receive that support, the center’s director said.
COVID-19 has altered how students typically get assistance from tutors at the Public Speaking Center. What used to be live, in-person sessions, have transitioned to the virtual setting students have experienced since Spring Quarter.
Highline’s Personal Fitness Trainer program is managing to go the distance.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown of campus, the program is continuing to offer classes for students hoping to become fitness trainers. Program Manager Tim Vagen said they are offering classes online and virtually to help students complete their degrees.
Maxwell Williams said he misses a number of things about a live college experience.
“I miss getting to pick my professors’ brains in discussions,” he said. “I miss walking around campus and grabbing a bite to eat in the Student Union.
Highline students said having Spring Quarter online was stressful at first but got better.
Highline’s Spring Quarter was moved online due to the coronavirus outbreak. The outbreak led Washington Gov. Jay Inslee to issue a stay-at-home order in mid-March.