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Akron Law reopens amid the ‘new normal’
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: September 2, 2020
It’s been more than five months since educators at The University of Akron School of Law switched from in-person to remote learning to keep COVID-19 from spreading among students and staff.
Now after weeks of reviewing the various options, the school has reopened, with administrators implementing a blended learning format.
Akron Law Dean Christopher J. (C.J.) Peters said on Aug. 13, about 100 students attended the law school’s Fundamentals of Lawyering course, with roughly three-quarters of them showing up in person.
“This course included in-person and online components as we plan to do with many of the others that we are offering,” said Peters. “Students were able to opt to take all their courses online and faculty who have health concerns are allowed to teach remotely.
“At this point, all of our incoming 1Ls can take at least one course in person,” he said. “We also plan to offer in-person sections of certain upper class required courses and for most courses that are taught by adjuncts, assuming that public health conditions continue to allow for this.”
Orientation began on Aug. 17, which included virtual remarks to the 1L class by Ohio Supreme Court Justice R. Patrick DeWine, and the fall semester started on Aug. 24.
Students who are taking in-person courses must adhere to a variety of new safety rules, with classrooms and public spaces having been entirely retrofitted to allow for social distancing.
“Classroom space has been reduced by about two-thirds, with sanitation requirements in effect,” said Peters. “Students and faculty are being asked to spray their classroom space with a disinfectant solution after class and are being given the supplies to do so,” said Peters.
“In some cases, we may have half the class come into the building one day and the other half come in on another day.
“Wherever possible, we will use simulcasting so that the students who are not in the building with their classmates can participate remotely.”
Masks or similar face coverings are required, with certain exceptions made in socially distanced areas in the cafeteria.
“Employees who are alone in their offices do not have to wear masks,” said Peters. “We have removed all the furniture that had soft upholstery from the library and common areas to make it easier to wipe everything down.
“Plexiglass is being used to separate staff from patrons in the library, at the IT support desk, and in other areas where staff frequently interact with students or the public.”
Students must adhere to a three-hour time limit in the library and in study rooms, with a maximum capacity of two people in most study rooms. In addition, elevators are limited to no more than one occupant at a time.
Peters said any physical materials that are checked out from the library are quarantined for 72 hours after they are returned. However, most commonly used library resources are available in digital form.
There are also designated and up and down staircases as well as specific doors for entering and exiting the building.
“The university has spent a lot of money to prepare the McDowell Law Center and other campus buildings to help ensure the safety of students and staff,” said Peters.
Despite the ongoing pandemic, Peters said first-year enrollment appears to be up by about 33%.
“It’s a bit surprising when you consider that law school applications are flat nationwide since last year,” said Peters. “I am not sure what all the reasons are for this trend. However, for many years it was the case that when the economy went sour law school enrollment also went up.
“I believe the thinking was that students believed the economy would improve by the time they graduated and they would be able to get a better job with a law degree.
“I think at schools like ours, which are very affordable and have a lot of content available online this may make even more sense,” he said. “A large number of our students are from Ohio and surrounding states, and given the pandemic, may be more inclined to want to stay close to home.
“I think many grads will find jobs waiting for them as our country continues to face issues related to the pandemic.”