By Kathryn Richner and Hannah Ihekoronye

MARCH 11, 2020:

IN-PERSON CLASSES WERE SUSPENDED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

In the midst of their week-long Spring Break, University of Minnesota students received a message that would completely change the course of their college experience. Tension was rising as new coronavirus cases were reported daily in the United States and Minnesota. The suspension of in-person classes meant students and faculty had to quickly adjust to online learning work for a variety of classes, being forced to comply with virtual course delivery, while still providing and receiving a quality education.

COVID-19 affected students more than just an abrupt switch to online classes. Social lives were halted. Routines were shifted. Jobs were lost. Daily environments were limited. Students were isolated like never before.

Many University of Minnesota students encountered new or worsened mental health challenges from the coronavirus-induced life changes.

While the university was struggling to help classes make a smooth transition online, they also needed to adjust to their mental health resources to virus restrictions, while also addressing and adapting to how student mental health was changing in the pandemic.