JU to transition to online classes Monday

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The state has ordered all public universities throughout the state of Florida to transition to online classes over fear of COVID-19.

On Monday, Jacksonville University begins its online classes.

If you take a look at JU’s campus Friday, it’s pretty empty because students are on spring break, and it’ll stay that way next week as students transition to online classes for two weeks.

Darren Christian, a sophomore, worries some of his coursework will be more challenging online.

“Anatomy, for one, just because it’s a lab class. You kind of have to be there. It’s hands-on stuff. It’s going to be a lot more difficult to kind of get the concept of different material,” Christian said.

But Dee Thornton, JU’s director of academic technology, says students shouldn’t be worried. All the students on campus already have access to Blackboard.

The program lets students log into all of their classes and see their professors face to face over a web camera. ”It’s really kind of a one-stop shop where faculty know, ’If I need something, I can go to this place, and then from there, I can get my information,'" Thornton said.

With Blackboard, students can view PowerPoints, PDF files and videos from teachers to help them learn their material over the next two weeks.

JU will also have its information technology team in full force to help.

“The best thing we can do is have our support teams in place, that we can support them and try to handle those challenges as quickly as possible,” Thornton said.

JU said if students don’t have access to a computer or a phone, don’t worry.

It will also be opening three of its computer labs next week, and it will allow 10 students at a time to use the labs. The campus said its online classes will run until April 3 or longer if needed.

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