Ashland University will be fully online after Thanksgiving break, but will still offer housing to students who would like to finish their semester at the school.

However, there are concerns about learning, grades and stress levels affected by this major transition.

“I do not think it is going to help my grades,” Bristol Hantzsche, junior social work major, said. “Honestly, I think it is going to make them worse. I do not think students retain the information they are learning as well when it is over a virtual setting.”

Hantzsche added that professors are going at a faster pace, expecting students to learn more in a shorter amount of time, without giving them the resources they need to learn, such as PowerPoints.

Some professors share the apprehension about changes happening soon.

“I’m nervous about the health of the students,” William Vaughan, professor of philosophy, said “I’m also nervous if Blackboard can handle this stuff. I’m recording things more than ever, and more and more faculty are doing that. The stakes are very high if there is a Blackboard crash.”

Unlike last semester, faculty have had more time to prepare for transitioning to an all online learning environment.

Until then, it is important for students to remember that everyone is doing the best they can with what they have and to be patient with their professors.

“Don’t let up. You’ve already shown such tremendous fortitude and just self discipline and self determination,” Vaughan said “Everything that this stupid, crazy semester has thrown at you, don’t jeopardize all that work by letting up too soon with transition to online. Finish the race strong.”