Taking a look at OHIO’s progress and growth through COVID-19
OHIO students, faculty and staff adapted through COVID-19.
Photos by Ben Siegel, Laura Bilson, Rich-Joseph Facun | April 29, 2021
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The COVID-19 pandemic has been a long, tiring time for many Bobcats.
“Normal” life changed abruptly due to the pandemic, but at Ohio University, students, faculty and staff have adapted together. From complying with new health and safety procedures to learning remotely online and continuing research and academic missions, it has been more than a year of adjustments since in-person instruction was initially suspended on March 10, 2020, then later extended throughout 2020 spring semester.
As students began to come back in phases during the 2020 fall semester, and eventually all residential students who wished to return during the 2021 spring semester, a new way of life returned to the bricks of OHIO. On the regional campuses, students also adjusted to hybrid instruction.
The University community continued to find light among dark times. Students worked on important research, learned new lessons, performed artistic endeavors, helped and aided others, all while living through a global pandemic.
With vaccines being widely available and distributed statewide, hope is on the horizon for a continued and increased sense of normalcy as spring semester comes to a close.
Take a look through the photo gallery below to see how OHIO students, faculty and staff have adapted, learned, cheered, researched, advanced and more during the COVID-19 pandemic.
OHIO students complied with new health and safety guidelines, including these three on Ohio University’s Southern Campus in Ironton, with the signage on chairs designating safe social distancing. Over 9,100+ signs were installed throughout all campuses.
Darla Jenkins sanitizes a high-touch surface on her route through Ping Recreation Center on March 8, 2021. Darla has worked for Ohio University’s Custodial Services for over 15 years and says her job has changed dramatically since the onset of the global pandemic.
The Shoemaker Center at Ohio University’s Chillicothe Campus was transformed into a COVID-19 vaccination clinic, aiding in efforts to help Ohioans gain access to the vaccine.
After a year of isolation due to COVID-19, New York City-based choreographer Brian Brooks came to Ohio University’s Athens Campus for a weeklong residency with students in the School of Dance.
The Ohio University Wind Symphony was able to perform to a virtual audience from Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium on Feb. 11, 2021.
The Clinic for Science and Health in Artistic Performance (SHAPe Clinic) remained open to assist and provide care for injured performing artists on the Athens Campus.
Students operate TV cameras in a studio on the Southern Campus.
Air Force ROTC members train together at the Ridges. Disclaimer: It is not the intent of Ohio University to imply an endorsement by any service branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Robert Kent Moats II, associate professor in biology, instructs a student how to dissect an owl pellet in class at the Chillicothe Campus.
Science labs, such as this forensics class, were able to be held in person during the spring semester.
Civil Engineering majors (left to right) Jordyn Koerper, Maya Staton and Johnny Murray collect wastewater for COVID-19 monitoring on campus. OHIO professors Guy Riefler, Ph.D., and Karen Coschigano, Ph.D., along with a team of graduate students monitor and analyze campus wastewater to look for possible trends of COVID-19.
Graduate student Emily Fairchild creates a digital rendering in Dr. Jennifer Hines’ lab, where they recently published the first structural biology analysis of a section of the COVID-19 viral RNA called the stem-loop II motif.