Due to the prolonged COVID-19 situation, lectures were converted to non-face-to-face classes during the first semester of 2020. These unprecedented incidents are adding to the confusion among students. To solve this confusion, CBNU is coming up with measures to deal with it amid many concerns. Let’s find out how CBNU plans to cope until the end of the semester.

Refunds due to non-face-to-face lectures

  Most university students are demanding tuition refunds arguing that they aren’t getting value for their money. They demand reasonable benefits such as quality in-person classes, and the use of all on-campus facilities. University students from all over the country formed a consensus and even petitioned the government. Contrary to the wishes of these students, however, a source from the finance department of the headquarters secretariat said, “The refund of tuition fees is not being considered seriously as a viable option by the university. Students expect to save the cost because lectures were converted to non-face-to-face classes, but the reality is the opposite. The non-face-to-face lectures led to an increase in the number of students taking a semester off and because of refunding the dormitory fee, which reduced university income. This had a strong negative impact on the budget, while the university continues to have ongoing running expenses regardless of classes being held. On top of that, unlike private universities, national universities have no reserves and are financially more vulnerable because they are on a one-year account system. Also, expenses such as labor costs, cleaning, and office work remain the same, while additional costs related to remote classes, had been incurred. While the government does subsidize the cost of providing quarantine for students, it is not sufficient. Schools have been forced to budget for the phenomenal cost of handling COVID-19, such as buses and quarantine fees for international students. In short, income has declined but spending has increased.” Therefore, the answer was that the return of tuition would not be possible within the university itself.
  Students who were supposed to occupy rooms in the dormitory were also inquiring about the refund of boarding fees. The first refund was made on May 19 and the second will be made in mid-June. There were also many inquiries from advance entry students who attended special face-to-face lectures ahead of other classes. In response, an official of the dormitory said, “We will make all the returns for the period of non-entry. Although it is scheduled to be non-face-to-face during the semester, it will be announced a week before a final decision is made. Affected students already paid 50% as a first installment, however, the dormitory will not charge a second installment because half of the period has already passed. Students who take courses that are approved for face-to-face study in the bachelor’s degree application department can enter in advance, even if they are not taking practical or experimental classes. Those who choose not to move in will not be eligible for a refund this semester but they can apply for recruitment in the second semester.”

Experiments and practices translated to face-to-face lectures

  Due to non-face-to-face classes necessitated by COVID-19, some of the lectures focusing on experiments and other practical classes have been disrupted. Though these classes were substituted for video or theory lectures, there were no hands-on practice or experimentation provided. To solve these problems, the school approved a number of face-to-face classes after getting the consent of the students. However, this entailed the risk of spreading COVID-19, and therefore, there were preventative measures put in place. First, students had to take their temperature and disinfect their hands, using hand sanitizer, when entering the lecture. If students had traveled or visited crowded places within the last two weeks, they would not be able to attend and if student had a respiratory disease, such as a cold, they would not be able to join classes. Also, students had to maintain a minimum distance during the class. To prevent large scale mass infection, the school recommended that less than 20 students be allowed for the face-to-face classes.
  Thus, Jung Won-suk, an instructor at the department of earth and environmental science, who presented a face-to-face lecture, said, “Students without masks should not be admitted and should be checked for fever etc. Also, students should comply with personal hygiene and those who entered foreign countries should not participate in classes for two weeks.” Thus, he suggested dividing the class into two groups and planned according to all the school’s recommendations. Additionally, Mr. Jung provided latex gloves and cleaned all the equipment after class. Also, students could selectively participate in face-to-face classes, and nonparticipating students could replace the class with online lectures. There are some students who come to school by public transportation, and the instructor was worried because there would be a risk of infection on the way. Also, if any student were infected, all students would have to be isolated for two weeks. He was also worried about the terrible inconvenience that other students may have suffered if most classes were to proceed in divided groups. He emphasized that the main concern of face-to-face classes should be the health of students.
  It is time for real communication between the university and students. If they figure out their demands and cooperate with each other, there will no further confusion. CBT reporters hope to promote mutual understanding of the situation in this article. Compared to cases around the world, the number of infected people in South Korea is decreasing due to its rapid response, but it is difficult for both students and universities to plan because it is hard for anyone to predict what may happen in the future. In the meantime, these CBT reporters applaud both the students who want to concentrate on their studies, and the university officials who have worked hard to help them.

By Jung Jin-ju
asd030@cbnu.ac.kr
By Kang Min-ji
mj41@cbnu.ac.kr