Petition Against Condensed Semester

I think we all understand the safety concerns that come with a longer semester, and as stated above, we do not take these concerns lightly. However, given that we, as students, are the ones being affected by the changes with condensed semesters, we believe that we should be able to contribute to finding a solution to this issue. We understand this is a difficult situation for everyone involved, but we would like to reach a reasonable compromise and have a voice in the matter. Further, communication is essential to campus life. Many students, including myself, have felt as though we are being kept in the dark about COVID related matters and the coming semester. We realize that this has not been easy for anyone, but students and faculty have all felt the air of secrecy surrounding these matter, and we as a student body feel as though we should be effectively communicated with. I believe this petition was well written. I believe many students, including myself, have no interest in placing blame or pointing fingers. We simply want to learn from our mistakes and do better in the future. We want to be communicated with about important issues on our campus. We desire a voice in the future of our school. We, overall, want to reach a compromise between students and staff on the matter of a condensed semester. We understand this is a difficult situation, but we want improve ourselves and our school, and overall, is that not part of developing character with intellect?

I think that a condensed semester makes no difference with the pandemic that is going on. People are getting to get even if their is a condensed semester. There is no need for a shortened semester.

It would be incredibly ignorant, dishonoring, and ignoring our motto developing character with intellect if one chooses to disregard the voices of students who are actually experiencing exhaustion unlike some. When there is not enough rest the immune system can weaken causing the student body and faculty to become more susceptible to the virus. These decisions were made by the interest of yourselves and not for the students or faculty. These decisions did not include the voices of the people who will likely be effected in the long run. On top of this please explain to us why we are paying for a full year when our semesters are being cut short. Are you going to pay us back? And are you going to reduce tuition because we aren’t allowed to use the gym facilities to remain healthy mentally and physically? Did you stop to think that your day ends at 5:00pm while ours continues through to the next day most days? When you have the ability to stand in our shoes as students during a pandemic and say a condensed semester is a good idea then we will understand you, but until then understand us and listen to us. You say you hear us by why adding five minutes to the time we have to walk to our next class and adding in days to the semester where we can rest, except we all know we will be doing our homework in order to stay caught up. We are very thankful to be in a place where we can say our school is opened and we are functioning, but we are not happy with the conditions that are killing us in which we were not included in the decision making process.

I agree strongly with the above statements. There were points in this semester when I considered transferring because I did not want to support with my money a school who does not communicate or have transparency.

I wholeheartedly agree with all these points. I am someone who can usually work well under pressure and limited time, but with everything going on at TFC this semester, I was struggling to keep up in all my classes, and my grades reflected just how stressed and unmotivated I had become. Coursework never felt like it had been limited to the time constraints, and I know I wasn't the only one who was feeling that way. I cant imagine doing this all over again next semester. I am grateful for the work TFC has already done, and I respect the fact that we have to change how we do things, but the way it has been done is exhausting.

I agree with all the points

Reimbursement for tuition is reasonable. If students are not using resources at a certain time, they should not be made to pay for them.

PLEASE

I am for this and I think that we could be able to stay here for a full semester. I know personal level were it's stressful when you are supposed to be in class for more hours. You have to study all the class work in so many hours in the day

There are pros and cons of having the condensed semester. I personally don’t mind giving up a spring break for a longer summer break. Also, not having an attendance policy has helped me due to my own health issues. I actually kept my grades up very well this semester. I don’t mind cramming and just hustling to get finished so I have more time off (I’m planning a wedding!) However, I’m so exhausted. I am a commuter from 30-45 min away and coming home late every single night. Then doing homework, my housework has fallen through and is a mess. The thoughts of having my last final Tuesday has me in tears of joy because I’m so ready for a break and it feels rewarding. Also, I even dreaded my SAO because I had to stay soo late to complete it (it was on campus) and I feel like it was just much harder than what it should have been. I’m just ready for rest and come Wednesday, I am not getting out of bed for nothing! I NEED SLEEP! WE NEED SLEEP! I really wish that us, students would have had more updates especially numbers regarding COVID. Many of my friends had to be “quarantined” for even being exposed and it had me concerned if I was taking it home to my whole family. I also would have loved a heads up on the possibility or the “talks and works” of planning next spring. So, I don’t mind hustling to get the semester over, I actually prefer it, but I see where it is exhausting and I also see how it is affecting everyone else, so I am petition. Our tuition should be much less. Why pay for another month when we won’t even be there? I am planning a wedding!!! I can’t nor can anyone else afford to waste money!!!

I agree wholeheartedly with everything listed in this petition. I know that covid creates a difficult environment for faculty as well as students, but that in no way excuses the embarrassing lack of communication with students. For the tuition I paid, I was hoping for better from this college. I know the faculty have a difficult job, but I'm still disappointed with the results.

a lot of students , including myself were not able to keep up with the condensed semester this semester and i doubt it’ll help to condense next semester as well

That’s to much work and not enough time to do it. Condescending the semester isn’t doing any good. If covid hits put us online not send us home early.

I literally begged my professor this morning of he could tell administration about have a class attendance policy again. I 100% back up all of the points made in this petition!

I agree

PLEASEPLEASEPLEASEPLEASE!!!!!

Plz

I understand that the administration is in a difficult position—there is not an easy answer to this problem, and any solution proposed will be met with criticism from some corner. However, the points raised in this petition are too accurate for me to ignore. Furthermore, I think the Christian community on campus suffers from the condensed semester format. When students must devote more time to schoolwork, they have less time and energy to invest in relationship. If Toccoa Falls College wants to foster Christian character as well as intellect, then we need a better solution.

I largely agree with this petition. If the semester is going to accelerated again, diminished cost would be sensible.

I understand the reasons behind shortening the semester and appreciate the efforts to keep us from doing online school. However, student mental health is struggling way too much and the lack of communication only adds on to the stress!