After a two-week break, LSU’s spring semester resumes today, but all classes have been moved online. English Professor Kevin Cope says there will be something lost in the translation to online for all students, but he expects those in traditional liberal arts classes will fare best, while others like labs may be tougher.
The campus has been closed to all but the few students who couldn’t leave and are at the dorms, and essential staff.
Cope says the transition to online learning has gone about well as it could considering the short notice, but LSU was not fully prepared to make the jump. He says that the LSU library does not have enough online subscriptions to educational journals and the library just isn't big enough to support a massive use of online sources.
Cope says the school has not been able to invest in its online capabilities due to chronic underfunding of state schools. "The difficulties we face are somewhat predictable. When you leave something underfunded for 30, 40, or 50 years when an emergency or suprise comes along you are going to have to scramble."
LSU’s campus is currently set to stay closed at least through the end of May.