A carpet of fallen poui blossoms and leaves covers the campus grounds. This time last year, it would signal “Matta Season” – the time when students are readying for their exams. Now those bright pink pathways reveal the loud absence of students and staff.
“A global pandemic is something I never would’ve foreseen happening in my final year at UWI. COVID-19 has come and swept so many students off their feet. The entire situation is downright scary”, one final-year student said. Students anonymously shared their thoughts with UWI TODAY, barely grappling with the upheaval of the virus known as COVID-19, and the measures put in place to stop the spread.
Following the directive issued on March 13 by Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr Keith Rowley for the one-week closure of schools and universities, UWI St Augustine suspended classes on March 14 until March 21. The campus was officially closed.
Campus Operations however continued remotely on Monday, March 16 with staff arranging meetings to discuss critical planning. Only essential services inclusive of Campus IT Services; the Occupational, Health, Safety and the Environment Unit; Health Services Unit ; Halls of Residence (inclusive of hall supervisors, assistants and cleaners), Estate Police services, and the Division of Facilities Management would continue with staff members physically present. Cleaning and sanitation efforts were ramped up in and around the Halls of Residence and, as suggested by the Prime Minister, the gathering of groups more than 25 was discouraged.
The uncertainty and unsettling nature of the new situation stands out in the mind of Director of the Division of Student Services and Development, Dr Deirdre Charles, “When we were advised that the COVID-19 virus had gotten to Trinidad and Tobago, my concern then and now remains, the well-being of students and our preparedness as campus management to support them under the circumstances.”
UWI immediately implemented a plan of action for students; one which had the foresight to imagine the rippling repercussions students would face. According to Deputy Principal Professor Indar Ramnarine, “We suspected that the closure would continue beyond one week and activated training by the Centre of Excellence in Teaching and Learning for staff to switch to online teaching. Some staff were already trained and switched to online teaching without skipping a beat”.
A hunch that proved to be right. The Prime Minister announced a five-week closure of all schools and universities a few days later with the hope that all institutions of learning would reopen on April 20. There was also a further mandate to stay at home and practise social distancing, keeping at least two-metres distance between yourself and anyone else.
Prompt measures to curb the spread of the virus among students living on the Campus’ Halls of Residence were enacted. Students from Trinidad and Tobago were advised to go to their homes, only to return when the campus officially reopened. Non-national students who could safely return home were encouraged to do so, leaving behind the contents of their dwellings in storage.
Many international students were unable to leave before their countries’ borders closed and remained on hall. In a few cases, students turned to their faith:
“I decided to remain in Trinidad despite the many communications that urged me to return home. My faith afforded me peace in the midst of this global crisis. While I am fully aware of the widespread impact this pandemic has, I am STILL (a posture of peace and sobriety) and reliant on the sovereignty of my God.”
The decision taken for students to return to their home countries came as a result of the Government’s critical pronouncements in managing COVID-19 at the national level.
Dr Charles has nothing but empathy for the students affected. She stresses that the decision taken to urge students from staying in the Halls of Residence was meant to protect the students. “In every challenge lies opportunity. Given the student feedback received in this instance, areas of improvement will be addressed going forward. It would be remiss of me however not to reinforce the need for our students to exercise exemplary leadership qualities and responsibility in every possible instance. The fluid nature of this pandemic is a true test of leadership for all persons affected and is a teachable moment for us all.”
Important decisions continue to be made, such as the postponement of exams with possible consideration to conducting alternative assessments, always, with students’ best interest in mind. DSSD’s departments continue to offer their services to students remotely, including Financial Services, Counselling and Psychological Services, support for Students with Disabilities and Medical Conditions.
At the time of this interview, both Professor Ramnarine and Dr Charles were working to ensure that all international students were able to find safe passage home.
Students and campus leaders are showing great resilience by adapting to changes as they come.
“I truly was comforted by the response of everyone on the STA campus, students and administration alike, that together we can get through this. Let’s comfort each other and work with one another as we have so far, and we will be able to beat this current issue”. - A Student from Trinidad and Tobago.
Dr Charles echoes this sentiment, “We are in this together and we all have a personal responsibility. Let us remain proactive, responsible, connected and let us really work together towards restoring the level of normalcy we desire in each of our individual circumstances.”
The poui trees on the campus flower without pause every year, leaving a carpet of blooms. So too does The UWI community continue, with an undaunted spirit to thrive.
