Lauren Lee/The Hawkeye

The student quad on the HCC Plant City campus sits empty mid-day during the semester.

While students have had to adapt to life after the pandemic and are trying to navigate this new way of “normalcy” there’s a common trend among many college campuses. Schools are seeing fewer college students enrolling in classes that require them to be physically present in a classroom and more opting for online courses as an alternative.

It’s been nearly three years since the coronavirus pandemic began back in 2020, a year that seemingly turned everyone’s world upside down. One demographic that has been largely impacted by these changes are college students.

Initially, when the outbreak first occurred schools resorted to teaching entirely online as they were uncertain of the potential risks the virus posed. Since then, schools have gradually tried to return to a “normal” way of life again. However, it’s unlikely things will ever be exactly as they once were.

There is a lack of options when it comes to enrolling in classes that are available on campus. For reference, according to HCC’s website, among all HCC campuses, there are a total of 3,619 courses available in spring 2023. Out of these courses, 1,453 are available on campus, 1,865 are available online, and 285 are hybrid classes. These statistics are concerning as it means that some students will have to take certain classes virtually as they are only offered online or arrange travel to another campus that may be out of their travel area.

For some college students, this limitation of options on how they may receive their education can be detrimental. It my be especially critical for those who struggle with learning disabilities such as ADHD. Learning online may also be more difficult for those who have issues with concentration and for those who find it easier to focus in a classroom setting where it is less likely for distractions to occur. It can also be argued that the average student who has only attended school in person up until college, may find it hard to adapt to learning online. Likewise, some students may find they also lack the self-discipline to do so.

Along with the lack of campus classes available, another major concern for schools is maintaining their clubs. With fewer students participating in clubs and on-campus events, it’s difficult to maintain certain clubs. Jayla Prayon, Academic Assistant for the Ybor Campus SGA, notes “If there are fewer classes on campus, some students are not going to come to campus. So, it’s hard for the advisors to start recruiting for people to join their clubs and that causes the clubs to not really be there.” Prayon attended HCC from 2018 and 2020 and continues to work with the SGA. Having more classes on campus increases student presence which in turn benefits the clubs and makes it more likely that they will see an increase in students participating in them. She also added, “Students run the college if that makes sense, you guys are giving us a job, a reason to be here.”

Prior to covid, campuses were bustling with events. HCC student Jaidyn Boykin stated, “Before the pandemic, I would leave class and end up at an event that was happening on campus. I wasn’t even intending to go to the event, they were just always happening, and I’d run into them. Now since returning from the pandemic, I hardly ever see an event or even hear about one.”

It’s become an eerie sight for students walking through the unusually empty halls of the campuses. Students have even made comments on how empty the parking garages have become, even some claiming that before it was almost impossible to find parking. It’s clear that the campuses are not as lively as they once were and there is a lack of school spirit in the air. It’s hard to say if schools will ever see an abundance of students on campus like they did before the pandemic, only time will tell, but for now, campuses are living up to the lyrics from the 1981 hit by The Specials, “This town, is coming like a ghost town.”