Academics

“Remote learning felt like isolation."

The University of Miami endured a tumultuous year of surprises and hurdles: from responding to the coronavirus pandemic to implementing new health practices, to adapting to society's new normal.

On Oct. 27 2020, the University of Miami decided to not offer a Pass/Fail grading option for classes this semester, and instead has emphasized on alternatives such as the Incomplete Grade option.

Upon his arrival, Biswas will bring decades of academic experience to UM, but his experiences in the world of academia were rooted before his career. Biswas spent much of his early life being raised at the Indian Institute of Technology in Bombay, India, where his father was a chemistry professor and his mother was a mathematician.

In the latest issue of U.S News and World Report’s “Best Colleges” rankings, the University of Miami ranked no. 49, marking the first time since 2017 that UM has crossed the top-50 threshold.

Coupled with the loss of traditional events associated with the end of high school, many incoming freshmen are skeptical about the future.

Tension is mounting among some on-campus faculty who say the university has been conducting "spot checks" on their classrooms to ensure they are physically present at the assigned class time.

Professor Rick Toren invented the EpiPen, Holter monitor and led several successful business ventures. Now, he's sharing his expertise with students at UM.

UM faculty are pushing to be given a choice as to whether their classes will be conducted remotely or in-person. Concerned for their own personal health, many feel a return to campus this fall is not the right move.

Local universities are facing tough decisions about whether to reopen this fall, and many are forging ahead with either a mixed use of both in-person and online learning or plans to return fully in person. Here are South Florida universities' current plans to reopen during the pandemic.

In a message sent out to the entire Cane community, President Julio Frenk announced that classes will resume in person starting Aug. 17. However, Frenk says life on campus will not look the same as before.

“I think it would’ve been respectful to receive an email from the school explaining why my classes were switched rather than having me check can link to find my classes online, said senior Gabby Butman. “As a senior, it is upsetting that I am missing out on some of my last memories and experiences because now I will be spending the majority of my time at home on the computer.”