College President Zooms with Students Isolated Due to Virus
2021-03-28
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1At the end of every workday, Debra Schwinn gets on a Zoom call.
2As the new president of Palm Beach Atlantic University in Florida, she is talking to her students.
3Many of them are alone in quarantine because of the coronavirus.
4Zoom is an internet-based video conferencing service.
5Schwinn is also a medical doctor.
6She worries about how coronavirus restrictions might be affecting the students at the small Christian school she leads.
7As few as one and as many as 15 students have taken part in the series of 20-minute calls.
8Schwinn checks on their mental and physical health during the meetings.
9She tries to lift their spirits. And she asks them if the university is meeting their needs.
10The Zoom calls have Schwinn the chance to meet students and build rare relationships as a college president.
11"It was the one unique thing I could do," she said.
12"Who, besides myself, could Zoom every night, really get a feeling for what is working from a systems perspective and give that caring, personal touch?"
13Palm Beach Atlantic has 3,600 students.
14Schwinn's leadership there began in May.
15Before arriving, she was dean of the medical school at the University of Iowa in Iowa City.
16The quarantined students speak to a health care worker every day.
17They attend classes online.
18They receive food in their rooms.
19But Schwinn knows that being alone for days or weeks can cause serious mental health problems.
20Tabitha Maher is studying music at Palm Beach Atlantic.
21She has been in quarantine three times after showing possible signs of COVID-19.
22She said the physical separation from others was emotionally difficult.
23But, the Zoom calls helped her feel less alone.
24When Schwinn learned Maher is a singer, she asked the student to perform for a Zoom meeting.
25Maher sang In My Dreams from the musical Anastasia.
26"It is really rewarding to talk to other people who are going through a similar situation," said the 20-year-old Maher, adding, "the president of the university is looking out for you, and she wants to hear your voices, your concerns and what is going on."
27Palm Beach Atlantic decided last summer to permit students to return to classrooms.
28Now, students and employees must answer an online list of health questions every day to gain entrance to the university's public spaces.
29Everyone is required to wear covers over their mouths and noses.
30In class, students are separated by clear, plastic barriers.
31Schwinn said the school's average weekly infection rate has been less than 1 in 300 people.
32There have been no deaths or hospitalizations, she added.
33The university has repurposed one building to serve as quarantine housing.
34Anyone who becomes infected must move into it and stay until they are well.
35Pablo Castillo is a Palm Beach Atlantic business student from Guatemala.
36He said students on the Zoom calls decided to take daily walks to a nearby park.
37They talk and visit there while staying a safe distance from each other.
38Castillo praised President Schwinn's actions and plans to behave similarly in the future as a business leader.
39"This is a great example, to take a step down and connect with people," Castillo said.
40I'm Susan Shand.
1At the end of every workday, Debra Schwinn gets on a Zoom call. As the new president of Palm Beach Atlantic University in Florida, she is talking to her students. Many of them are alone in quarantine because of the coronavirus. 2Zoom is an internet-based video conferencing service. 3Schwinn is also a medical doctor. She worries about how coronavirus restrictions might be affecting the students at the small Christian school she leads. 4As few as one and as many as 15 students have taken part in the series of 20-minute calls. Schwinn checks on their mental and physical health during the meetings. She tries to lift their spirits. And she asks them if the university is meeting their needs. 5The Zoom calls have Schwinn the chance to meet students and build rare relationships as a college president. 6"It was the one unique thing I could do," she said. "Who, besides myself, could Zoom every night, really get a feeling for what is working from a systems perspective and give that caring, personal touch?" 7Palm Beach Atlantic has 3,600 students. Schwinn's leadership there began in May. Before arriving, she was dean of the medical school at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. 8The quarantined students speak to a health care worker every day. They attend classes online. They receive food in their rooms. But Schwinn knows that being alone for days or weeks can cause serious mental health problems. 9Tabitha Maher is studying music at Palm Beach Atlantic. She has been in quarantine three times after showing possible signs of COVID-19. She said the physical separation from others was emotionally difficult. But, the Zoom calls helped her feel less alone. 10When Schwinn learned Maher is a singer, she asked the student to perform for a Zoom meeting. Maher sang In My Dreams from the musical Anastasia. 11"It is really rewarding to talk to other people who are going through a similar situation," said the 20-year-old Maher, adding, "the president of the university is looking out for you, and she wants to hear your voices, your concerns and what is going on." 12Palm Beach Atlantic decided last summer to permit students to return to classrooms. Now, students and employees must answer an online list of health questions every day to gain entrance to the university's public spaces. Everyone is required to wear covers over their mouths and noses. In class, students are separated by clear, plastic barriers. 13Schwinn said the school's average weekly infection rate has been less than 1 in 300 people. There have been no deaths or hospitalizations, she added. 14The university has repurposed one building to serve as quarantine housing. Anyone who becomes infected must move into it and stay until they are well. 15Pablo Castillo is a Palm Beach Atlantic business student from Guatemala. He said students on the Zoom calls decided to take daily walks to a nearby park. They talk and visit there while staying a safe distance from each other. 16Castillo praised President Schwinn's actions and plans to behave similarly in the future as a business leader. 17"This is a great example, to take a step down and connect with people," Castillo said. 18I'm Susan Shand. 19The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. Catherine Weaver was the editor. 20_______________________________________________________________ 21Words in This Story 22quarantine - adj. the period of time during which a person or animal that has a disease or that might have a disease is kept away from others to prevent the disease from spreading 23unique - adj. used to say that something or someone is unlike anything or anyone else 24anesthesiologist - n. doctor who specializes in anesthesia or ways of putting people in a state of non-awareness 25symptom - n. a change in the body or mind which indicates that a disease is present 26reward - v. to give some kind of payment to (someone or something) for something good that has been done 27partition - n. a wall or screen that separates one area from another 28We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, and visit our Facebook page.