Students in Williams’ classes were left without an instructor for two weeks. // Picture courtesy of Marjorie Rogers.
In August, Hofstra updated their COVID-19 vaccination policy to require all faculty to be fully vaccinated by Friday, Sept. 17, in order to be allowed on campus for fall semester. Some students returned to campus only to find out they would have to temporarily return to virtual learning for some classes due to this last-minute policy change.
According to junior music education major Tara Lacognata, adjunct associate professor of writing studies and rhetoric Sheryl Williams cancelled her first public speaking class of the semester. With no explanation, she failed to show up to the next two class sessions. Lacognata later found out that these unexplained class cancellations were due to her professor’s vaccination status.
“I don’t know [the professor] so I respect her decision, but being on the receiving side of all of it was frustrating,” Lacognata said, who found out from an email sent out during the third session that the course would temporarily be online while a replacement instructor was found.
Williams did not respond to requests for comment on this series of events.
According to Lacognata, the University replaced Williams as the course instructor after a single online class session. However, with the new professor came an altered course, and students learned that they no longer needed the $30 textbook they had purchased under the original professor. Students in the public speaking class were also two weeks behind on course material, and shifting assignment deadlines created stress for several people.
“Hofstra’s last minute policy change is unfair to all parties,” said Vy Ho, a sophomore accounting major in the public speaking class. “We sat in multiple classes for nearly the full class time without any form of communication from Professor Williams and paid for it.”
Other students felt frustrated with Williams for not communicating with the class.
“[Williams] put it on us to figure it out,” said sophomore public relations major Beau Dragone. He explained that the confusion led him to consider switching out of the course or looking for a new class to fulfill his degree requirements.
Many anticipated the update to Hofstra’s vaccine policy in August, including adjunct professor of writing studies and rhetoric Lori Brannigan-Wisniewski, who made sure to be fully vaccinated by July. However, it was not an easy decision for Brannigan-Wisniewski to make.
“I have an autoimmune disorder and was concerned about my health,” Brannigan-Wisniewski said. “It took me a long time to decide to get the vaccine. I made my decision when I saw too many friends sick for many months.”
In a statement, the University said, “We’re very proud of the way the campus community has cooperated with our health and safety protocols, including the vaccine mandate – 100% of faculty and students have complied with the mandate. All classes are in session and meeting as appropriate.”
