Texas A&M’s Aggie ACHIEVE program, a four-year postsecondary education program for students with developmental and intellectual disabilities, will welcome 12 students in the fall to begin their own college experiences with new precautionary measures related to COVID-19. The Aggie ACHIEVE program has been hard at work to make sure students are still receiving the academic and social skills that the program promises. By introducing sanitation and cleaning techniques and ways to identify COVID-19, the program and it’s staff are doing what they can to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the students and those around them. Program director Olivia Hester said despite the unforeseen challenges of the spring semester, all of the Aggie ACHIEVE students saw success and she expects this to continue into the fall. “I am extremely proud of how the Aggie ACHIEVE students adapted to the change this past semester and quickly learned how to access the college classroom virtually,” Hester said. “Since COVID-19, we have seen a huge improvement in our students’ technology skills.” Aggie ACHIEVE sophomore Alexis Villarreal’s outlook for the fall semester is positive and she said she has been preparing for any highs and lows she may experience while attending classes online and socializing with other students and mentors. “I think this semester will be fine,” Villarreal said. “I have been practicing good sanitation habits. My only concern is that I may not see everyone as often as I used to.” Villarreal said the quick turnaround of last semester introduced her to new skills she might not have mastered otherwise, and said she was grateful for the program helping her navigate through problems she never predicted. “I have gotten better at my computer skills, independent living skills and problem solving,” Villarreal said. “The ACHIEVE program has given me direction and tools for success.” Each ACHIEVE student has their own peer mentor, known as their Aggie ACHIEVEMate. Aggie ACHIEVEMate president and interdisciplinary studies junior Anna Fedewa said that although meetings and get-togethers may look different, the relationships between students and their mentors are more important than ever. “At the core of our organization is the belief that inclusion and friendship has the power to change lives and experiences,” Fedewa said. “While COVID-19 will undoubtedly change what our programming looks like, I think it actually has the power to strengthen the relationships that our members have with each other as we learn to lean on each other and rely on the power of friendship during these times.” With campus functioning differently than what the students might be used to, Hester said move-in for the Aggie ACHIEVE students has been moved to the week of Aug. 9 in order to help both new and returning students adjust to the necessary guidelines and precautions related to COVID-19. “That will give us time to work with students on social distancing, cleaning routines and safely getting around campus such as riding the bus, going to the dining hall and attending class,” Hester said. “Our parents have been really proactive this summer in teaching self-monitoring techniques and teaching their young adults the symptoms associated with COVID-19.” With the ACHIEVE’s Open Houses no longer being held in-person, the program’s recruitment process for prospective students and their families has been affected. Hester said this is a setback she believes they will overcome. “We typically hold an Open House about once a month,” Hester said. “It’s a great way for applicants and their families to get to meet some of our Aggie ACHIEVE students, program staff and visit campus. However, this fall, prospective students and their families can visit our website and watch one of our recorded Open Houses. We plan to also have at least one live virtual Open House this fall.” Despite all of the new precautions and requirements to remain aware of, Villarreal said none of this has intimidated her, as it has only encouraged her to want to get back to Aggieland and begin a fresh experience. “I look forward to my new classes, working in a new job, making new friends and seeing my old friends,” Villarreal said. “I am excited to share an apartment with my dear friend without a mentor.”

As the Texas unemployment rate continues to increase from 5.1 to 12.8 percent, students are learning to be fiscally responsible in difficult times. Many students have been facing internship and job cancellations since the outbreak of the coronavirus that have put them in financial distress. However, some students have taken the initiative to open businesses and create monthly budgets in order to save money and stay afloat until life returns to normal. Supply chain management senior Madaleine Merka said that she has been fiscally responsible during the pandemic by focusing her downtime on her Depop business, @patchgarden where she sells decorative patches. "It has allowed me to triple the amount of products available to my customers, which has also led to a 5x increase in my monthly sales,” Merka said. “As I have been able to accumulate more profit, I have also been continuing to either reinvest it in more inventory or to add it to my savings.” Merka said she encourages her peers to also open online businesses during the pandemic, which can be as simple as selling old clothing and unwanted items on user-friendly platforms such as Depop, Mercari and Poshmark. “It allows you to accumulate some extra money that I suggest be saved for the future or used to support local and small businesses,” Merka said. Though COVID-19 caused her internship to be cancelled, Merka said the pandemic has been able to provide traffic to her online shop since many people are distancing themselves at home and shopping online. “As an online shop owner, this has been a great opportunity to grow,” Merka said. “In fact, I have grown over 1,500 followers in the past couple months alone and I am now sitting at over 14,000 on Depop. With new followers, came many new customers and sales.” BBA accounting junior Matt Johnson said he is thankful that COVID-19 did not impact him financially. “I have been a money saver my entire life so I am always prepared for unforeseen events such as the one we are experiencing now,” Johnson said. “In fact, I would say that I have been spending more money to support businesses that I like to shop from or eat at.” Johnson encourages his peers to create a monthly budget where they can track their expenses. Another option he suggests is to constantly check their bank statements and ensure that they are aware of their spending. “One major problem that a lot of young adults have is that they don’t save any money,” Johnson said. “If students are able to do so, they should set aside some funds to cover basic living expenses — food, rent, transportation, etc. — for a few months. At the end of the day there is no magic tool that will change a person’s habits. You have to show the initiative and stick to a plan.” While budgeting and tracking expenses are useful things a student can do to become financially responsible, Johnson said he believes every student should also take some sort of personal finance class while they are in school. “There are so many events in your life that would benefit from basic knowledge in finance such as buying a house, saving for a child's education, and planning for retirement,” Johnson said. “There are also a number of podcasts out there that can introduce people to basic concepts of personal finance. Whenever I am driving long distances I am always listening to podcasts on saving and investing.” Students can access helpful tools from the university such as the Money Education Center where they can get resources and necessary help for their financial situation.

Local businesses in Bryan-College Station have been greatly influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic and are anticipating the return of Texas A&M and Blinn students who impact their businesses. Many local businesses have implemented safety precautions adhering to state and county regulations, as well as additional specific safety measures. This includes daily sanization and physical distancing within the premises to promote customer safety in the fall. Sabi Boutique co-owner Meredith McAuliffee said she has been focusing on finding the positives during the pandemic as many small businesses including her own had to shut down for nearly two months. "We rallied together to make sure Sabi Boutique survived the shut down and came out stronger,” McAuliffe said. “We immediately started listing every product in the store on our website. We spread good news on our social media platforms to keep the joy and happiness that wasn't always easy to find.” With many Aggies returning in the fall, McAuliffe said she is looking forward to seeing college students coming to her shop once again. “The fall [football season] carries most local businesses through the slower summer months,” McAuliffe said. “We miss the college students. We also employ mostly college-aged women. We love mentoring them through this stage of their lives and helping them get ready for what comes next.” Regarding safety precautions, McAuliffe said Sabi Boutique is limiting store-front hours for sanitization, having the store professionally cleaned weekly and holding clothes for 24 hours after they are tried on and then high heat steaming them before returning them to the floor. “We are proud members of Operation Restart — a local initiative to increase consumer confidence during an uncertain time,” McAuliffe said. “It's our top priority to keep our family, team members and customers safe and healthy during this time.” Costa Dallis, CEO of EccellGroup which oversees businesses such as The Backyard, El Jefe, Public & Main and Burger Mojo, said the temporary closures and reduced income that accompanied the pandemic have greatly impacted his businesses. “The community has been supportive but there are way fewer venturing out to dine and entertain,” Dallis said. Dallis said he is also looking forward to the return of college students and plans on offering discounts and promotions to them upon their return in the fall. “All of our business models, [and] in fact commerce in the whole community, is predicated on the demand created by Texas A&M,” Dallis said. Tone 360 Fitness Studio owners Nayokia Lyons and Kaleigh Bowman said while COVID-19 has been difficult for their business, it also encouraged them to expand online. “We have had the impact of losing people but it also has helped us grow,” Bowman said. “Now people who have to stay at home with kids or are not completely comfortable coming out, which is completely understandable, can now take all our classes online.” As college students return, Lyons and Bowen said they will be offering a lower rate to all new members who join before Aug. 1. “They [Texas A&M students] help run this city,” Lyons said. “I am nervous for the community with the spread of COVID-19 but as a small business we need them.”

As faculty, staff, students and visitors prepare to return to campus for the fall semester, many have questions about on-campus precautions. Here is what we know: What do I need to do before I return to campus? All students must complete the COVID-19 training within their Howdy Portal before their return to campus no later than Aug. 11. It is also recommended that all students have at least 3-4 face coverings. Where are face coverings required on A&M’s campus? Face coverings are required in all public campus buildings and any outdoor space where social distancing is difficult to maintain, unless marked otherwise, as stated by A&M’s Office of the Provost. What’s the purpose of wearing a face covering? According to A&M’s new standard administrative procedure on face coverings, anyone wearing a facemask on TAMU’s campus and surrounding areas are both slowing the spread of the virus and helping others be mindful in order to return to some normal operations of campus life. Click here to see the face mask requirements released in a statement by President Young. How do I report someone not wearing a face mask and/or not following COVID-19 guidelines on campus? To report an individual who is not wearing a mask, you should speak with whoever is in charge of the space where the infraction occurred. Otherwise, the Office of the Provost suggests you politely direct the person to wear a face mask or follow proper guidelines. If you do not feel comfortable approaching the individual, you can ask someone else around you to talk to them for you. Do I need to wear a face mask while in my residence hall? Unless you’re in a common area, the Office of the Provost said face coverings are not required in the dorms unless visiting a public restroom or another space that is being occupied. It is also recommended that if you have guests in your dorm room, that everyone maintain 6 feet of social distance and wear masks. Any activity that requires the touching of the face (applying cosmetics, hygienic tasks) should be performed in a resident’s dorm room, according to the Provost’s website. What precautions are required while riding an Aggie Spirit bus? In order to keep the spread of coronavirus contained and reduce the amount of contaminated surfaces, A&M is requiring that face masks be worn on all buses, even if no other passengers occupy the vehicle. Additionally, according to transport.tamu.edu, a capacity of 50-60 passengers will be enforced. How do I make sure I’m following necessary precautions and washing my hands properly? According to the CDC, you should lather and scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds before rinsing. If you’re unsure, look to the University libraries’ research guides for information on how to properly prevent the pandemic from spreading and where it is spreading the most throughout the world. How do I report someone I know that may have COVID-19? If you or someone you know experience symptoms of COVID-19, you can use the COVID-19 report form. The COVID-19 Investigation Operations Center was created to keep in contact with the affected individual in order to decrease the spread of COVID-19 through contact tracing, as well as recommend resources for students and faculty to receive the medical help they may need. What happens if I have an in-person class and a classmate tests positive for COVID-19? According to A&M’s COVID-19 guidance and resources page, depending on the number of people in attendance and class type (i.e. a laboratory), that room and all personal will be evacuated for 24 hours or more and will be sanitized to fit all guidelines. Do you have questions about the return to campus that haven’t been answered? Email them to editor@thebatt.com or message us on social media!

Making the transition from high school to college can be intimidating on its own, but making that transition amid a pandemic can be downright frightening. After finding out that a majority of their classes would be online for the fall semester, incoming freshmen are now faced with the challenge of navigating a non-traditional college experience. Although attending college is meant to bring students out of their comfort zones, kinesiology freshman Jacqueline Rojas said she wasn’t surprised to see her classes move online for yet another semester. “It wasn’t hard to hear that my classes had been moved online because at the end of my senior year, all my classes were online,” Rojas said. “I didn’t really expect for all of our classes to be face-to-face.” Because of the uncertainty brought on by COVID-19, Rojas said she isn’t arriving in Aggieland with high expectations for what her semester may look like, but she is still setting small goals for herself. “I don’t have many expectations because COVID-19 has stopped everything,” Rojas said. “But I still expect to have some in-person classes and a little stress. But a goal is to go to all of my classes and make at least one friend in each of them.” As a hands-on learner, agriculture communication and journalism freshman Grace Hoegemeyer said she is disappointed her classes will be online, forcing her to work harder at building both academic and social relationships. “I’m expecting myself to have to go even more out of my way to make friends and make memories since I won’t be meeting a lot of people in my classes,” Hoegemeyer said. “I wanted the experience of going to my college classes.” Although move-in day is known to be a little hectic, Hoegemeyer said she’s looking forward to finally being in College Station, even with all of the new requirements to ensure the safety of those moving in. “I think for me, moving in will be pretty smooth because my roommate and I are already making plans on what to bring, what to buy and more,” Hoegemeyer said. “It could get hectic though because we each have a lot of friends and family that have signed up to help us move in.” History freshman Charlie King said although she won’t get what most would describe as a typical college experience, her main goal is to get involved and make as many friends as she can given the circumstances. “I want to thrive academically but socially as well,” King said. “It is important to put myself out there and I think that alone will provide me with a really wonderful college experience. I’m a planner and with everything going the way it is, I’ve had to remind myself that this is a learning process for everyone, not just me.” If students find themselves struggling with their transition to college, Texas A&M Counseling and Psychological Services provides goal-oriented practices to help address student concerns and mental health issues.

August is approaching, and with it, thousands of students will move back to College Station. But this year, those numbers may look a little different. Following many professors’ decisions to move their classes online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students are now finding themselves fighting the decision to return to College Station in the fall. For computer engineering senior Ruben Mendoza, his financial situation and desire to not risk his academics have led him to stay at home for the upcoming semester. “After my last lease ended I didn’t want to sign another one after what happened in the spring semester,” Mendoza said. “A majority of my classes are online so I figured I would just drop the other two and go completely online and stay at home. I’d rather do that and save myself thousands of dollars in housing.” The hit the economy took was felt first hand by economics senior Jessica Goode, who said she had to drop her second minor in order to push her graduation date closer. “The money I use for school actually comes from an investment account so a lot of the money is tied into stock,” Goode said. “So when COVID hit and the stock market came down, my family and I quickly had to get to work. I ended up having to drop one of my minors, that was going to be a majority of the course work, in order to push my graduation date forward [from 2021] to fall 2020.” Goode said her plan is to stay off campus as much as possible, with the exception of small study groups. Although her classes are online this upcoming semester, Goode said she has trouble focusing on schoolwork in her home. “All of my classes are online and I’m probably going to keep it that way,” Goode said. “Most of my classes for next semester are senior level economics classes so I have quite a few friends so we might be getting together to study either at the library or somewhere near campus.” Even with these unforeseen circumstances, Director of Administrative and Support Services for Residence Life Carol Binzer said on-campus housing is in high demand, with housing being full with an ongoing waitlist. For geology senior Amanda Chrise, the decision to move back to College Station in the fall was easy. Chrise said a major factor for her was the feeling of comfort that comes with being in the city that gave her so many close friends and classmates. “I’m definitely moving back to College Station in the fall because living in my apartment, on my own, rather than at home with my family provides a better learning environment for me personally, even if all of my classes are online,” Chrise said. “It’ll also feel more ‘normal’ to still be able to see some of my friends and classmates.” Although the fall semester will definitely be different than those in the past, Chrise said she’s hoping to stay healthy and safe, all while trying to make the most of her last few months in Aggieland. “I’m hoping that I’ll still be able to safely spend time with my friends and meet with professors and classmates if necessary for success in my classes despite COVID-19,” Chrise said.

As conversations about race continue on campus and online, many are pushing the need for education on the subject. To help with this cause, the Texas A&M University Libraries have created an Anti-Racism LibGuide with online resources covering topics such as institutional racism, privilege and white fragility, bias and microaggressions as well as books, podcasts and videos about Black experiences. University libraries diversity program coordinator Marisol Moreno said the guide came about following a Libraries’ Diversity Advancement Committee discussion about recent Black Lives Matter protests and police brutality. “While building the LibGuide, we made an effort to highlight materials that are readily available in our digital collection, as well as resources outside of the Libraries that were freely accessible to everyone,” Moreno said. “We have access to so many resources that not only allow folks to explore diverse voices, but also gives them an opportunity to learn from the activists and scholars who have been at the forefront of dismantling institutional racism.” The premise for the term “anti-racism” comes from political activist Angela Davis’ statement “In a racist society, it is not enough to be non-racist, we must be anti-racist.” According to the guide, anti-racism is a way of looking at and reacting to society “in order to transform it.” “For white people, being antiracist evolves with their racial identity development. They must acknowledge and understand their privilege, work to change their internalized racism, and interrupt racism when they see it,” the guide reads. “For people of color, it means recognizing how race and racism have been internalized, and whether it has been applied to other people of color.” According to sociology professor, Joe Feagan, Ph.D., white privilege stems from a preconceived idea of white virtuousness and the accompanying systematic oppression of non-whites. “That oppression has been imbedded in our economic, political, educational and other institutions during slavery and Jim Crow, resulting in an estimated $20-30 trillion in just black economic losses and extensive present-day discrimination,” Feagan said. “Add-in other white oppression: genocidal oppression of Native Americans... Mexican Americans and Chinese Americans [and] many other groups of color thereafter. This oppression unjustly enriched whites at great expense of Americans of color. That is what white power and privilege really means.” The key to overcoming this internal and external racism, Feagan said, is by joining groups such as the Antiracism Study Dialogue Circles, reading books and guides on racism and taking courses on anti-racism, and historical and ongoing oppression. “It usually takes months, years, even a lifetime, for whites to deframe their dominant white racial frame and replace it with an authentic liberty and justice for all frame,” Feagan said. “We whites are taught that white racist frame from cradle to grave by our friends, peers, relatives, so that is unsurprising it takes much time and effort to even begin to change it.” Moreno said she encourages readers to look beyond the guide, do their own research and start conversations with others about how to be anti-racist in today’s society. “Our guide is intended to be a starting point for people to understand the structural inequities that have impacted BIPOC and other marginalized groups over generations,” Moreno said. “We hope it encourages honest and challenging conversations, particularly for the folks who are just becoming aware and have an honest desire to do right by the people who are being discriminated [against].” To access the A&M Libraries Anti-Racism LibGuide, click here.

With movements like Black Lives Matter and recent conversations about the removal of the Lawrence Sullivan “Sully” Ross statue, former students, current students and faculty have come together to address racism on Texas A&M’s campus. Kenneth Robinson, Class of '94, founded Aggie Conversations: Forum To Talk Openly About Race to share minority experiences and answer questions from non-Black Aggies who are “seeking to understand the Black Experience in America and Texas A&M.” Robinson said he was inspired to create the forum after the murder of George Floyd and the following national conversation about race. “As a leader at Texas A&M, I wanted the University that I love dearly to have a forum where we could all talk to each other openly about race,” Robinson said. “The hopes and goals of the forum are centered around listening to and learning from each other's perspectives: white, black, yellow and green. The goal is to have an environment where your perspective will be listened to and received.” Through these discussions Robinson said the forum has shown that Aggies want to grow, listen and foster great life experiences for others. “I have sincerely been impressed with the depth of some of the questions and the open participation of all Aggies during the forum,” Robinson said. After sharing his personal experiences of racism on campus through police harassment, classroom intimidation and organized exclusion, Robinson said he has learned that some of his white colleagues simply had no clue about some of the issues that minorities have endured at Texas A&M. “Aggies are now searching to find out what’s really going on, instead of interpreting the world solely by what they, themselves, experience,” Robinson said. “I am optimistic and encouraged.” At the July 7 lunch forum, speakers Rodney Pennywell, Class of ’86, Darron Edwards, Class of '92, and Elizabeth Barnes, Class of ’21 answered questions from non-Black Aggies. When asked what her hope is for A&M, Barnes said she wants A&M to become a marketplace for ideas where people can come together and not feel uncomfortable voicing their thoughts because they are different from someone else's. “I really would hope that Texas A&M can reflect not only the demographics of Texas but also [that] it is a place anyone can come to and feel comfortable growing and learning as a student and expanding your mindset,” Barnes said. “I don’t want you to be able to come to Texas A&M and leave thinking the same way that you did coming in. I want it to become a place that embodies diversity of thought and not only skin color.” Edwards said he wants students to be challenged academically and become agents of change who are encouraged to have uncomfortable conversations that can foster growth. “When you become uncomfortable, that’s when the learning starts,” Edwards said. After starting the forum, Robinson said he has received a plethora of emails and calls, primarily from white Aggies, thanking him for hosting the forum and educating others. “The Aggie community has really embraced the forum,” Robinson said. “I welcome and answer each and every call or email. I know for a fact the forum has changed the hearts, thoughts and lives of some of its participants. If one person is better for participating in the forum, I consider it a success.” In the future, Robinson said he hopes that Aggie Conversations becomes a new tradition at A&M and Aggies continue to keep talking, learning and growing. “Aggies talk to one another,” Robinson said. “Aggies have real conversations that matter. My hope is that this forum never dies, but becomes an integral part in how we communicate to prospective students and parents, to current students and to former students. Race shouldn’t be a topic that we don’t regularly discuss.”

What began as a small endeavor to help pay for urban planning junior Diana Reyna’s college tuition, has become a thriving dessert baking business that services College Station and Houston. Reyna’s small business, Pastelitos Co., began a little over one year ago and her accomplishments and determination to fulfil her full potential have led her to be recognized as one of the 10 Glamour Magazine 2020 College Women of the Year. Reyna said she had no idea that she was going to be featured as one of Glamour’s 2020 College Women of the Year when she was contacted on Twitter by a contributing writer for Glamour. “Jenny Singer reached out to me very nonchalantly and mentioned that they wanted to honor some of my accomplishments... I had no idea it was gonna be for this though,” Reyna said. During her bake day on July 1, the article was posted. When she saw the full article, Reyna said it was an unbelievable feeling to be a recipient of the honor among so many other outstanding college women. “I realized what the article was for and I had to sit here and be like ‘this is a real article showing your story, your business,’” Reyna said. “It was so crazy to pause and be like yeah, I did do all of this stuff huh? And to be featured in Glamour? A magazine all about female empowerment? A dream come true.” Reyna’s business has also recently expanded due to the high demand for her cheesecakes. “I’m having a lot of my very first customers (like back when I was still selling out of my house) come by and pick up cheesecakes and mention how proud they are to have seen Pastelitos come so far,” Reyna said. “Opening the second location kinda let me take a step back to realize like, we’ve come so far in so little time. It’s a very sweet thing to think on.” Reyna said that the experience of expansion has been stressful due to the amount of paperwork and organizing while still running production, but it has all been worth it. “Nonetheless, I still get to see my very happy customers twice a week and work with my amazing amazing workers four times a week so it’s all worth it,” Reyna said. “We’ve gotten a lot of support from various people and places so it makes the transition a lot smoother.” As for her goals and ambitions for the future, Reyna said that she hopes to see her customers return to what she hopes will one day be a dessert cafe. “Speaking long term though, I would love to have a sit down restaurant for Pastelitos,” Reyna said. “Maybe something like a mini dessert place. Where you can sit and study with coffee and a pastry. It’s just an idea now but a lot of my current reality was ideas at some point.”

Since the suspension of in-person classes in the spring, there has been some uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 and whether or not Aggies would step foot on campus this fall. Come July 24, professors will alleviate this uncertainty and make a final decision on their lecturing methods, as the university finalizes the fall 2020 semester schedule. Since July 6, students have begun to notice changes to their lecture formats, where professors have started to move their classes to an online format rather than face-to-face. With this, several students have noticed scheduling conflicts that include an overlap in online and face-to-face lectures, no time in between two classes and much more. English junior Symone Charles said she hopes the university will sincerely take students into consideration leading up to making changes to the final schedule. “I have basically an overlap and I’ve already had a chat with another student that has a genuine class overlap,” Charles said. “They’ll need to add more sections or space out the classes more. Something to help those of us that won’t be able to make it to our classes on time.” According to communications director for the Office of the Provost Kelly Reynolds, students can expect shifts in their schedule between now and July 24, when the final schedule is posted to student’s Howdy accounts. She urged students to remain in contact with their academic advisors for the time being. Charles said she is glad the university is stepping up and forging a plan for students, but there are still kinks in the system that need to be addressed. “I know a lot of people already that have been affected by COVID-19, I’m glad they’re taking a step to prepare and protect students from the worst,” Charles said. “I only wish they’d reduce tuition costs to make up for the lack of in-person amenities we as students pay for.” Leading up to returning to class on Aug. 19, engineering professor Daniel Ball said he plans for most of his lectures to take place synchronously online as he works to enhance his remote teaching skills. “When and if possible I still want to teach face-to-face as long as we meet the guidelines provided for doing it safely,” Ball said. “The lectures will be recorded however so we can accommodate students that might have other concerns. I will be working on improving my use of additional teaching tools such as working problems via whiteboard, one note and using the draw function on PPT.” Although an online format might not be the best learning method for some, Ball said the biggest advantage for students would be to establish a set plan. “Set aside a regular time each week to view the lecture just like you would if you attended in person,” Ball said. “This applies to both the lectures and homework assignments. Remember what gets scheduled, gets done.” When it comes to mentally preparing for this uncertain semester ahead, Ball said even with social distancing there is a need for students to not isolate themselves. “I am sure this is not how students thought their college experience would look,” Ball said. “But everyone is in this boat so let's move forward and figure out ways to make it work. I am in the [College of Engineering] and as engineers our charter is to solve problems, so let's work together and solve this.” With most on-campus resources also being moved to an online format, students are losing some experiences that come with being unrestricted on campus. Agriculture education professor Kim Dooley said although this might be viewed as a setback to most, times like these require flexibility by all. “Texas A&M University, not unlike other higher education institutions worldwide, are not making these decisions lightly,” Dooley said. “We all need to remember the Aggie Core Values, especially Excellence, at this time. The faculty want our students to learn effectively and demonstrate their knowledge, skills and abilities so that they can be successful in the future.”