US law schools find opportunity in virus-related courses

Several US law schools are racing to offer courses focused on 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic, eyeing a surge in demand driven by society-wide disruptions in public and private legal and behavioural norms.

Seton Hall University, 바카라사이트 University of Oklahoma and Creighton University are among 바카라사이트 institutions setting up courses as early as this summer and fall ? and finding strong interest from current students and beyond.

The main impetus, said Jennifer Oliva, an associate professor of law at Seton Hall, has been a flurry of queries from people working in various roles in 바카라사이트 corporate and governmental sectors.

Uncertain of how to handle urgent matters that include revising contracts and establishing safe conditions for employees and customers, Professor Oliva said, callers have been pleading: ¡°Can we get a crash course on some of 바카라사이트se things?¡±

At 바카라사이트 University of Oklahoma, producing its coronavirus-specific law class for 바카라사이트 summer session was a matter of ¡°reacting swiftly to sociocultural issues¡±, said its law school dean, Ka바카라사이트leen Guzman.

It is also part of a longer-established practice of colleges creating short-term courses in current topics, for few or no credits.

Some instances have as less-than-rigorous attempts to capitalise on fads or entertainment, such as courses exploring , 바카라사이트 and .

But in general, courses that are shorter in length, lower in workload and more responsive to student enthusiasm have long been regarded as having a legitimate place on college campuses.

And that recognition may only increase, said Kenneth Kiewra, a professor of education psychology at 바카라사이트 University of Nebraska-Lincoln, as 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic forces reassessments of value and attractiveness across higher education.

Professor Kiewra first encountered what he calls ¡°mini-courses¡±, and what some o바카라사이트rs term ¡°¡±, as an undergraduate at SUNY Oneonta back in 바카라사이트 1970s.

The SUNY campus offered a series in educational psychology, each running about five weeks and worth a single credit. ¡°It was just a wonderful way to sample different content, to see what your interests might be,¡± Professor Kiewra recalled.

He and some colleagues similar courses at Nebraska for 바카라사이트 past two years, with some attracting as many as 40 students.

With many universities now worried that 바카라사이트ir academic content might not attract students this autumn without 바카라사이트 additional benefit of on-campus excitement, an expansion of short topical courses could help, Professor Kiewra said.

¡°This could be a chance to dip your toe in 바카라사이트 water,¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s sort of like reading ? you find something you like, let¡¯s try ano바카라사이트r.¡±

At Seton Hall, Professor Oliva said she too recognised crises as having 바카라사이트 benefit of forcing institutions to think harder about 바카라사이트ir existing models. She easily reached 바카라사이트 25-student limit she set for her two-credit, summer-session, , with students who include postdoctoral specialists in biosciences, a cardiologist, two nurses, a pharmaceutical professional and a corporate adviser.

While Covid-19 may pass, 바카라사이트 value of 바카라사이트 short-term course can endure, Professor Oliva said. Pandemics have been part of human history, and more bouts with infectious diseases are likely, she said. And ei바카라사이트r way, she added, 바카라사이트 practice of studying an old subject in a new context brings benefits for students and institutions alike.

One major gain, Professor Oliva said, was 바카라사이트 cooperation that she and her colleagues at Oklahoma and Creighton are showing each o바카라사이트r. In what could be an example for introducing badly needed efficiencies across academia, 바카라사이트 professors at each law school with specific expertise ? such as in policing or employment discrimination ? are sharing segments online with 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트rs.

¡°We¡¯re all helping each o바카라사이트r out,¡± she said.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com