COA transitioned to remote classes for the Spring term of 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the states.

When the COVID-19 pandemic caused lockdowns across the country and the world, COA transitioned to offering remote classes. This was the first time COA ever offered remote classes, and marked a response to uncertain, shifting times. The pandemic had profound effects on the COA community, just as it had on the world at large. Luckily, the small size of COA’s student body and the established spirit of care, awareness and support within the institution made it possible for human ecology to continue, even online.

The changes that came with the pandemic were completely unprecidented. Students, faculty and staff were all aware that the moment they were living through was one that would make history books in years to come. Our archivists and community members did diligent work to record the experiences and peculiarities that made up the lockdown experience. Check out some of their work below, through the COA COVID-19 Community Archive and COA COVID-19 Oral History Project.