START the recording by reading aloud the following information:
“This is an interview for the COVID-19 Oral Histories Interviewing Project. Today is [date]. I’m the interviewer and I am [name]. I’m [age right now]. Currently, I’m a [class year in Fall 2021] and my major is [what].”
Ask your INTERVIEWEE the following:
“Please say your name or use your initials or pseudonym, your age right now, your class year this semester, and your major.”
If not a student, then instead of class year and major, say: your job/position at the college?
“Last fall (in Fall 2020), what was your class year?”
If not a student, then instead of class year, say: your job/position?
QUESTIONS
- At the start of last fall (2020), where were you and what were you thinking about or looking forward to, for the coming semester?
- Tell me what you remember about the first week of classes and what it was like for you. What did you do, how did you feel?
- FOR SUNY ONEONTA STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS: How did you learn about the SUNY Oneonta campus closure? What do you remember about that time and how were you feeling?
- What was the rest of Fall 2020 like for you? What were you doing, how were you feeling?
- Follow up as needed: Did you have to relocate or make other adjustments to your living situation? (For students: Where did you live while courses were held online?) What adjustments did you have to make as a student OR for your job/position at the college?
- What were you doing to take care of yourself in terms of COVID safety (like masking, social distancing, and so on)? What were you doing to take care of your mental health?
- How were your relationships affected—with your friends, family, professors, or other people who are important to you?
- Follow up as needed: Did anyone close to you get sick? What happened?
- How were you receiving campus news updates? How were you receiving local and national news?
- How did your Fall 2020 experience affect your Spring 2021?
- Follow up as needed: For students: In Spring 2021, did you take classes online and/or in person? (OR In Spring 2021, did you work in person on campus and what was it like?) Where did you live?
- Were there any upsides to the pandemic and what were they?
- What else do you want others to understand about your experience last fall?