As Milligan University students wrap up their first couple weeks of classes and have settled into the new rhythms of life, new habits are precedent. As of the start of the new academic year, all students and staff have been requested to take part in the Ascend Program. Ascend is an online platform that all Milligan staff and students engage with each morning before arriving on campus.
This program helps to monitor symptoms or even potential cases of COVID-19, intending to stop the spread of the virus on campus. So far the program seems to be effective as Milligan has 3 reported cases to date (9/14). Yet the Milligan community does not all share the same viewpoint on the level of effectiveness behind the Ascend platform.
Senior Adam Wall shared his thoughts on the program, “I believe that the ascend app is a good idea that promotes campus safety. I think it’s achieving its goal and is serving as a way for students to be advised as to their potential effect on campus. Some people take it more seriously than others but that’s the case with anything.”
Some students have a more cynical view surrounding the effectiveness of the Ascend program. Freshmen Trevor Cameron states, “The ascend app is a good idea but in actuality, it is a little less effective. I don’t feel like it is causing much of a change on campus. I know only a couple of my teachers even check for the green check, and I even know that some students go to class even if they get a red x.”
The Milligan administration believes in the Ascend program and urges students to continue engaging with it.
Vice president for student development and athletics, Mark Fox, states, “I believe that the Ascend program, while not perfect, is helping make Milligan a safer place. The program forces all of us to be more aware and sensitive to our personal health condition. This is an important tool in the efforts to reduce exposure and risk.”
For more information on how Milligan University is staying safe visit milligan.edu/returnhome.
Headline photo: Student is shown a green check.