At These Colleges, Students are Told to Keep their Phones Off

AI could replace the equivalent of 85 million jobs worldwide by 2025.

But some colleges are taking a stance on the digital era by creating phone-free environments aiming to alleviate student stress and foster a greater sense of community, Inside Higher Ed reports.

At Wisconsin’s Lawrence University, a course titled “Doing Nothing” prohibits cell phone use during class. Students place their cellphones in a room across the hall and focus on wellness topics such as sleep schedules and tai chi.

“Having them be physically separated from their phones has made a huge difference,” Constance Kassor, an associate professor of religious studies, says. A handful of students “have commented they didn’t know how hard it would be.”

FREEDOM FROM “ALWAYS-ON” TECHNOLOGY

A few states over, Wyoming Catholic College imposes a similar technology policy: 1. No televisions on campus; 2. Dorm internet access is limited to college email and selected websites for class (public spaces have full internet access); 3. No cellphones or handheld devices with wireless or cellular data.

Wyoming Catholic freshmen embark on their college journey through a three-week mandatory wilderness trip—no phones allowed. The goal of the technology policy, according to Kyle Washut, acting academic dean at Wyoming Catholic, is to give students freedom.

“There was a general thought [at the college’s inception] about the connectivity,” Washut says. “Our coffee shop is on Main Street, and people will walk in and say, ‘There’s something different,’” he adds. “It takes a moment to realize the difference is half the room isn’t on their phone.”

It’s not that Wyoming Catholic is against technology. The school sees the benefit that technology can bring. At Wyoming Catholic, students bring laptops to writing papers and the school provides public computers. Rather, Wyoming Catholic’s stance on technology is more about balance—with an emphasis on human connection.

“The proof of the policy’s success hits visitors like mountain air the moment they step into the cafeteria and see students rapt in conversation, looking up to greet each other at tables, or when they find them outside, sitting on the lawn chatting or relaxing with a book; or come upon students playing the piano in the student lounge—present to each other and to what they are doing,” Wyoming Catholic states on their website. “Any college would benefit from such a policy.”

Sources: Inside Higher Ed, Wyoming Catholic College, builtin