Journal on Excellence in College Teaching, Volume 31, Number 2

The COVID-19 era has created a relationship crisis in higher education. In complying with required social distancing, adapting to (in many cases) unfamiliar teaching platforms, and accommodating the technological challenges that may be faced by learners living in different parts of the world, there is a real danger of losing touch with the human relationships that are so important to teaching and learning. Teaching is a social act; teaching is connecting. It is, therefore, now more important than ever to create and maintain connections and relationships among students and between students and instructors.