Never-ending repetitiveness, sadness, loss, and “juggling with a blindfold on:” Lived experiences of Canadian college and university faculty members during the COVID-19 pandemic

We report on the lived experiences of faculty members during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, exploring the broader experiences of faculty members as individuals living multifaceted lives whose homes became their offices, their students scattered geographically and their home lives upended. Using a phenomenological approach for data collection and analysis, we conducted 20 in-depth interviews with faculty holding varied academic appointments at universities across Canada. Experiences during the early months of the pandemic were described as being overwhelming and exhausting, and participants described as being stuck in a cycle of never-ending repetitiveness, sadness and loss, or managing life, teaching and other professional responsibilities with little sense of direction. In keeping with phenomenological methods, this research paints a visceral picture of faculty experiences, seeking to contextualize teaching and learning during this time. Its unique contribution lies in portraying emergency remote teaching as an overlapping and tumultuous world of personal, professional and day-to-day responsibilities. Practitioner notes What is already known about this topic Surveys and first-person accounts of remote teaching paint an initial picture of experiences. During the COVID-19 pandemic many faculty were facing various anxieties and tensions. The transition to remote teaching was uneven. What this paper adds A systematic analysis of faculty experiences during the early months of the pandemic. Evocative and vivid descriptions of academics’ experiences. An explanation of what it feels like to live through this time. Implications for practice and/or policy Faculty require more support. Trauma-aware and trauma-informed practices can support faculty and their work. Rich descriptions can inform future policymaking and practice.