Many schools are teaching classes virtually but some lessons require hands-on learning. 

"It's good to be back and actually do lab in class," said Monica Qubick, a nursing student at Mohawk Valley Community College.

She says the sudden switch to online courses was a challenge last semester.

"I had maternity last semester online, and it was just so difficult because we couldn't even go to the clinical and everything. But with this one, we're getting to go do the hands-on things, doing our labs, skills testing, and everything," she said.

There are guidelines to follow in class and even to get inside campus buildings.

"The faculty had a lot of discussions about that, what we would do and not do, and we felt like lab and clinical were two of the pieces that we absolutely had to keep in-person," said Lori Hughes, an assistant professor at Mohawk Valley Community College.

That's something that makes Qubick, a motivated student, thankful: The way an at-home nurse cared for her grandfather inspired her to pursue nursing.

"It made me want to become a nurse when I got older just to be like that, to help people. Maybe go into different homes and help with that," Qubick said.

The classes are not entirely in-person. Many courses at the school are online.