My introvert kid is perfectly happy with the online format. He’s still in contact with his friend group but fine with classes and things being online. So far, he’s reporting that his instructors are well organized and some of the online tools like the ability to watch lectures again at a later time will be helpful. For the math and CS classes, it will also be helpful that the “office hours” will be online and searchable/reviewable at a later date and time.
So, my son is taking Spanish 3, Hum 3, Sosc 3 and Core Music. For Hum, Sosc and Spanish the curriculum is unmodified from what it would have been otherwise, but still doable in nine weeks. Delivery for Hum and Spanish has definitely been modified; more dependence on group chats, breakout sessions (which he’s very much enjoying) and self-study. His hum prof is putting together a pod-cast with the writing tutor and DS is very excited about that. In contrast, his Sosc. prof hasn’t changed much of the fomat at all other than moving it over to Zoom (and those in different time zones can watch the recording and participate via the Canvas chat room). According to my son, all the Sosc. courses he’s heard about seem to be like this so maybe it’s something about Sosc in particular. Also, his prof “showed up” for Day One in a suit and tie! That’s taking it up a notch from the Spanish department’s advisory to “wear pants.”
He’s not sure how much the curriculum for Core Music has been modified but his instructor is very concerned that everyone stay healthy and de-stressed and isn’t assigning too much in these early weeks. He’s not sure it would have been that demanding a course anyway. Unfortunately, none of the composition or theory courses he was interested in satisfied the Core requirement.
https://www.chicagomaroon.com/article/2020/4/7/social-sciences-division-use-variety-methods-appro/
I don’t know how you can do remote learning for science lab. Or even humanities or social science research that requires extensive use of materiel at Reg. But I guess everyone has to adjust right now.
From what I’ve heard, science courses have cancelled labs. Reg and other university libraries have online archives and source materials.
I was awake bright and early this morning, to make sure my kid had a good breakfast before the 6:30 am class…two hours of my life I’ll never get back; he decided 6:30am is too early, and he has decided to take the pre-recorded class.
I really feel like this term is an expensive experiment.
The official narrative:
http://news.uchicago.edu/story/uchicago-community-finds-new-ways-learn-together
For Mother’s Day, @momo2x2018’s kid should make his mom breakfast in bed as a “thank you” for helping him transition to remote learning.
@JBStillFlying 
Maybe Ill change my name to @ pigsareflying !
DD ditched us and is living off her boyfriend (UChicago '19) in Seattle, although she said she would come home sometime in May after her 21st birthday. Seems that nothing could be more depressing then spending your 21st birthday with your parents.
New majors and minors for 2020-2021 academic year:
https://www.chicagomaroon.com/article/2020/4/15/university-publishes-course-catalog-new-major-vari/
When will the in person class return? No one knows of course but both students and university administrations are contemplating the contingencies.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/15/us/coronavirus-colleges-universities-admissions.html
New Catalog!
I’d hate to think of another Quarter of on-line learning - I don’t think it’s good for anybody, parents, students or faculty. I think if we were to move to another quarter of online in the Fall, the colleges and universities would probably need to consider some reduction in fees. Sitting on a computer at home, for the better part of a calendar year, is not a full college experience.
Wondering if anyone is considering a leave of absence for Fall quarter if it is online, especially if they don’t discount tuition? Thoughts?
Probably depends heavily on the circumstances. If the student is a first year, fourth year, is job seeking, extrovert and/or has many classes and activities that don’t lend themselves to online learning (performing arts, some discussion groups, labs) it would be very reasonable to postpone since the experience isn’t equivalent.
My son is fortunate(?) that he’s already established a good friend group, his classes work well online (mostly computer and math) and as an introvert he probably already thinks it’s exhausting to keep up with the friends he has, feels no need to seek more. So for him, online learning another quarter wouldn’t be a problem at all. He’s finding it’s working well and the teachers are organized and beyond helpful. He also was offered a great internship that he can do remotely for the next six months. But I know that’s not everybody’s experience and it’s not the full college experience. It’s only working for him because he was already established in his groove at UChicago, his classes are a type that works online and he’s not graduating or seeking jobs.
Am I the only one thinking it would be suicide for these universities to remain closed in the fall?
Regardless, UChicago is at an an advantage due to the quarter system. They have a month longer than everyone else to worry about this. Even if other schools continue with remote out of an abundance of caution, a lot can happen between end of Aug. and end of Sept.
So far only Boston U openly says that it may consider cancelling in person classes for the rest of 2020. Everyone else is saying they are considering all options.
In the end, we are back to square one: the virus decides. If Remdesivir ends up to be extremely effective and turns COVID-19 into just a common flu (see link below), then no one would dream of cancelling fall classes. But if COVID-19 mutates and turns into a rampant killer virus, then even the entire 2020-2021 will be in jeopardy.
^ @85bears46. It’s not killing college students. Unless they are obese. But overall, it’s not killing college students.
The problem colleges will have is the same problem cruise ships (and sadly aircraft carriers) have - cram thousands of people together in tightly packed rooms where they constantly mingle with others in large groups for most activities including meals and … C19 will spread like wildfire. Not many of the college students will die, but a few will and more of the support staff from professors to janitors will. A PR nightmare.
My friends who are docs and nurses think that there will be a second wave of infections in the fall as distancing requirements relax and the weather cools off, similar to how flu starts to ramp up in late fall.
At the beginning my DD wasn’t too upset about not going back for Spring quarter. (I was more bummed out than she was!) But after a week of learning at home, she said “I don’t know if I can do this for 9 more weeks.” It’s not the coursework – she says she feels her classes are the same quality as on campus – it’s the effect it’s having on her mood. I think walking to classes, eating with friends, going to RSO meetings, IOP workshops etc. really help balance out the drudgery/stress that p-sets and papers can be. I feel bad for her. That’s part of the reason I’m worrying about the fall. I REALLY want her to be able to return to campus.