Well this is one case where being on a quarter system really is fortunate, its really tough to switch to online learning in the middle of the semester. Fortunately again, my DD 529 hit the magic number last Fall to complete her education so I put it all into a money market fund, very fortuitious timing.
Not sure about Yale, but this article features major universities still charging full tuition. The article doesn’t mention University of Chicago either.
MDW shutting down:
@CU123 - Good point on the 529. We did the same for the kids who have already started college because I wanted to be sure that the dedicated funds would be there when needed and was willing to forego the upside in order to prevent a large downside (which, as it turns out, has transpired). We still have one 529 in “the market” for our high schooler and I don’t wish to look at that one. Plus, any back-up assets - well, I don’t wish to look at those either right now.
Hope all of your kids have safely arrived at home. Illinois will mandate the shelter in place rule starting on March 21st (Saturday).
Stay safe everyone
My kid is coming home tomorrow: I was just told that allegedly, one of the food service staff in Cathey tested positive.
^@momo2x2018 - thanks for that info. My son who left earlier today and is now at home confirmed that they were sent an e-mail concerning this employee. Cathey is closed as of today.
We actually know someone who lives in Hyde Park but not a member of the university community who went in to ER at UC Med yesterday to be tested because they weren’t feeling well and the symptoms presented similarly to Covid-19. They were triaged to the back of the line, so to speak, due to age (young) and symptoms (mild). What they shared was that UC Med was testing about 15-30 UC employees, even moving them to another location in the hospital, and that some of them were complaining about having to self-isolate while awaiting results. It was clear that this group in particular was there because of exposure and not due to feeling ill themselves (others were also being tested who were coughing and had fever, etc). Now that we know Cathey is closed and an employee tested positive, we can probably connect the dots that everyone was there due to this or another employee.
Thanks @JBStillFlying I wasn’t sure if my info. was accurate, but I did want to get it out there. Did you see a copy of the email that was sent to students, and do you think families, especially those of students who attend Cathey, should be informed?
Is your son self-isolating or quarantining (sp?) I am worried about my S coming home because H is seriously (albeit, healthy right now) immune compromised. Sigh!
@momo2x2018 my son doesn’t need to self-quarantine because he’s not aware of any exposure to someone with Coronavirus and he has he been contacted about such. Cathey’s been serving Grab 'n Go since Tuesday. It’s highly unlikely that students would have contracted Coronavirus from this employee. However, I’m pretty sure that the theoretical odds of my son having Coronavirus right now are higher than mine, given the relative differences in the growth of the virus here vs. Chicago and the fact that we live a pretty secluded life anyway (the restrictions don’t really impact us much).
What I’d advise if we had an immune-compromised individual in the household would be to start that individual on zinc tabs, assuming they don’t interfere with other medications, and have zicam nearby to swab the nose at the first sign of a cold. Also, if either your husband or son starts to feel ill, they should self-isolate and contact their healthcare provider to get advice on being tested. Finally, just make sure to disinfect everything with bleach (for inorganic surfaces) and/or rubbing alcohol (for organic or utensils, thermometers etc). One way to do so easily is to purchase two plastic containers of baby wipes and pour a little bleach and water into one and rubbing alcohol and water into the other (make sure to mark each one). Shake over the sink and voilà - you have a handy set of disinfectant wipes!
@momo2x2018 I don’t have a copy of the e-mail that I’m aware of, but haven’t checked my inbox in the last few hours. My son said he received an e-mail this morning but isn’t sure who it was sent to.
This afternoon Dr. Emily Landon of UChicago Medicine made a passionate plea for sticking with shelter in place. She is now the leading spokesperson of UChicago Medicine for COVID-19 and she is doing a damn fine job:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=kHUuWq6y8F0&feature=emb_logo
So far there have been three reported positive cases on campus. On 17 March, we (parents) received an email that a student at Booth School of Business had tested positive. That student lives off campus. Following CDC protocols, the school was identifying and contacting anyone who may have had close contact.
On 19 March, the Harris School of Public Policy sent out an email to its students that a Harris student had tested positive. I did not receive this, nor did my DD, but it was posted on a student forum for her to see, and I saw it on a forum for UChicago parents. Again, the school was working on identifying and contacting those who might have had close contact.
On 20 March, the students received an email that an employee of Cathey had tested positive, but it is not a cause of concern for students. I have pasted the text below.
The University learned late last night (March 19) that a dining hall employee at Cathey Dining Commons has tested positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19). We immediately consulted with specialists at the University of Chicago Medicine and the Chicago Department of Public Health, who determined that there is not cause for concern among people who have dined at Cathey Dining Commons. Out of an abundance of caution we are closing Cathey Dining Commons on Friday, which was to be its last day of operations until after Spring Quarter. The employee’s last day of work was March 16, and the dining hall has had multiple enhanced cleanings (like other campus dining facilities) since then.
This valued employee has the University community’s best wishes for a speedy recovery, and we will continue to respect their privacy. Any co-workers who may have had close contact with the employee – defined as being within 6 feet for more than a few minutes – will be advised to self-quarantine for 14 days and monitor for symptoms.
We are sharing this information purely as a precaution and in the interests of immediate transparency. Our guidance for patrons of this dining commons is the same as for our general community during this watchful period – practice social distancing, remain at home when possible, and monitor your health. Anyone who experiences symptoms including fever, coughing, and shortness of breath should not travel and call ahead before visiting a physician. For more information, visit the University’s coronavirus site.
Sincerely,
Michele Rasmussen, Dean of Students in the University
&
Richard Mason, Assistant Vice President for Campus Life and Associate Dean of the College
My son’s RH who just returned from abroad and was hanging out with my son on Sunday just tested positive for Coronavirus. We are awaiting instructions from our provider.
. . . And in this state at least, our entire family has now been asked to self-quarantine for two weeks. Fun times!
Anyone is welcome to PM me. I don’t want to post my son’s house on this forum but I can confirm with you privately. For peace of mind.
@JBStillFlying Good luck and hope everyone in your family is safe and healthy.
While other major universities may still be charging full tuition, almost all of those schools are on a semester system, and were well into their second semesters before students were required to leave campus. Determination of a fair reduction in tuition mid-term at those schools would be difficult and their students were at least able to meet their professors face-to-face, attend office hours and get to know/interact with others in their classes (the aspects of an elite university education that justify the significantly higher tuition) before transitioning to on-line classes. I don’t see how UChicago can justify charging the same tuition when our students’ entire quarter will be “online” - moreso when they are planning to offer only nine weeks of instruction instead of ten. At the very least there should be a 10% reduction in tuition for the Spring quarter.
@newmarooonmom - Other schools extended Spring Break as well so will have one fewer week of instruction than anticipated. All schools are different from one another - offering a distinct number of reading days vs. instruction days. So it’s very hard to compare which schools should be reducing tuition and which shouldn’t. UChicago will be doing to a 9-week format beginning Fall 2021 so this will just be a preview of “things to come.” Keep in mind that the current 10-week format is, in fact, 9 1/2 weeks anyway. The school can easily adopt the 9-week model this spring. It’s already been worked out. As to "other schools can’t determine a “fair reduction” of tuition - bullpucky. They rebated for housing and dining sans difficulty. They could do the same for tuition - if it made sense. Instead, they are charging the same tuition and offering or converting to pass/fail. Hoping that doesn’t happen at UChicago and that they keep it as close to “normal” as possible.
Update on the Coronavirus case in one of the dorms: all residents have been notified and those in close contact have been advised to self-isolate for 14 days. If your student received neither letter, no need to worry about this one at all. If your student received a general notice but not the “please self-isolate” letter then he/she hasn’t been in contact so can rest easy. Hopefully this will be the only instance of Covid-19 in the dorms!