I’m torn on the immunity issue but at the end of the day colleges are pursuing what’s in their best interests (primarily financial) and Dr. Fauci (as our lead expert) keeps encouraging people to limit their exposure to others, wear masks and social distance etc…almost none of which will occur when kids return to campus. Colleges are putting kids in a position we, as parents, have been told they should not be in for the last 3+months but some how it’s now ok because it’s college. I don’t believe colleges should be granted some sort of blanket immunity.
My sons school is in a true college town. There has been a 700% increase of Covid19 cases over the last six weeks. College students make up 62% of the towns population. The kids are terrified that they have to return to face to face classrooms in the fall. The school has nearly 40k students. I just can’t see how the school is going to pull this off safely. My son just graduated but I feel sorry of those parents struggling to decide if they are going to send their kids back.
But this is why most colleges have online option regardless of their primary instruction method.
And colleges do require mask and SD and the likes, they still have to follow whatever guidelines given. Doesn’t mean all students will comply.
Colleges are not putting kids in any position. They are adults, as are their parents. They can stay home, transfer, do online, whatever they choose to do. If they make the choice to return , there is a risk of infection-but that is their choice to make. Buying ice cream increases my chance for obesity, but I think it should be offered for sale to those who wish it. Personal accountability for one’s choices.
The Classroom Building was built in the '60’s so apparently it’s not working.
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Do you mind sharing which town?
speaking of college towns. In orlando this is spreading through the kids at UCF who stayed during the summer. I think they all believe they will have immunity by the time fall comes, so why not get it now. The problem is that immunity is still an unknown, and there are cases of people getting it twice.
"Florida now joins South Carolina and Nevada among the states that broke daily records over the weekend.
“I’m one of the people who contributed to the 9,000-person day,” said Ian Scott, a 19-year-old college sophomore in Orlando who tested positive on Friday. He has no idea how he got it.
Mr. Scott said that for young people, getting tested has become an amusing pastime. They challenge each other to see who can get the nasal swab test without crying. About half of his fraternity has tested positive.
“We’re seeing positive, positive, positive, positive,” he said. “My generation says: ‘Let’s get this over with. Let’s suck it up for two weeks, sit in our rooms, play video games, play with our phones, finish online classes, and it’s over.”
Mr. Scott barely felt sick, and was fine by the time the test results came back. Patients like him could help account for the fact that while Florida’s daily case count has increased fivefold in two weeks, the rate of deaths has not increased so far. State records show that hospitalization rates have inched up but are not at crisis levels.
Gov. Ron DeSantis said more Covid-related fatalities in the state had been people over 90 than people under 65."
Ah, but if your choice is to sit at home and listen to a recording, vs attend in person and have access to some resources, I think the kid sitting at home is at a disadvantage. If kid wants to get into competitive grad school or job, that’s an issue.
And, when I mentioned many pages ago about the possibility of a gap year, several posters all said something along the lines (phrased nicer, but still the same thought), that they’d think my kid is a wimp or not a team player, and they’d hold the decision against my kid in their hiring process. While those opinions are in the minority, you don’t know who the hiring people are and what they think, etc. There is societal pressure to go back on campus if that’s an option.
I think the number of hiring people that would hold it against your kid are going to be few, given how this has progressed. Those who want to attend in-person should be allowed to do so and if someone wants to do online or take a gap year, have at it.
And there are advertisements encouraging purchase of ice cream. You choose whether to do so given the circumstances.
“They are adults, as are their parents.”
Just because you’re 18 or 19 does not mean you’re an adult, that’s an arbitrary age, the recent research shows you don’t really start developing adult reasoning capacities till 24-25.
“They can stay home, transfer, do online, whatever they choose to do.”
The can’t choose to do what they want to do, most families are financially constrained in these times.
"If they make the choice to return , there is a risk of infection-but that is their choice to make. Buying ice cream increases my chance for obesity, but I think it should be offered for sale to those who wish it. Personal accountability for one’s choices.
We’ve had this chat before, your ice cream consumption is not equivalent to not wearing a mask. It has serious ramifications on the people around you.
“ degree apprenticeships” have been common in the medical field for some time. I know working class people who became employed at a hospital with barely a high school diploma. They worked full time taking college credits which the hospital paid for and gave them paid study leave off once day a week. They graduated completely debt free plus even had enough money saved from their salary for a mortgage. After a couple of promotions to managerial level they are now upper middle class.
If someone can get a full time low level job in their intended field and study their degree online on top of that they will graduate with both the qualification and experience and money in their bank. That is a positive for their career path.
Does the Williams plan have everyone in singles?
Are there any potential employers asking “how much ice cream do you regularly consume? Hmm. . .” (makes note: wimpy ice cream consumption).
@wisteria100 they were not clear on that. Sounded like res life would be in touch with another email.
“A room draw process is being finalized, and Director of Student Life Doug Schiazza will communicate the details to you shortly.”
ETA:
There are other details, too, like this about counseling services. Good that they are being honest about this kind of stuff.
“I unfortunately need to acknowledge that we won’t have all the forms of support on campus this fall that would be available during a conventional term. I’m attuned to the ways these limitations can intersect with inequality, and we’re working to head off such concerns. For example, since health protocols preclude us from offering in-person counseling at Integrative Wellbeing Services, we’ll expand our telemedicine options through a combination of IWS options and an expanded relationship with TalkSpace, which will also give students access to a greater number of counselors nationwide who share their identities or experiences. You’ll find more information about this on the IWS site. I can’t be overly optimistic, however: the reality is that all of us will have to adjust expectations. I encourage students and families to think about the changes in therapeutic services and other areas as you make your decisions about fall, and to be in touch with the Dean’s office if you have questions.”
Actually, yes, @sylvan8798 , employers may not ask but there is a clear negative correlation between obesity and job offers.
I am more intrigued by the cost of attendance reduction at Williams. I assume there are concerns about retention, gap years, ? Tough for similar LACs. Wealthy schools can do it, but some were asked not to do so to avoid pressure on the less wealthy schools.
@roycroftmom Williams cancelled their winter term so maybe that’s one reason for the reduction. Plus, they are only requiring three classes not four. I assume they thought there would be push back on full tuition with both of these changes.
Winter study is a month long “class” or other opportunity for the month of January.
Was that in the FAQ link or in the article? I missed that.
I saw the comment about same tuition cost for those who remain at home, but didn’t see the reference to no R&B refund if campus has to be closed. I would be surprised if Williams took that stance. Do you know if many schools have?
Amherst has recommended 3 vs 4 classes per semester though you can petition to take 4, but so far they have said there will be no reduction in tuition. And they unlike Williams will have a portion of kids not invited back to campus. Perhaps this will put pressure on then to reduce tuition as well.