I think most colleges want to have as much time as possible to plan, prepare, and to get more data on the spread of the virus before full commitment to how they are going to treat the 2020/2021 academic year. Remember too, many colleges have online summer courses to generate revenue, they are not going to want to jeopardize that as well. The amount of planning by colleges for if, when, and how to open in fall must be tremendous and unprecedented in modern times. They will need as much time as possible to “get this right”.
To someone’s other point, I don’t see colleges banning students from coming home for Thanksgiving. So the 1000’s of local faculty, administrators, maintenance crews, food service workers, get to go home for Thanksgiving week but students are “hold-up” in their dorm rooms? I just don’t see this happening.
As I mentioned before, there is going to have to be a balance between giving people a relatively “normal” life versus protecting the spread of the virus. By fall maybe we will know more about how lethal (or not) this virus is. Each week we are learning more.
^^ Yep, my D19 signed up for 2 summer online classes, where she originally didn’t plan on (wanted to travel instead). I suspect many would do the same. If you are stuck at home most of the summer, why not just get ahead with the class work.
I would say that for those students who go away to school, the social aspects of campus are a greater consideration but in general not to the same extent as it seems to be in the U.S. My experience with DS19’s first year at a residential heavy school is that there are a large number of students not participating in the experiential aspects of attending school away from home other than not being at home. For us the academic experience is foremost of importance but opportunities for individual growth and the fostering of independence is by no means a trivial consideration. With regards to the impact to his academic experience in the fall, fortunately DS’s program is on the smaller side and I have my fingers crossed that he will not see a significant amount of disruption. He will be moving to off campus housing so even if on campus EC’s and the like do not go forward he will still have the experience of independent living.
I don’t think they’ll ban people from leaving. It seems reasonable to hope they have an option for situations where going home could endanger a vulnerable person. Just like they are doing now with International students and other situations.
It gives every family maximum flexibility. Stay or come home based on your risk profile.
And every large institution has food service staff on hand for the holidays. Staggered shifts and double time. Hospitals, nursing homes don’t stop feeding people. Many international students don’t go home for short holidays like thanksgiving. Don’t they have food available already?
Regarding flu season- one way to reduce that risk is for schools to mandate that every student, faculty member and staff member, get the flu shot. I hope the CDC is planning now to increase the number of available flu vaccines.
Blistering editorial in the Harvard Crimson student newspaper saying students are not going to put up with a semester on line and should have been consulted
How can kids wear masks all the time in public? They have to eat and drink in a public area, how can they eat in the cafeteria wearing a mask? And if they are are taking it off there, what’s the point of wearing one at all?
It is baffling that Harvard hasn’t consulted students on this. I’ve heard of a state flagship down south that surveyed its student population. Here is a link to the student Op-Ed.
Hospitalization and death are not the only potential bad outcomes. We do not presently have a good handle on lingering, possibly permanent effects of covid infection, but there is some reason to believe that even milder cases of covid result in lung scarring.
The risk of death from covid for an 18-22 year old is indeed miniscule, but if a dorm full of college students caught covid, I believe the current data says we’d expect some of them to be hospitalized.
Exactly, thanks for clearing that up! My wording was very ambiguous.
And maybe I’m overly cynical, but I found the Harvard editorial kinda funny . . . I guess I never really expected to be asked what I wanted for the next semester? It’s a financial and public safety decision, of course all students are going to want to go back to campus.
A GAP semester, GAP year, or leave of absence are their ‘veto pen’ or leverage in this decision. These aren’t minors attending secondary schools. They’re adults…who are also extremely intelligent!
With the amount of $ at stake here, ALL the stakeholders deserve input. Many students go tens of thousands into debt for their college education, they are certainly entitled to participate in the discussions.
I saw an article last week where the prez of Macalester was quoted saying 25% of students might not return if classes were all online in the Fall.
My first thought was - did he just estimate (make up) that data point or did they ask students? Of course, if you ask, many, many will say they won’t come back – with the hope that that would deter the college deciding to go online only. . . so it’s hard to get a valid response.
But Harvard wants happy students who turn into happy alumni who donate. Unhappy Students who strike to protest online, and their equally unhappy parents, are not potential donors.
That was my take as well. (“This is my effort to shape my future at Harvard.” cynic in me screams prelaw)
Frankly, with the exception of point 1, there is no doubt that Harvard Admin is on board 100% with points 2 & 3. In other words, the Admin and students are aligned. Thus, not necessary to involve students in time-sensitive decision-making. (Focus groups? puhleeze) Doesn’t mean that some Dean should not keep in close contact with the student body officers/leaders (or whatever H calls them) with frequent status updates.