@Gator88NE It did come across to me as you believed the finances would drive the decision.
My '22 Gator will be in Gainesville either way and I am not concerned about his health/safety. Even if they get the virus, the vast majority will be ok. The bigger concern to me is bringing home to family.
I noticed another smaller college was taking a different approach by starting earlier so that they could be done by Thanksgiving Break and not have to have the students travel home and back an extra time. Made some sense.
My '24 Gator is a different story. I guess if the dorms are open, he will be there. Not sure if they would open dorms if classes are not on campus, probably not.
I just don’t see how they can test and trace enough to mitigate outbreaks. These students come in close contact to a hundred or more people a day. How do you trace all of that? And as you said, it is up the students to make good judgements and decisions. That won’t happen.