As the fall semester is about to begin, how do you feel about the new “reality” and the fact that some students are going back to campus, while others are taking classes online? What are your expectations or concerns for this academic year?
Compared to previous years, does the first day of classes seem different this fall?
There is so much uncertainty and anxiety about re-opening. After seeing so many colleges switching last minute to remote learning and seeing what happened at UNC CH, it may be wiser wiser to check if you can get refunds on travel and housing to go online.
Most of the classes are online or hybrid, other than a small percentage of students (with some unique needs), rest should consider staying home unless their college is located in a very low positivity secluded town. It’s a shortened semester and you may have to leave early so rationally analyze your risk and benefit, not emotionally.
The Daily TarHeel called it a “Cluster____” and I’m inclined to agree. A parent was packing up a FY yesterday and quoted as saying “it was an experiment that totally failed”.
I’m hoping my S19’s experience is far better. He leaves this weekend to go back and while they have a plan that is light years better than UNC’s, I’m still nervous. He’ll be 8 hrs away and I’m just feeling very not in control. In some ways it feels similar to last year, but at this time last year I remember thinking it would hopefully get easier to say goodbye.
One thing that concerns me about S19’s school is how they are enforcing social distancing. I absolutely get why they’re doing it, but they aren’t doing so equitably. If kids are in dorms, there’s no socializing. None. At all. Zippo!! But if kids are in apartments, they are allowed to socialize w/in their apartment group. So you’ve got kids who are completely alone who may have friends a building or 2 over who are having movie nights, etc. The unfairness is rife for emotional health issues, IMO. Granted, this is only for the first 2 weeks.
After that, I worry about how they are isolating kids who test positive. Again, I absolutely understand why. However, again I worry about emotional and mental health issues of leaving kids alone for that long. Their only interactions being w/ a daily online health provider.
The NBA bubble is working. If colleges can copy that model, let’s proceed. Students are signing pledges claiming to follow procedures to keep their peers and school staff safe.
Those who are found to break the rules should be suspended or evicted. Shutdowns should occur whenever covid breakouts happen like at UNC.
Through the grapevine…many kids are deciding to either come home or quit during first weeks (coming home to do online via community college to save $$$)…the isolating COVID-regulated campus-life is hard on any kid, but especially freshman.
MY DS is at VMI - already a very tough start for first year “rats” – when all sports were cancelled athletes started dropping like flies.
It really does suck big time for college freshman right now. And honestly I don’t see things improving that much by spring. Makes me want to go smash something…maybe time to visit one of those weird Rage Rooms that I’ve heard about.
My son’s college will be doing 5,000 COVID tests a day of everyone on campus. It’s hard for me to understand what UNC’s plan was and a friend said UF has no mandatory testing. With so many colleges changing course and going online, really hoping our school’s testing and contact tracing protocols mean no reversal about students on campus. We can deal with the many restrictions, including packing lightly and family members not allowed to help with move-in. Most of the colleges my son applied to are remote.
I’m hoping for the best for my freshman. All students tested before going on campus, all students tested again first two weeks, then random testing. Very strict rules (masks at all times unless in room, social distancing, mostly hybrid classes, stiff punishment for non followers.) Uni is smallish, in CT, with low numbers of cases, and most of the students are from CT, NY, NJ, and MA so kids are very used to wearing masks. Students from high covid areas are quarantining on campus for two weeks. He wants to go, and we are supporting him, though of course we are nervous. If his classes were online we’d definitely keep him home, but right now all are in person at least part of the time. He will make friends and attend class. There are a lot of outdoor activities and weather will be good until he comes home. Second semester, we will play by ear.
Colgate might be sending home freshman students who were partying last night at one of the on campus housing. Students are suppose to be on mandatory quarantine, masks and social distancing strictly enforced. I guess the school has zero tolerance for non-compliance. Kudos to the school if this is true! NY suffered a lot in the early days of the pandemic and the state is one of the only few states that is actively testing and re-inforcing mask use and social distancing. I have two kids that are currently on campus. One at Colgate and another at RIT. I cannot help but worry about their safety.
Schools can do nothing like the NBA bubble. The NBA quarantined not only their players but all of their staff (from reporters to cleaners) and everyone wore an ankle bracelet to track whereabouts. There was a heavy penalty given to a player that ordered takeout food. No-one was allowed into their bubble and no one out. Who wants to tell the food workers and professors and administrators they need to quarantine in the university dorm?
The kids at my son school as set the over/under odds of shutting down and going all online at 3 weeks from start of school. Over 85% of the kids are taking the under. To add insult to injury the school charges extra to take a online class regardless if you ask for it or not. I fully expect a shut down by the end of next week.
Literally copying the NBA bubble may not be possible, but the smaller schools have a better chance of controlling the spread.
All of the students invited must stay on campus until they leave in Nov. Those who don’t forfeit their room and board along with being sent home. All have singles. Their pledge includes following these procedures:
Wear masks.
Wash hands.
Watch distance of 6 ft.
3 negative tests are required before they can attend f2f classes. 2 tests a week are mandatory afterwards.
Here’s the email we received from Colgate University.
Dear Parents and Family Members,
I’m sharing this latest update sent to the campus community today.
While we believe in the capacity of our students learning on campus this fall to adhere to the commitment they have signed — and to demonstrate their dedication to this community through their behaviors this fall semester — we also recognize there will be moments along the way when we must help them to remember the impacts of their decisions on others on campus and within the Village of Hamilton. We are encouraging all members of the community to be active bystanders, and for anyone who sees a violation to report it.
We are also keenly aware that we cannot simply post rules on a website, and we cannot police every student’s behavior.
We must be proactive in helping instill in the students both the spirit of the commitment to themselves, their peers, and the community, as well as a clear understanding of what that looks like on a day-to-day basis.
We encourage all family members to join with us in reinforcing the crucial importance of the Commitment to Community Health.
As always, if I can be of assistance, feel free to write to parents@colgate.edu.
Best Wishes,
Sr. Director, Communications & Parent Initiatives
Office of Communications
315-228-7415
parents@colgate.edu
colgate.edu/parentresources
Dear Colgate Community,
On Monday, the University learned of a party in a residence hall that was in violation of the Commitment to Community Health. Gatherings, particularly during this quarantine period of Gate-0, are strictly forbidden as they jeopardize the health and wellbeing of our entire campus. We are also investigating reports of additional violations.
I take no pleasure in announcing that as a result of these students’ actions, several students are being sent to their homes to study remotely. Decisions like these are some of the hardest to make as an educator; however, when the stakes are as high as they are this semester, careless mistakes by individuals can lead to considerable consequences for the entire community. These students will remain enrolled at Colgate, but they have lost their privilege of being on campus this semester.
Hundreds of Colgate staff and faculty have been working tirelessly for months to prepare for on-campus learning this fall semester. I am grateful that most community members are doing their part by adhering to the Commitment to Community Health. While the University’s plan for reopening is comprehensive, it is predicated on executing each element with precision. It is on behalf of the entire community, and in acknowledgement of the work already invested, that the University has taken this important, albeit difficult step, to enforce one critical part of our plan to be together: the Commitment to Community Health.
I ask each of you to refamiliarize yourself with the language in the Commitment to Community Health that clearly sets forth our expectations for this semester. The Commitment reads, in part:
“Because of the potentially severe public health effects of noncompliance, those who do not adhere to these expectations will face significant disciplinary consequences, including parental notification, loss of the privilege to live in residence (for students living in University-owned housing), forfeiture to come on to campus (for students living in privately-owned housing), suspension or even expulsion.”
The Commitment is a pledge that has been signed by every student learning on campus this semester, and it will continue to be vigorously enforced so long as the Coronavirus remains a threat. You should also familiarize yourself about what is permitted during the universal quarantine and within each Gate. If you are unclear about Colgate’s policies, please visit colgate.edu/colgate-together for additional information or contact me directly. If you have information about any individuals not following the University’s expectations this semester, please address this behavior directly, if you feel comfortable, or please submit a report so we may continue upholding the integrity of the Commitment to Community Health.
Seeing students on campus this week has been energizing and been the reward for our hard work over the last several months. This beginning of the academic year is my personal favorite and I also feel the excitement of being together. I urge you to channel the palpable energy of this moment with a long-view of the semester, by making decisions that will allow us to be together for the duration of the semester. I also remind you to be vigilant in your collective actions of caring for each other through the simple measures of wearing face coverings, maintaining physical distance, frequent hand washing, and importantly, adhering to the Commitment to Community Health.
We can do this.
With Regards,
Vice President and Dean of the College
Colgate University
Like I said, our country is suffering brought by the devastating virus. We in NY, suffered a lot in the spring having known so many people with families, friends, co-workers, neighbors and acquaintances who had died or afflicted by the virus. Two of our family friends died. Many are still suffering, physically, emotionally, psychologically and financially. Our communities have changed in how we function on a daily basis. Worries and anxieties abound. We all just want to go back to normal. BUT, until we get a hold of this virus, we will have to adapt and be proactive to make everyone safe and control the spread. I commend Colgate University for what they did to the students who violated the rules and agreements set and acknowledged by everyone prior to start of move in.
Good for Colgate!
Of course it’s different this year.
My biggest concern is that there will be college kids who will NEVER experience on campus physical living and studying due to COVID-19. I feel that any vaccines will be 50% effective like flu vaccines. Anyway, I would be literally shocked and awesomely happy if a vaccine that is 95% effective will be available within 1 year from now. Just feel fortunate that our kid got to experience what college is really like for 1.7 years, even if all his abroad study programs and abroad internships to which he had been accepted, have been all canceled.
Parent of a new college freshman here.
So far, I’ve noticed a contrast between reports (from media and social media) and my on-the-spot correspondent, i.e. DS17. The newspaper reports and rumors/shares on social media are concerning. Then I talk to my son to verify. He remains calm and unaffected so far. He has moved into a very large public university where the President has been criticized heavily. Videos have surfaced of off-campus parties. Meanwhile, he stays in his room, wears a mask when going outside for food or groceries, and does what he’s told. I believe his experience is very common. Conscientious students are doing their part while enduring media reports and rumors.
I believe most media reports are true, but presented in a way to provoke reactions from us parents. (Interestingly, the campus newspaper’s reports are succinct and dispassionate.) The media are doing their job, and I depend on them. Fortunately, I have my son to verify all reports.
Meanwhile, if campus numbers rise, he and I are prepared to proceed with Plan B or Plan C.
I think there is no wrong or right decision here (parent of a junior and freshman). Some students need to leave their homes and start their adult lives. Others have better circumstances and can stay home or go elsewhere and do remote learning.
The one common denominator is that no college student is going to report any of their peers who are breaking the rules. No one wants to be a snitch. That is just not what young people do.
Parents and administrators need to know this going in.
So you take the good with the bad, understand that there is a very real medical risk to their health and if they end up getting covid or infecting others, there will be a consequence not just for them but for others.
One thing I am seeing about remote learning is that many professors are not up to technology and the times. Many are teaching traditionally. They are middle aged, tenured and only know how to teach the old fashioned way. Schools want to keep tuition the same but level of teaching has not innovated for covid. This is a huge problem.
Meanwhile, I really like this article from the NY Times from yesterday stating that college kids are taking matters into their own hands, renting a house with other college bound students and creating their own remote learning life in houses around the country and other parts of the world. I think this is a much better option than getting stuck on a campus that has nothing real to offer. Traditional norms are evolving and this is good.
I wish all students the best of luck.
Not sure about other states…but here in VA…things are not looking good.
JMU: Following 500-Plus COVID-19 Cases, JMU Goes Virtual And Asks Students To Return Home
https://dcist.com/story/20/09/01/va-james-madison-university-coronavirus-cases-increase-students-online-learning/
DD is currently attending Univ. of Mary Washington which began online after postponing move-in. Students NOT required to test before move-in. Move-in still scheduled for next week.
DD’s twin brother is at VMI - VA Military Institute. You’d think that due to its structure there would be 0 cases…and there were…until all cadets arrived…numbers are slowly but exponentially going up by the day. DS thinks he’ll be home in a month.
VMI did NOT, however, require any testing before move in.
Even with lack of testing…if VMI is unable to contain it than I have little hope of any others…VMI has no off-campus housing, cadets are not allowed off post, no visitors, etc.
This is a great site for VA: https://www.vacovidstatus.com/2020/09/daily-status-sept-2.html - scroll down to see table of major VA schools and their COVID #s.
Remember though that even though UVA’s #s are low, they postponed move-in by several weeks (while others did not) so their #s are a few weeks behind. UMW has 0 but move-in isn’t until next week!
Also of note…when colleges do require testing…it’s only required of those students who live on campus!
Some schools started their academic year early and of those, success has been found in strong Covid policies that included testing and clearance before arriving on campus, testing immediately upon arrival and quarantine until clear and ongoing testing of all students each week. Additional factors for success have been restricting students to campus and the usual mask and social distancing guidelines. The party culture won’t work during these times. This has made for a very different experience but is allowing for students to have classes and live on campus.
If you aren’t testing everyone, you might as well not test anyone. While not a complete fan of how my son’s school decided to proceed, I can’t deny that it seems to be working. Hopefully, it continues.
I feel for students at bigger schools that can’t/don’t test everyone. I think even if kids had adhered to every single guideline, there would still be too many cases just by virtue of too many people in too small spaces. It’s frustrating and upsetting for everyone involved, I’m sure!