Impressed With Plans Discussed During Town Hall Meeting

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Chicago ✅
1

I didn’t stay for the entirety, but I am happy all second years (who applied for housing) will be housed.

Dr. Landon was very powerful and reassuring in her description of what to expect those first weeks back; the Humanities guy lost me when he said they were excited to announced that all first years will be provided a Summer Reading List - yay!
Seriously, I like the college is housing first years based on classes they select; that will definitely help built community. I may have missed what will happen to House culture during this time.

2

Same here! When I read about other top schools not bringing everyone back and/or going 100% online, I’m glad my kids are at UChicago. They just seem to have turned this new environment into an opportunity to be innovative and creative with the academic experience.

They didn’t mention the impact of these new first-year LLC’s on house culture; however, I suspect that other than all of the first years taking the same (or nearly the same) hum and sosc, there won’t be much of a distinct impact on any particular house. The biggest challenge for house culture will be getting enough returning students in each house to help carry on the traditions.

Landon is fastidious. If she thinks its ok to bring everyone back, you can rest assured it’s ok to bring everyone back. Again, glad my kids are at Chicago; I’m sure other top schools are also relying on their infectious diseases specialists but UChicago has made that very clear that their in-house experts have been part of the planning from the beginning.

I do feel kinda sorry for those first years getting the summer reading list though. UChicago was distinct in NOT assigning summer reading to the incoming class in the past. Their position was that there was enough work to do once you arrive on campus so have a great summer and enjoy yourself. I wonder if this has been a secret - or not so secret - wish on the part of Prof. Wild all along.

3

One other thing is that other schools don’t seem to be offering their international students an alternative in the event they are impacted by immigration restrictions. l UofC students will be offered the opportunity to study at satellite campuses ie Hong Kong (not sure who’d go there!), Paris, and potentially Beijing and India.

@JBStillFlying I wonder how many new friends Prof. Wild won over with that summer gift, LOL! My son and I burst out laughing when we heard his excitement!

4

@JBStillFlying My DD expressed the same sentiment. Happy to be where they are at least offering some in person classes.

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@momo2x2018 at #2: Yes, I sense that Prof. Wild was actually very happy to make this announcement. Never miss an opportunity to push the humanities! Those who are into Hum will probably be thrilled and those who aren’t will probably be relieved to at least get their feet wet a bit before plunging in. It’s actually a good idea and seems to be oriented to actual “humanities” (Wild mentioned that he’s selecting a “timely book” to tie in with the “timeless themes” they will be encountering in Hum). That’s actually smart. In today’s highly charged climate of chucking the old, it’s worth taking a step back to reflect on why it would or wouldn’t make sense to read “time-tested” texts that have so far endured through many social and political upheavals. At the very least, the decision to embrace a humanist “rebirth” will at least be based on reason and not ignorance. More directly, this summer’s Covid-environment might be seeing many rising first years without definite plans and a bit more free time to read and reflect. And I’m pretty sure that several have questions about how a seminar-style like Hum can even “remotely” work in a partial or even fully remote environment. This summer reading assignment and the community-building that will hopefully result should set their minds at ease there.

By the way, Prof. Wild was correct that the Spring 2020 remote environment worked pretty well for Hum. Of course, many Hum III participants, like my son, were humanities enthusiasts to begin with. It’s possible that a NON-enthusiast would whither in such an environment. But I don’t think so. My son opted for Hum III and also did Sosc. III this spring so can provide feedback as to what it was like to attend two seminar-intensive courses completely remotely and with seemingly little preparation at that time for that format. In all, he thought it was fine. There were disadvantages but also advantages to the new format. Most importantly, neither the reading list nor the opportunity for good discussion was compromised. The profs seemed particularly eager to experiment with new formats of dialogue that perhaps wouldn’t make much sense in a “normal” environment but were very well-suited for remote learning. The best practices from this “experiment” will be incorporated into the Hum pedagogy going forward now that they have had the chance to see what worked and what didn’t. Prof. Wild even hinted that some of this new pedagogy will be indefinitely incorporated into the course sequence because it’s just a new and better way than what they were relying on before.

So in sum, it’s possible to blend ageless thoughts and texts with newer, technology-driven delivery methods. Many of the Hum and Sosc instructors seem pretty young, comfortable with the college-age crowd and quite comfortable with using technology for dialogue and conversation; it probably also helps that “digital humanities” is a “thing” now in the field. So Hum this fall might be “wild” - and not just because Prof. Wild himself says so.

6
  • And perhaps to be where everyone is welcome back, instead of having to "wait your turn." (NB: less applicable to rising 4ths but still . . . ).

Looking at peer schools (admittedly haven’t been through all the announcements yet) it appears that Cornell so far is unique among the Ivies for welcoming everyone back. As for UChicago, their decision seems to be based on the findings at the hospital coupled, perhaps, with more of a “look, we are all intelligent and this is hardly the first thing to disrupt campus life so let’s figure out a way to work around it” attitude. I agree with that approach! Just my opinion but I think that one or two other schools sound almost like they aren’t able to be more flexible and able to adapt or “experiment” a bit. UChicago has experimentation stamped into its very identity. It was founded as an experiment - a new and different American university from the start. So really, not to make light of Covid, but this is just one more opportunity for the university to re-examine how it educates some of the best and brightest minds in the world. BTDT rather than “hold everything!”

7

Something about this quote, filled my heart with pride!

8

Breaking news: Stanford cuts 11 varsity sports!

See: https://news.stanford.edu/2020/07/08/athletics/?utm_source=athletics&utm_medium=tw&utm_campaign=an

I am a huge fan of college sports and have previously argued that it would be great to see UChicago restore itself as a D1 athletic power, but I also fully agree with Stanford’s decision to cut down it’s athletic program to focus on the most meaningful sports that most people actually care about and which don’t subject the institution to criticisms of country-club niche sports being a backdoor way to gain admittance.

The linked article is worth a read as to Stanford’s rationale for cutting these sports. The number of Stanford’s supported varsity teams is now closer to Chicago’s and in stark contrast to Harvard which has been proud to claim that it sponsors the most number of D1 sports in the country when a significant number of those sports are the country club sports that Stanford is cutting. Wonder if Chicago’s former AD who left for Harvard is looking forward to presiding over massive cuts to the Crimson athletic program?

9

Just came out from NYT:

The Ivy League presidents placed all sports on hold Wednesday until at least January, making it the first Division I conference that will not play football as scheduled in the fall because of the coronavirus pandemic.

As a result, a broad array of sports, from football and men’s basketball to cross country and sailing, have been placed in limbo. Practices could take place in the fall, but conditions would have to improve for sports to be played next year.

As for the possibility of playing football in the spring, Princeton football Coach Bob Surace characterized it thusly: “One word. Hope.”

He added that a vaccine, better therapies and people following health guidelines would be necessary if there were any chance of playing in the spring, but there is also the fear of a second wave of the virus this winter.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/08/sports/ncaafootball/ivy-league-fall-sports-football-coronavirus.html

10

Actually Dean Rasmussen announced all UAA schedule will be suspended/cancelled. But non conference competition may continue.

https://athletics.uchicago.edu/general/2020-21/releases/20200707k7lxm9

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The bundled class that Dean Boyer talked about:

https://college.uchicago.edu/academics/sscd-innovation-2020

12

From that announcement about UAA:

“While this decision affects scheduled UAA contests, it does not affect non-conference competitions. UChicago’s working group is using guidance from the Centers for Disease Control, Illinois and Chicago public health agencies, the NCAA’s Sports Science Institute, and specialists from UChicago Medicine to develop a plan for returning athletes to practice and compete against non-conference opponents this fall. Athletes must also be prepared for the possibility that some seasons may have to end early or be canceled altogether.”

Michelle Rasmussen made a comment to this effect during the webinar last night. She did not provide details or mention what UAA was planning. So while the UAA announcement is not good news, UChicago’s own plan would be.

13

Actually, from what I’m reading now about Penn and Columbia, they are also having everyone back (though on-campus housing will be reduced from normal capacity in order to accommodate single-occupancy). This is good news for the students at those institutions. Clearly there will be students at all these places who are not able to or do not want to be on campus but it’s great to know that those who do are allowed to be.

14

I still have some unanswered questions- at least from the call. While all the kids in housing will get tested regularly, its not clear what the testing plans are for those living in apartments etc (presumably most 3/4th years). No point in just testing a portion of the on campus population and not monitor the rest.

Son did Sosc3 and Greek remotely in spring Q with no issues.

I did like the notion of bundled courses- wish there could be more!

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Tig - not sure that any off-campus students (including grad students) will be tested regularly or have to do anything over and above what they receive in the training and sign on to in the pact. Everyone, including off-campus, is responsible for self-monitoring and, if infected or showing any signs, will be required to self-isolate. They will also be required to report if they’ve become infected AND to report any violation of a safety policy or practice that they observe (THAT will be a fun hotline to monitor!). The off-campus population will not be provided with separate lodgings for the infected; they will be required to self-isolate where they live. Dr. Landon spoke of layering the protections so if one is removed there are others in place that will effectively keep the infection at bay. I wonder if there is a bit of science going on here - perhaps based on what they know about the behavior of the virus and how it spreads and how it’s been in Chicagoland so far, they feel they will have a sufficient fraction of the campus under close-enough observation (ie via undergrad housing) to be able both to monitor and contain any spread.

16

I don’t know if it would be that much fun to have an 8 inch swab stuck up my nose on a regular basis. :frowning:

17

better your nose…! :smiley:

18

Everyone should have just received the following e-mail from Dean Boyer, which links to the Townhall Meeting recording and references updated FAQ’s :

"Dear Students and Families:

My sincere thanks to the many of you who were able to join us last week for the University of Chicago’s Planning for Autumn 2020 in the College town hall. I write to reiterate our commitment to the quarter ahead for students in the College and to provide, as promised, more of the information that you expressed to be of interest.

As stated during the town hall, we know that the uncertainties surrounding the coronavirus cause concern among students and families and in some cases strain decision-making. Yet it is also known that this is a moment in time. UChicago students who continue their education now – whether from campus or through remote learning – stand to benefit greatly from the uninterrupted cultivation of intellect, the pursuit of career paths, and applying their educational experience to make a meaningful impact in the world. We encourage you to remain committed to these goals in the Autumn Quarter.

We understand some students may decide to remain in their home communities for Autumn Quarter, and travel restrictions may limit some students’ ability to join us in Chicago. The College’s goal is to support all students as comprehensively as possible. Most College courses will have remote capabilities to ensure that students can enjoy a rich and stimulating academic experience in that mode. Similarly, while learning in Hyde Park will require health and safety practices, we remain of the belief that returning to campus offers a magnificent educational experience. As former UChicago president Robert Maynard Hutchins once put it, the “air is electric,” introducing students in powerful ways to the challenges of intellectual partnerships and giving them a common vocabulary of ideas and ideals.

For information on these plans and more, we offer the following information and resources.

  • A recording of the town hall is available now through July. The intent of this information session was to expand upon the College’s Autumn planning announcement in June, providing details about Autumn Quarter plans for undergraduates in relation to housing and dining, academic instruction, and health and safety.
  • Leading up to and following the town hall, the College received numerous questions from students and parents. Recognizing the importance of the guidance requested, a dedicated source of answers to frequently asked questions is now available on the College website. While it does not yet answer every question asked, the aim is to provide information that is currently available, with a steadfast commitment to frequently update and add to this resource.

-For a detailed resource of all available information on Autumn 2020 in the College, a dedicated webpage is available on the College’s website. The College’s @UChicagoCollege pages on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, as well as the University’s UChicago Forward website, also offer helpful ways to stay current on news and updates from the College.

Over the next weeks, the College will continue to communicate to advance our collective readiness for the Autumn Quarter. In the meantime, I offer my best wishes for your good health and enjoyment of the summer season.

Sincerely,
John W. Boyer
Dean of the College
The University of Chicago"

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Latest Update from an UChicago tweet 2 minutes ago:

https://college.uchicago.edu/2020-college/autumn-2020-faqs

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A few things stand out to me:

  • Your choices for each quarter are separate. Enrolled students are permitted to attend Autumn Quarter remotely and Winter and Spring Quarters from campus. However, the availability of off-campus apartments may be subject to change.
  • All residents living in the University residence halls will be required to participate in a mandatory testing program, paid for by the University, that will begin with their move-in and will continue during the time in residence. Students living off-campus will be able to participate in a voluntary ongoing testing program. At any time that College students feel that they have been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 or experience symptoms, they can be tested at no cost.
  • Per the UChicago Health Pact, the expectation is that socializing will be done only while wearing the appropriate face covering, maintaining physical distance from others, and avoiding large, densely packed crowds.
  • Students do not need to go back into quarantine because of leaving their residence hall or off-campus apartment, unless they have come into contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 or experience symptoms. If they travel to and remain, for 24 hours or more, in one of the states under travel restrictions by the City of Chicago, students must do a mandatory quarantine for 14 days upon return to Chicago or Hyde Park.

(My comment: you can walk around the campus and you are not physically restricted to your dorm after your class is done. This is not an 8 year old camp :wink: .)

  • The University will provide access to medical care to all students living on- or off-campus in the Chicago area who test positive for COVID-19.