Parents of the HS Class of 2020 (Part 1)

I’m aware. My DD is avoiding but she has made a friend group and they are hanging out together. I am trying to make sure she understands the concept of everyone staying in their pod. I will say I think ECU needs to crack down hard on those found at these large gatherings- as of now they aren’t taking names of those in attendance as long as they leave without issue.

I also think having zero freshman programming is a huge mistake. They won’t allow the students to even play cornhole outside with masks on so many are choosing to go off-campus and party.

The biggest issue is that all the UNC schools (ECU included) are relying heavily on students self-reporting symptoms, disclosing contacts, and going for testing when ill. Many students are going to resist going for testing unless they are very sick and will likely not be honest about where they have been.

DS is flying in next week. Car service used by school will take him to campus and immediately give him a covid test before sending him directly to a local hotel for 2 nights while his luggage is brought to his dorm room.

Ideally, a negative test will result in 7 day quarantine in dorm after 2 more negatives b4 being allowed to attend f2f classes in tents. A positive result will of course be much longer. Hoping the bubble works like it did for the NBA.

Our daughter received her first on-campus Covid tests results (negative, woot!) a few days ago. We, too, are hoping for a NBA style bubble on her campus…not an MLB one.

Just returned from moving my D20 into Landis Hall at FSU. Everything seemed to be scheduled and spaced out very well and went smoothly. She got her covid test yesterday, an hour before move-in, and the results came back today (negative). From my personal observations, the kids on campus appeared to be wearing masks when appropriate. D and her roommate are hitting it off and having fun getting settled in. Fingers crossed for a safe semester for them. Time will tell.

eta: all of D’s classes are remote or online.

Allowing kids to come back into dorms, but having classes online is a win win for the large universities. They get their room and board money, can have sports, and can stop covid testing and counting the off campus students who are throwing all the parties, since they won’t be allowed on campus. The professors are happy because they can now stay home with their kids and won’t be at risk. They just need to stay on top of testing and monitoring the on campus kids…some of which will bail because of the rules.

Moved my daughter to UNC Wilmington on Saturday. She started classes today. She had 1 zoom class this morning and has an afternoon face to face class. Let’s hope they can stay thru the semester. Wishing everyone the best.

So I am wondering how long until the UNC BoG calls it system-wide. UNC is sending students home. There are clusters now at ECU, NC State, and App. My daughter is loving her in-person classes at ECU but realizes they will likely not last until October. I really thought schools would pivot online and not send students home but UNC proved me wrong.

I hope UNCW has a better entry than the rest.

Is UNC (Chapel Hill) really sending kids home or didn’t they just get rid of face to face classes? I think kids who want to go home can go home, but the ones that want to stay on campus are not being kicked out.

They are sending them home. My best friend’s son is a freshman there and sent me the email. You can apply to stay but exceptions only made for hardship, international students, or athletes. Everyone else out by the 30th with staggered move out times, pro-rated housing refunds. No word on if they will pause classes next week or students will be forced to attempt to work move out around zoom classes.

Feel bad for the kids - this maybe the worst possible outcome (starting in-person and getting kicked-off in a few weeks). Universities are in a tough spot and are learning on the job but wish they err on the side of being more-cautious while opening.

I agree. My friend’s son moved in on the 8th, the Saturday before classes started. He is going to move out on Friday. Two weeks.

I r thought they would white knuckle through it for a couple of weeks. I feel really bad for those kids.

I don’t think the communities can support that, though. I know that NY, NJ, and the New England States will come down hard on any College whose students are sending the numbers up.

Just moved D into Hamilton on Monday. Because we live in MA, she did not need to quarantine in NY for 14 days in advance. She received a test kit in the mail a week before moving in, and then was tested upon arrival on Monday. She received her test result (negative) in 24 hours. She now has to get on a regular testing schedule though an app that also tracks students for tracing purposes.

H and I have been EXTREMELY impressed with Hamilton these past months. Back in May they started building modular housing to de-densify, upgraded HVAC and ventilation in academic buildings/classrooms, and all students were invited back to live in singles or doubles. The move-in process on Monday did not disappoint.

As we drove up the hill to campus, upper-class RAs and OLs lined the route to the drive thru testing and registration, holding up welcoming signs and waving and cheering. (Before anyone asks, they were socially distanced and all had on masks.) It was such a warm welcome! President Wippman was at the testing site to greet each car (from an appropriate distance) as they arrived, and everything was organized and seamless. We all stayed in the car the entire time (with masks on) while D was tested, checked in, and received her keys and ID. They had cones and signs marked for the drive up areas that were easy to follow… When we arrived at her dorm, there were two RAs stationed outside to welcome students and answer any questions. (Again, they were distanced and masked.) Only one parent was allowed in the dorm to help move in, and we were given a 2-hour window.

All students must quarantine in their rooms until their test results are in. Luckily, it was quick (they are using Broad Institute) and she was only isolated for a day. Once she received her test result, D got together with some friends she met a few months ago (through one of Hamilton’s social networking sites for first years), and headed outside for lunch. (The dining halls are open with limited seating, but it was a nice day and Hamilton has a beautiful campus.) They cannot enter each other’s dorms, but had no problem gathering on some of the Adirondack chairs outside on the lawn. Later that day she met with her advisor (through Zoom) and then headed to the campus smoothie shop with her roommate. She commented that everyone was following the rules, and distancing and wearing masks. She and her roommate are playing cards with two other students from their floor later tonight. Tomorrow and Friday she will join her floor (which is also her Orientation group and pod) for outside outdoor activities and dinner together as part of a modified Orientation schedule. Classes start Monday, and 3 out of 4 of her courses are in-person. (For now, anyway.)

I realize some threads on CC are completely doom and gloom about students returning to campus, but my D has not been isolated or lonely. She is not taking meals alone in her room, and has met several new people. Hamilton is fortunate that they are small (2,000 students), rural, and 100% residential. They also have a rigorous testing program. This is clearly not the case everywhere. I’m hoping they can create an “NBA-style bubble” as well. I must say, if they can’t do it, I’m not sure anyone can. Fingers crossed!

@ProfSD - Your post was such a bright spot for me (and likely others) to read. Many parts of it made me smile. I’m happy for your daughter!!

@ProfSD Ideally the NESCAC has the right formula. Positive news from Williams, Bowdoin, and now Hamilton. It helps to have a smaller student body. UNC and Notre Dame are too large for a bubble and shut down this week. College football and the NFL are having issues but the NBA hasn’t had a positive test in 4 weeks.

@onthewestfence Too early to tell about Williams since most students aren’t on campus yet. RAs move in this Monday (8/24), first-years 8/27-29, returning students 9/1-7. Classes start September 10th. I wish them well!

Not unique to the NESCAC’s, rather is a small LAC thing. I’m hearing lots of great outcomes from parents of LACs.

@gotham_mom Isn’t Williams bringing the entire student body back like Hamilton? Other schools like Duke, Bowdoin, and Amherst are only allowing 1st years and sophomores in the fall and then switching them out and allowing upperclassmen at spring term.

@onthewestfence Yes, bringing back all classes. My D is one of the 15% deferring to class of 2025. I have my fingers and toes crossed that everything goes well. They are being stricter than Hamilton about move-in (drop off at testing site w/stuff, visitors leave campus immediately, student moves themselves into their room, no helpers) and quarantine (all students until they have 2 on-campus negative tests).