However, since the normal academic year starts about five weeks later for most quarter system colleges compared to most semester system colleges, the quarter system colleges have about five more weeks of time before they are forced to make decision on what to do. If significantly better information becomes available during those five weeks (not assured, of course), they could make more-likely-to-be-better decisions.
Well, that would be for the jury to decide, wouldn’t it? There are already corona virus negligence lawsuits out there, and liability IS a major concern for all kinds of employers, including universities.
As things reopen, will the sick be required to self-isolate? What about those who live with them who know they have been directly exposed? Those 2 questions seem like they will have an impact on colleges bc of dorm living. It could become a logistical nightmare if those have to be legally implemented. If it is go about your lives as you see fit, then far less complicated from a functioning perspective.
My kid is going back regardless of the situation. It’s his senior year. He’s still on campus now till he ends in 2 weeks (Michigan ends earlier then a lot of schools). He and my daughter just were not very efficient being home. He’s much more efficient being on his on. He will most likely be in a single apartment. We are holding off a bit but have to decide soon.
I’m curious what the military academies will do? Taking a semester off or going online isn’t really an option for their mission.
The same thing they are doing now. Classes continue, leave cancelled, everyone should remain on campus. The military continues, even with close quarters. Fortunately, the vast majority are young, healthy, and have immediate access to medical care
Almost everyone lives on campus at my D’s LAC. She’s a rising Junior. She was supposed to be studying abroad this Fall in Spain – don’t see that happening.
If classes are online this Fall, I can see her getting a short-term apartment with either 1) friends from her college and getting a place near campus (only 2.5 hours drive from home) or 2) close friends from HS who are all in same boat w/ their colleges and they get a place near home.
If possible she needs to get back to independent living for her mental health. Being back in her small room at home is regression and taking its toll. I mean – if things are crazy she’ll stay home, of course. But if things are opening up and she could figure out an affordable place to live while taking classes online, I think that’d be a good option. She’s mature and studious – I trust her to make good decisions about social distancing, no parties, limiting errands/ trips, etc., while on her own.
Agree colleges are doing the best they can in very hard times. And agree I’d rather they wait with announcements as things continue to evolve. I’m fine with June/July decision. Am guessing they will feel like need to announce something in June.
@chmcnm the Naval Academy was on spring break and converted to distance learning. Midshipmen were not required to return.
https://www.usna.edu/COVID-19/index.php
“Midshipman Updates
(3/18/20) Given how rapidly the disease has spread and the response efforts locally, nationally, and within the DoD, the Superintendent announced Mar. 18 the decision to delay the return of the Brigade of Midshipmen from spring break until further notice, with the intent to start online/remote academic instruction on Friday, Mar. 20.”
The traditional Public Commissioning Week activities are cancelled next month. Plans for virtual ceremonies are being developed.
https://www.usna.edu/PAO/documents/Parents_Letter_of_April_10_2020.pdf
My D is a rising soph at a mostly residential based LAC and said her and friends have also been talking about renting a house/apartment near school if Fall classes are online only. She only told us this last night, I have mixed feelings, but am open to the idea.
@Mwfan1921 – my D attends LAC too where 97% live on campus.
In fact, b/c she’s officially slated to go abroad she currently doesn’t even have on campus housing this Fall! Half the Junior class usually studies abroad fall of Junior year so many in same boat, and there’s an on campus housing shortage if no one is abroad. Knowing this, she’d already been talking with friends about getting an off campus apartment for Fall when she was assuming they all could’t go abroad but classes would fully resume. . .
I’m curious whether the college will discourage students from getting apartments near campus if they are online this Fall. It’s a suburban area so finding one wouldn’t be too hard, though could be tricky to get 4 or 5 month lease. May not be in walking distance to campus but that wouldn’t matter. The attraction would be living with her friends, cooking, going for runs and watching movies together, etc. It’s the independence she craves – not the big social scene. The a nearby large lake and it’d be pretty cool to find a place near it so they could do trail runs, etc.
Yes, potentially having to house students who were going to be abroad will be an issue for many schools, my D’s included.
I agree…colleges might not want students to rent local apartments/houses, but not sure they could really do anything about it.
On the positive side, it would help the local economies to have some students back, and all the benefits of living with friends and being independent that you mentioned are so important too. One of the downsides for us is that her school is not close, not really able to drive there.
Will be interesting to see how this all plays out.
If campuses for the fall are closed like they are now, are health services available? What happens if a student in an off-campus apartment gets sick? I suppose they will be on their own to find a clinic or a doctor?
Agreed, lots to think about. But there are 24/7 clinics in most college towns. I’m confident D could navigate that. If she did get coronavirus, not sure how we would handle it. Again, she dropped this idea on us just last night!
^^Most colleges have some students living on campus even now so health services are still available.
I totally get wanting to be near college friends. Lots to think about for sure! Maybe easier for kids who like to cook. Lol. Who knows what will be open at that point? Health clubs? Movie theaters? Right now, students who haven’t been approved to live in the dorms aren’t allowed on campus so, if that continues and kids go back to the town, no campus amenities will be available. Kids might still be stuck in that apartment to study with less space than being at home in some cases. I’ll be curious if kids at smaller schools decide it is worth it!
I assume that is correct…I will have my D check, because there are around 80 students still on campus at her school. I do know the fitness center is not open for those students, not sure how they are handling meals.
@Mwfan1921 – D’s college has a very strong honor code so if they told students not to live nearby, she’d have to abide, alas.
@homerdog and @Mwfan1921 – The fact that we could pick her up in 2.5 hours makes the idea of her getting a place near campus easier for me to consider. I can see with a long drive between you and your kid’s college, it’s a different scenario b/c you have to play out what happens if they get sick.
Also, with my D being a year older than your S, @homerdog , the situation is a little different. She was away from home the whole summer b4 college (camp counselor in the mountains) and the whole summer between freshman and sophomore year (10 week research internship in WI). Before this, the longest she’d been home in 2 years was her Christmas breaks. So I think this is why being home for such a long time would be mentally hard for her. Don’t get me wrong – she’s been great so far, and she esp. loves being around the dog, lol, but 10 months would be looong.
My S actually contemplated living with three of his schoolmates in an airbnb apartment during the current period. That was about a month ago and I’m glad it didn’t happen as more and more restrictions during this past month would have made their lives more difficult.
Meals are grab-and-go only in states where dining together isn’t permitted.
@homerdog – Good point about apartment size – tks for mentioning that. I am assuming if classes are online the campus would be closed to students except those who have waivers (e.g., international students) Given that coffeeshops, etc. may not be open for inside patrons, it’d be important to make sure an apartment is large enough to give students the space they need to do classes and study.
Plus, even if coffeeshops are open, we have to be prepared they could close mid-semester if there are flare ups. Our Gov. said yesterday we have to think of re-opening the economy as being on a dimmer – not an on/off light switch. Things may ‘turn up’ and then ‘turn down’ until we fully get past this. I found this a helpful metaphor.
And, yes, my D cooks! Loves to cook her own meals!