for those of you in higher education

[Deleted]

WTH?  Classes start on the 24th (including in-person), but practically everyone moves in AFTER that?   I don't get it. 

[oped]

It’s local and her daughter lives at home thankfully I guess?

[Deleted]

Jul 30, 2020 11:04:03 GMT -5 @shastasnewlife said:

I'd guess 3 weeks is about right.

There's no way on God's green earth schools will go back and stay open. 

If they don't, I'm renting my kid an apartment right next to campus! 

[Deleted]

Jul 30, 2020 11:10:14 GMT -5 oped said:

It’s local and her daughter lives at home thankfully I guess?

Oh, I missed the friend part.  I thought this was for YOUR daughter's school.  I figured she'd have to be taking her online classes from the hotel quarantine room!  

[oped]

Nothing new from hers. Yet. I’ll keep you posted. She has an apartment though so effectively I think can stay there even if they go online... will she want to?

[Deleted]

My kid is at the "I'd rather live in a van down by the river" than home stage now.  

[oped]

I wish theyd decide online now. Some of her town friends who are distancing college are talking about renting a house locally and podding there and I’d prefer that actually. But I doubt that will happen.

[flamingo]

They just pushed our start date back by a week for the undergrads and they are moving most upper level courses online. My professional program starts on the regular date. 

I doubt it's going to help much and I'm betting we're all online within a couple weeks. I'm supposed to be moving to a "hybrid" work schedule where I can go into the office a few days a week (but no one can tell me when that starts or how many days or which days I can be there). I've told my boss I'll do whatever she needs me to, but I don't "support current student learning" for most of my tasks, and that's the bar for prioritizing who will be on campus. So realistically, I'm going to be working from home until at least January. 

I feel bad for those living on campus and trying to figure that piece out. It's a cluster. And even though we moved most upper level undergrad courses online, most students already have a signed lease, so they'll be coming to town anyway. At this point, I just want things to start, in whatever way they are going to, so we can just get on it with. Living in limbo is the worst.

[haapai]

Jul 30, 2020 11:57:00 GMT -5 flamingo said:

They just pushed our start date back by a week for the undergrads and they are moving most upper level courses online. My professional program starts on the regular date. 

I doubt it's going to help much and I'm betting we're all online within a couple weeks. I'm supposed to be moving to a "hybrid" work schedule where I can go into the office a few days a week (but no one can tell me when that starts or how many days or which days I can be there). I've told my boss I'll do whatever she needs me to, but I don't "support current student learning" for most of my tasks, and that's the bar for prioritizing who will be on campus. So realistically, I'm going to be working from home until at least January. 

I feel bad for those living on campus and trying to figure that piece out. It's a cluster. And even though we moved most upper level undergrad courses online, most students already have a signed lease, so they'll be coming to town anyway. At this point, I just want things to start, in whatever way they are going to, so we can just get on it with. Living in limbo is the worst.

I agree, everything will be online-only within a couple of weeks.  Sports can teach us a thing or two.  The positive tests among professional baseball players and college football players tell us that college towns will become coronavirus hotspots within weeks.  These athletes are far more isolated and far more tested and probably far more monitored and motivated than the vast majority of college students will ever be and the outbreaks were almost instantaneous. 

Why can't they just skip the massive number of new cases and go online only now? 

[Deleted]

Jul 30, 2020 12:15:38 GMT -5 haapai said:

Jul 30, 2020 11:57:00 GMT -5 flamingo said:

They just pushed our start date back by a week for the undergrads and they are moving most upper level courses online. My professional program starts on the regular date. 

I doubt it's going to help much and I'm betting we're all online within a couple weeks. I'm supposed to be moving to a "hybrid" work schedule where I can go into the office a few days a week (but no one can tell me when that starts or how many days or which days I can be there). I've told my boss I'll do whatever she needs me to, but I don't "support current student learning" for most of my tasks, and that's the bar for prioritizing who will be on campus. So realistically, I'm going to be working from home until at least January. 

I feel bad for those living on campus and trying to figure that piece out. It's a cluster. And even though we moved most upper level undergrad courses online, most students already have a signed lease, so they'll be coming to town anyway. At this point, I just want things to start, in whatever way they are going to, so we can just get on it with. Living in limbo is the worst.

I agree, everything will be online-only within a couple of weeks.  Sports can teach us a thing or two.  The positive tests among professional baseball players and college football players tell us that college towns will become coronavirus hotspots within weeks.  These athletes are far more isolated and far more tested and probably far more monitored and motivated than the vast majority of college students will ever be and the outbreaks were almost instantaneous. 

Why can't they just skip the massive number of new cases and go online only now? 

Most of the schools around here are mostly online already. My son has no in person classes. They said only 18% were and most of them are upper level or things like phy ed.

[oped]

WestChester went all online and specifically said they would help with leases already signed, I’m assuming with CARE funds but not sure?

[giramomma]

Jul 30, 2020 9:36:45 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

False alarm on the dorm.  There are two rooms with the same number on that floor, only one, (the suite) has a letter in front of it, that we apparently ignored when looking at the campus floorplan.  He's in a regular double right across the hall from a community, janitor serviced bath.    I really didn't like the idea of paying more for that set up, so I'm happy.  Now we just need to worry about poop in the shower.  This is the nerdy dorm though, so maybe we won't get that?  It's all science and engineering and nursing students. 

I don't know that I would count on it. One would think engineering grad students would be smart enough to avoid bars in a pandemic so as to not bring Covid into their labs. But, alas, they are not.

I wouldn't worry about the poop as much as the puke from folks that don't make it to the bathroom in time to throw up.

[giramomma]

Jul 30, 2020 11:01:37 GMT -5 oped said:

My friend just got this: ?? The more last minute changes I hear about the more I worry this is all going to be a shot show. My friend thinks, and has heard others posit, that the university figures the experiment will be over in three weeks and everyone home, so the last groups will never move in?

Or they could just try to stagger so there's not a bazillion folks on campus?

I mean. there's like 400 families at our 4K-8 school., and we are having staggered drop offs and pick ups to try and control the number of folks congregating at once.

Limiting the number of folks you can have to help move in would seem to be a huge PITA, because that keeps folks on campus longer than necessary.

[giramomma]

Jul 30, 2020 12:15:38 GMT -5 haapai said:

Jul 30, 2020 11:57:00 GMT -5 flamingo said:

Why can't they just skip the massive number of new cases and go online only now? 

In our case, our university system gets 17% of it's funding from the state. Lawmakers in control don't like public education. Lawmakers want everything open.

Tuition can't be raised. While 17% state support isn't a whole lot, losing it, when one has limited means of increasing revenue, would be bad. I don't see businesses and private donors contributing that kind of money.

[pulmonarymd]

My sons school just backtracked. Freshmen no longer on campus. 100% virtual

[oped]

Jul 30, 2020 13:13:54 GMT -5 giramomma said:

Jul 30, 2020 11:01:37 GMT -5 oped said:

My friend just got this: ?? The more last minute changes I hear about the more I worry this is all going to be a shot show. My friend thinks, and has heard others posit, that the university figures the experiment will be over in three weeks and everyone home, so the last groups will never move in?

Or they could just try to stagger so there's not a bazillion folks on campus?

I mean. there's like 400 families at our 4K-8 school., and we are having staggered drop offs and pick ups to try and control the number of folks congregating at once.

Limiting the number of folks you can have to help move in would seem to be a huge PITA, because that keeps folks on campus longer than necessary.

That would take days though right? Not a month? Would it?

[Deleted]

DS is going to do a drop and go move in...or he's at least going to try and get one of those slots.  Basically they can pick a time slot Aug 30, 31 or Sept 1, move in with only 2 helpers in the 45 minute window (which I think is just to be parked there, not total, but not sure), then you go back home and can move in anytime from Sept 2-7th as just a being dropped off kind of thing, no further move-in time allowed outside of things he can carry in with him himself.   The move-in and stay people pick slots from Sept 2-7th.  They said the early move in and go days would be quieter and less congested, but if they keep pushing it as such that might not be the case! 

[Deleted]

Jul 30, 2020 12:15:38 GMT -5 haapai said:

Jul 30, 2020 11:57:00 GMT -5 flamingo said:

I agree, everything will be online-only within a couple of weeks.  Sports can teach us a thing or two.  The positive tests among professional baseball players and college football players tell us that college towns will become coronavirus hotspots within weeks.  These athletes are far more isolated and far more tested and probably far more monitored and motivated than the vast majority of college students will ever be and the outbreaks were almost instantaneous. 

Why can't they just skip the massive number of new cases and go online only now? 

Because stupid people seem to currently be in charge in this country and we seem to need more science education in our schools.

Perhaps instead of teaching people there are 1000 different genders, we should go back to normal biology classes so people understand basic things like exponential growth and pandemics. 

[oped]

Yeah those things aren’t related at all and that’s the nicest comment I’ve been able to come up with...

[haapai]

Has anyone seen the plans that a school has published for moving out?  How well will those plans work if there is an outbreak at the school?  

I think that it is insanely selfish for anyone to move into a dorm or even a college town at this point in time unless they have a solid plan for self-quarantining when they leave.  There's no way that we will have the tests and PPE necessary to medically clear these students as they leave.  They are going to have to self-quarantine or bear the guilt of seeding further outbreaks. 

Why be part of that disaster?  Stay home and take classes online instead.  You won't meet as many people your age that way but you also won't be spending a large chunk of October or November alone. 

[Opti]

Jul 30, 2020 11:04:08 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

WTH?  Classes start on the 24th (including in-person), but practically everyone moves in AFTER that?   I don't get it. 

That's very odd. Did you get any explanations or reasoning with that info?

[oped]

Jul 30, 2020 14:39:13 GMT -5 Opti said:

Jul 30, 2020 11:04:08 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

WTH?  Classes start on the 24th (including in-person), but practically everyone moves in AFTER that?   I don't get it. 

That's very odd. Did you get any explanations or reasoning with that info?

Not that she understood.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Jul 30, 2020 13:33:27 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

DS is going to do a drop and go move in...or he's at least going to try and get one of those slots.  Basically they can pick a time slot Aug 30, 31 or Sept 1, move in with only 2 helpers in the 45 minute window (which I think is just to be parked there, not total, but not sure), then you go back home and can move in anytime from Sept 2-7th as just a being dropped off kind of thing, no further move-in time allowed outside of things he can carry in with him himself.   The move-in and stay people pick slots from Sept 2-7th.  They said the early move in and go days would be quieter and less congested, but if they keep pushing it as such that might not be the case! 

This is pretty much how it worked under normal conditions where I used to work.  There simply wasn't the space on campus for thousands of parents to descend upon the dorms to unload cars, so it was done with military precision.

I used to pass a dorm on my way to the parking garage, so got to watch it in action.  

[Deleted]

Jul 30, 2020 14:45:49 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

Jul 30, 2020 13:33:27 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

DS is going to do a drop and go move in...or he's at least going to try and get one of those slots.  Basically they can pick a time slot Aug 30, 31 or Sept 1, move in with only 2 helpers in the 45 minute window (which I think is just to be parked there, not total, but not sure), then you go back home and can move in anytime from Sept 2-7th as just a being dropped off kind of thing, no further move-in time allowed outside of things he can carry in with him himself.   The move-in and stay people pick slots from Sept 2-7th.  They said the early move in and go days would be quieter and less congested, but if they keep pushing it as such that might not be the case! 

This is pretty much how it worked under normal conditions where I used to work.  There simply wasn't the space on campus for thousands of parents to descend upon the dorms to unload cars, so it was done with military precision.

I used to pass a dorm on my way to the parking garage, so got to watch it in action.  

Right, but normally it was a 2-3 day move in period and you could bring the whole family.  This year they're doing it over 9 days and limiting the number of helpers to two.  And this is just for the freshman.  Not sure when the older students are moving in, but I think the vast majority on campus here are freshman.  

[oped]

Sigh. So I called yesterday to ask 

1) I understand in normal conditions she doesn't qualify for a parking pass because her building is in close proximity and you have shuttles, but its a pandemic and she and her 3 roommates who are isolated together taking a car is safer...

2) the isolation thing... if we move to hot state designation does she have to isolate at that point? If her roommate from a hot state is planning to isolate after she gets there (and after classes start) doesn't that effectively mean that all of them would then have to isolate? If they do that can they take classes online? If they come up early to isolate and then I have to bring stuff later because they can't move into the apartment early, would I not just be a new vector... etc. 


I got a 'reply , ticket closed'  that basically said 1) no.  2) if your state moves hot then she has to isolate for 2 weeks. 

So fucking helpful, not. 

I called back and the only satisfactory thing I heard was that they can take classes online while isolating, but other than that while they might answer questions, they definitely aren't addressing concerns and what they are showing me is that while they are setting rules, they are paying no actual attention to the logistics of how those things play out in real life. 

The reality is that no one is going to to do any of it. Which means that its all going to be a cesspool no matter what. I am less and less confident in her going back. 

[Opti]

That sucks Oped, but its not surprising. Parking is generally tight on most campuses so the pandemic is only going to make it worse. I have no idea what should be done, but I think campuses that are spread out and utilize shuttles have more issues to address than those places where the town grew around the school instead of the other way around. 

[Deleted]

I'm watching our governor speak on K-12, and holy crap, Carrot might be able to go back to school.  They're making their recommendation by county based on a numerical formula.

Total number of cases for last 14 days / (county population/10,000) = 14 day case rate per 10,000

0-9 - in person for all students
10-19 - in person for elementary/hybrid for secondary
20-29 - hybrid for all
30-49 - hybrid elementary/distance secondary
50+ - distance all

Each school can be more strict than the recommended and it is constantly shifting with the running 14 day rate.  Each school also has to provide complete distance for any student or teacher that requests it...so I imagine if all the teachers in the school want distance in person won't happen. 

I haven't been keeping completely close track of our numbers so I don't know what our two week total is, but the entire 4 month period gives us a 43 score.  I think we're probably at a 9 or 10 at the highest. 

[Deleted]

Jul 30, 2020 14:10:02 GMT -5 haapai said:

Has anyone seen the plans that a school has published for moving out?  How well will those plans work if there is an outbreak at the school?  

I think that it is insanely selfish for anyone to move into a dorm or even a college town at this point in time unless they have a solid plan for self-quarantining when they leave.  There's no way that we will have the tests and PPE necessary to medically clear these students as they leave.  They are going to have to self-quarantine or bear the guilt of seeding further outbreaks. 

Why be part of that disaster?  Stay home and take classes online instead.  You won't meet as many people your age that way but you also won't be spending a large chunk of October or November alone. 

They should also be required to quarantine when they arrive in said college town. That's a big risk for year-round residents having thousands of teenagers flying in from all over the country...

[teen persuasion]

Cross posting from the what does opening up look like in your state thread:

Tomorrow is the deadline for school districts to submit their reopening plans to the state. Cuomo is to release his rules by Aug 7.

Our district posted their outline today: 2 days per week in person, 3 days online, with half the kids M/T, half Th/F. This way there's half as many on busses and in classrooms.

A nearby district is having 100% in person for k-6, hybrid (every other day in person) for 7-12. Families can opt for remote if they wish.

Still have no clue what's going on for DS4's college. He's half enrolled, some classes say closed, but are obviously not filled. All say online, time TBD. He had to twist arms to get a zoom call with an advisor to get him registered for what he is registered in, but nobody has returned any emails since. He's done 4 years already, so most aid is exhausted. He has a handful of gen ed/pathways left to qualify to graduate (switched majors), so we really want to get everything in in one go, not drag this out over multiple semesters.

[giramomma]

Jul 30, 2020 13:26:53 GMT -5 oped said:

Jul 30, 2020 13:13:54 GMT -5 giramomma said:

Or they could just try to stagger so there's not a bazillion folks on campus?

I mean. there's like 400 families at our 4K-8 school., and we are having staggered drop offs and pick ups to try and control the number of folks congregating at once.

Limiting the number of folks you can have to help move in would seem to be a huge PITA, because that keeps folks on campus longer than necessary.

That would take days though right? Not a month? Would it?

It depends on how many folks you are talking about.

In normal times, move-in week, really does take a week for the residence halls on my campus. If they decide to reduce the number of kids moving in at one time..I could see it easily becoming a 3 week process.