for those of you in higher education

[haapai]

I cannot see the public health officials in my county allowing the dorms to reopen to anyone except stranded international students.  That kills in-person classes.  As much as this town lives on students, we don't need asymptomatic, presymptomatic, and mildly symptomatic individuals precipitating a wave of infections that will overwhelm our local hospitals. 

I can't see the school taking the risk of in-person classes either.  I don't think there's any chance of them finishing the semester. 

Sorry to be so glum, but the more that I think about it, I cannot see in-person classes resuming, at least in this state, in the fall.  I think that schools are delaying announcing this in order to avoid losing students to other schools that will eventually come to the same conclusion. 

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Apr 20, 2020 10:45:53 GMT -5 haapai said:

I cannot see the public health officials in my county allowing the dorms to reopen to anyone except stranded international students.  That kills in-person classes.  As much as this town lives on students, we don't need asymptomatic, presymptomatic, and mildly symptomatic individuals precipitating a wave of infections that will overwhelm our local hospitals. 

I can't see the school taking the risk of in-person classes either.  I don't think there's any chance of them finishing the semester. 

Sorry to be so glum, but the more that I think about it, I cannot see in-person classes resuming, at least in this state, in the fall.  I think that schools are delaying announcing this in order to avoid losing students to other schools that will eventually come to the same conclusion. 

One SMALL bright side is that most college towns are used to the annual economic nap while students go home for the summer and for the month long break in the winter.  Of course, it’s much, much, easier for businesses in college towns to weather a planned slowdown with an expected end.  

[haapai]

I suspect that this time, some of them won't even bother with skeleton crews.  They'll quickly discover that shuttering stems their losses faster. 

It will be devastating, but at least we will have hospitals left when it is over. 

[wvugurl26]

My alma mater announced several weeks ago that all summer classes will be online. There was something about graduation being online/not happening. Spring graduates will be recognized as part of the December graduation which is generally much smaller.

I do agree that it is a balancing act and a gradual reopening is probably best. I also know the longer the big flagships stay closed, the more the economic hit piles up.

There was a study done last year to quantify the impact of university sporting events to my home state. $300 million is a huge amount of money to a small state.

There's no right answer to this but the economic hits are real. I'm not supporting sacrificing people to make money but I don't think economics can be ignored in the decision.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Another problem I see with this is there are still a lot of people who do not have access to internet in this country or can get it but won't be enough to host online classes.

We are seeing that right now with our public school system.   Many families rely on the schools and the library for their computer needs.   Sure Cox and Centurylink are offering a free month or two but they aren't going to give someone an entire school year's worth of internet for free.   On top of that they are the only two service providers in the area so they get to set the terms in regards to price, they ain't cheap.

If we are going to decide that online schooling is a must for the 2020/21 school year then America needs to get it's elite head out of it's butt and accept that internet is a NEED, it is not a luxury and nor should it be monopolized by only a handful of companies.  It should be a public utility available to all just like it is in other countries such as South Korea.   It should stretch from one end of the country to the other just like the railroad.

Otherwise the income gap is going to continue to widen.   I get why it is being presented as a solution but the people presenting it are taking for granted the ease with which they can do what they are proposing.

[shanendoah]

I work in finance and administration at a major public university. We are preparing for fall courses to be online, though that announcement hasn't been made.
We are projecting a 5-10% cut in funding from the state next year, because of the loss of B&O taxes right now. We are also running risk projections on our professional (non-state supported) programs. Many of those across campus have an incredibly high dependency on international students, and that may have an outsized impact on their budgets. (My department's professional program has international students, but also enough local demand that the impact for us will be negligible, as long as we are able to have classes.)
Our dorms have not officially closed, and I don't expect they will next year, either, though there are very few students living in them. This is in recognition that the dorms are the only safe housing some students have (international or not). However, with decreased residency, there is some savings in facilities costs, and most of the food options on campus are shut down with their workers furloughed. 
We are being asked to code expenses that are being incurred directly related to the pandemic as such, in case the state may be able to get some federal aid down the line. We are also being asked to track revenue losses related to the shut-downs.
One of the arguments for continuing online classes is that it allows for those international and out of state students who may not be able to come back (but still pay full tuition) to continue to take classes and graduate "on time".

There is a lot of creativity going on, and I do believe this pandemic will change higher education in the US permanently. 

[bean29]

Apr 20, 2020 11:40:36 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

Another problem I see with this is there are still a lot of people who do not have access to internet in this country or can get it but won't be enough to host online classes.

We are seeing that right now with our public school system.   Many families rely on the schools and the library for their computer needs.   Sure Cox and Centurylink are offering a free month or two but they aren't going to give someone an entire school year's worth of internet for free.   On top of that they are the only two service providers in the area so they get to set the terms in regards to price, they ain't cheap.

If we are going to decide that online schooling is a must for the 2020/21 school year then America needs to get it's elite head out of it's butt and accept that internet is a NEED, it is not a luxury and nor should it be monopolized by only a handful of companies.  It should be a public utility available to all just like it is in other countries such as South Korea.   It should stretch from one end of the country to the other just like the railroad.

Otherwise the income gap is going to continue to widen.   I get why it is being presented as a solution but the people presenting it are taking for granted the ease with which they can do what they are proposing.

Yes and the absolute joke is that Cable internet is one of those things the Government paid for then handed over to private industry to price gouge the general public for.

I live in the same state as Giramomma and Jelloshots4all.  My DD is still living in her apartment.  She is not in college housing, she is in a nicer apartment complex pretty close to campus if you have a car.  She also has a garage.  So Saturday, she rolls out of bed in the late afternoon and starts packing her car to come home b/c her Birthday was yesterday and we wanted a mini half assed celebration.  Her car wouldn't start.  It is a 2017, but she has nearly 100,000 miles on it, b/c have car, will travel. 

Her choices, Walk to auto parts store.  It is after 6, and they are open till 7 - 20 minutes.  Walk to Walmart - 30 minute walk.  Call her Aunt and Uncle who live about 20 minutes away - Aunt is high risk and works in a nursing home.  Uncle works 3rd shift.  Or, call her Dad, have him drive about 1hr. 10 minutes, only to turn around and come home again.  So she walked to the auto parts store and made it with 15 minutes to spare.  she had intended to buy a battery charger, but I don't know how she would have carried that home.  The auto parts manager decided to drive her back to her apartment and jump her car.  He told her if she needed a battery, he would "sell her one" and she could pay him on Monday.  She was on the phone with one of her friends who was having a fit b/c she did not know the guy and her friend said she could not trust he was not a Waco.  DD told her J, don't worry, I have my gun in my backpack.  

Anyways jumping it seemed to work, DH was sending her back to school with instructions to buy a new battery and a wad of cash (She has money in her bank account, she just can't seem to keep track of debit and CC - her CC was at home).  She is at school b/c she says she can study better, has less distractions in her apartment. 

I doubt DD's school will be shut down due to lack of funding b/c it is one of the larger campuses.  What could they do? maybe make more dorm rooms singles?  I am kinda chill about exactly when my DD graduates.  She better be done by fall, but I also advised her that it is not good to graduate into a recession, so kinda gave her permission to stay in school until spring.  My DH and I are still working, DD has worked all through college - had relatively decent job that is decimated by the recession, hopefully they will survive COVID-19.  One of her old managers at her prior job offered her a job, but then they semi- shut down, put a hiring freeze in place.  She was texting with another old manger who is now a DM about some of her employees...(because my kid is Management at heart, and the employees were violating health and safety regs of the company and the FDA). I fully expect them to hire DD back if they can swing it, but I don't think the job is something she should have as a career.

I think they could bring the kids back to campus if they have more of a closed campus and require people coming and going to adhere to quarantines to weed out the people that might have covid-19.  I really think the lack of testing in this country is willful on the part of the administration.  It boggles the mind why we are the only country incapable of administering testing otherwise. 

But these small towns that host the college campuses have to have a huge hit to the local economy.  Many of them were already suffering.  We need both testing for COVID-19 to be up and running and antibody testing in order to get back to business as usual.  I am even more fearful about the effect of the lost hours of education on the Elementary and Secondary Students of America.  Many, Many parents just are not capable of overseeing their student's educational progress, and the school systems are not up to the task of having every student learning in a remote learning environment.

[haapai]

Oh, we're not the only country with severe testing constraints.  The situation in the UK is painfully similar to our own, minus the re-opening demonstrations. 

[giramomma]

FYI oped, my university is starting to grapple with Fall now.

[giramomma]

And for those that are interested, there are ways to design lab courses for online education...

The problem is, it can't be done in a week. If that's the standard, now that education is somehow supposed to have the perfect response to an unknown in a week...well...

www.insidehighered.com/advice/2020/04/08/five-objectives-online-science-labs-lend-themselves-virtual-teaching-opinion

ctl.wiley.com/expanding-virtual-classroom-making-science-labs-available-online-students/

www.chronicle.com/article/How-to-Quickly-and-Safely/248261

[jerseygirl]

Apr 20, 2020 11:40:36 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

Another problem I see with this is there are still a lot of people who do not have access to internet in this country or can get it but won't be enough to host online classes.

We are seeing that right now with our public school system.   Many families rely on the schools and the library for their computer needs.   Sure Cox and Centurylink are offering a free month or two but they aren't going to give someone an entire school year's worth of internet for free.   On top of that they are the only two service providers in the area so they get to set the terms in regards to price, they ain't cheap.

If we are going to decide that online schooling is a must for the 2020/21 school year then America needs to get it's elite head out of it's butt and accept that internet is a NEED, it is not a luxury and nor should it be monopolized by only a handful of companies.  It should be a public utility available to all just like it is in other countries such as South Korea.   It should stretch from one end of the country to the other just like the railroad.

Otherwise the income gap is going to continue to widen.   I get why it is being presented as a solution but the people presenting it are taking for granted the ease with which they can do what they are proposing.

NJ is utilizing public tv for some schools and this should be more available for low income households. Probably not for everything but it’s another option

[jerseygirl]

I have a PhD and taught various science mostly biology and chemistry courses in college for about 12 years.
I’m ‘teaching’ science lessons on FaceTime to my little grandkids 4 and 6. Six yr old enjoys and 4 yr old sometimes participates

Not easy finding experiments that can be done utilizing items available in a house and using FaceTime . My observation- it’s easier teaching college students and far easier in a lab!!

[Lizard Queen]

Apr 20, 2020 18:32:39 GMT -5 jerseygirl said:

I have a PhD and taught various science mostly biology and chemistry courses in college for about 12 years.
I’m ‘teaching’ science lessons on FaceTime to my little grandkids 4 and 6. Six yr old enjoys and 4 yr old sometimes participates

Not easy finding experiments that can be done utilizing items available in a house and using FaceTime . My observation- it’s easier teaching college students and far easier in a lab!!

Ever since I took physics in high school, I always thought it would be perfect to teach kids that age. Banging balls together, or dropping them, making waves, using simple machines--it all looks like playing with toys.

[Deleted]

Sounds like for now Purdue plans to return in the Fall. 

www.purdue.edu/president/messages/campus-community/2020/2004-fall-message.php?_ga=2.189831979.1299840481.1587517622-294925981.1587517622

[giramomma]

Apr 21, 2020 20:11:57 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Sounds like for now Purdue plans to return in the Fall. 

www.purdue.edu/president/messages/campus-community/2020/2004-fall-message.php?_ga=2.189831979.1299840481.1587517622-294925981.1587517622

I find this a little surprising:

We intend to know as much as possible about the viral health status of our community. This could include pre-testing of students and staff before arrival in August, for both infection and post-infection immunity through antibodies. It will include a robust testing system during the school year, using Purdue’s own BSL-2 level laboratory for fast results. Anyone showing symptoms will be tested promptly, and quarantined if positive, in space we will set aside for that purpose.

It will be interesting to see how that plays out at both campuses. 

[debthaven]

Thanks for all the responses.

I had Zoom meetings with my two bosses this week (Job 1 and Job 2). I mentioned that the US, the UK and the public French universities are all talking about maybe still being online in the fall. They both (private French universities) said, no, not us! We'll be in class in Sept! Job 1 actually plans to start in late Aug. No point arguing with them, because nobody knows yet.

DS3 is graduating (Bachelors) in June in the UK. We suggested maybe going on for his Masters degree now because of the economy (he was planning to do one, but later). DS3's advisor told him yesterday (unofficially) that the UK WILL be online in fall semester, nationwide. (Some schools may opt to start in Jan instead of Sept, but not the top ones.) DS3 doesn't want to do a Masters degree online (which I completely understand).  

I suspect that like shanendoah 's school, there are other schools that know or at least suspect that they'll be online in fall, and that they're either waiting to announce it or waiting to see how things go. 

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Apr 21, 2020 22:37:14 GMT -5 giramomma said:

Apr 21, 2020 20:11:57 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Sounds like for now Purdue plans to return in the Fall. 

www.purdue.edu/president/messages/campus-community/2020/2004-fall-message.php?_ga=2.189831979.1299840481.1587517622-294925981.1587517622

I find this a little surprising:

We intend to know as much as possible about the viral health status of our community. This could include pre-testing of students and staff before arrival in August, for both infection and post-infection immunity through antibodies. It will include a robust testing system during the school year, using Purdue’s own BSL-2 level laboratory for fast results. Anyone showing symptoms will be tested promptly, and quarantined if positive, in space we will set aside for that purpose.

It will be interesting to see how that plays out at both campuses. 

I wonder if Purdue's research staff knows that their research is going to be put on hold indefinitely?  I wonder how that's going to play out to research deadlines, particularly those who are non NIH contracts?

[debthaven]

I'm also curious, shanendoah , on what changes you see happening? I'm very cynical.

I have taught two Masters classes on Thursday afternoons for 9 years. My school "revamped" their programs for Sept. I can teach one of those classes on Fri, all year. The other class is only in Sem 2, and that's been moved to Sat. I told them, OK I'll do the Fridays, but there's NO way I'm coming in on Sat. I told my boss I'd be very happy to do it those Saturdays on Zoom. 

I'm 100% SURE they will tell me "You want to teach that class on Zoom?! IMPOSSIBLE!!!" Even though I've JUST taught that class on Zoom for 5 weeks, with just a few days' notice, because of the lockdown. 

The French generally HATE change, which is a great shame. 

Maybe people will be less flexible here because education is cheaper here, so they feel they don't need to make as much of an effort? Dunno, but very curious for your thoughts, and other people's too!  

I'd love to hear more from garion2003 too. :-)

[shanendoah]

debthaven - Sorry it's taken me so long to respond. I haven't been on here much, as it turns out, I am actually a little busier right now than I would otherwise be, as I have all my normal spring quarter work and all the additional work for figuring out how to make spring quarter work remotely.

One of the things we've done is purchase inexpensive 3D printers for every student in one of the classes so that they can still do their lab work outside a Maker-Space. But a big part of it, I think, will simply be faculty and students getting used to using the online technology and getting comfortable with it. On some level, it would be interesting to see if this experience will allow some of our classes to permanently add an on-line option. (Not all, there was one class we had to cancel entirely, and others we are having to modify in non-ideal ways just to make sure the students can graduate.)

For now, we are definitely on-line through first summer term. As a state institution, we follow the state guidelines very closely. Our stay at home order has been extended until the end of May. If it looks like the Governor is going to extend it past that, we'll announce second summer term on-line, too. 

[debthaven]

Thank you shanendoah ! 

Job 1 is finished, Job 2 finishes mid-June (summer term).

No in-person classes here before late Aug/early Sept for now. 

[oped]

RIT has given no indication of fall plans...  Drexel sends weekly emails. Drexel is quarters and after spring is over, summer term will also be online, but they are currently hoping to be back for fall which doesn't start till end of September... so we will see. We actually don't have a lease for next year..., so if they end up on campus we might be scrambling or doing some creative problem solving, which ultimately I find easier than paying rent for him NOT to be on campus. Regardless we shall see. 

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

ODS is taking 2 summer courses: one each summer session, both on-line.  His college, like so many others,  hasn't yet announced its plans for the Fall but since Maryland is still on the uphill side of the surge, I don't have much optimism about students going back to campus in August.  That said, his current apartment lease is up on August 1 and we had to give notice May 1 if he was planning to move out.  ODS would very much like to rent a house again, rather than continue to live in the large apartment complex he was in for the last 10 months.  We emailed the management company and asked for an extension, but haven't heard back yet.  In the meantime, ODS is searching high and low for a new place.  I have suggested to him that IF campus doesn't re-open and IF classes stay online, he might as well come home.  I don't need to pay rent for an apartment near campus if he won't be using campus.  But I won't dig in my heels.  He is VERY invested in his schoolwork these days and if staying near campus helps that continue, I'll continue to pay.  It's college-kid housing -- cheap and cheerful.  

YDS will start this job in a couple of weeks.  He'll be working in the woods of New England again.  His job provides housing:  a rustic cabin without power or running water.  He has been working in those conditions for the past 3 summers, so he is comfortable living off of the grid.  He is moved out of his frat house, so there will be no rent to pay for either one of us for him.     

His plan to go to grad school in a year, though, is understandably up in the air.  

[TheOtherMe]

The wife of DN1 is teaching a summer graduate level Stat course for the University of Michigan this summer.  She was supposed to teach two sessions, each for four weeks.

She is now teaching one session and it will be online.

Guess she can do that from Toronto.

[jelloshots4all]

Apr 20, 2020 12:22:29 GMT -5 bean29 said:

Apr 20, 2020 11:40:36 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

Another problem I see with this is there are still a lot of people who do not have access to internet in this country or can get it but won't be enough to host online classes.

We are seeing that right now with our public school system.   Many families rely on the schools and the library for their computer needs.   Sure Cox and Centurylink are offering a free month or two but they aren't going to give someone an entire school year's worth of internet for free.   On top of that they are the only two service providers in the area so they get to set the terms in regards to price, they ain't cheap.

If we are going to decide that online schooling is a must for the 2020/21 school year then America needs to get it's elite head out of it's butt and accept that internet is a NEED, it is not a luxury and nor should it be monopolized by only a handful of companies.  It should be a public utility available to all just like it is in other countries such as South Korea.   It should stretch from one end of the country to the other just like the railroad.

Otherwise the income gap is going to continue to widen.   I get why it is being presented as a solution but the people presenting it are taking for granted the ease with which they can do what they are proposing.

Yes and the absolute joke is that Cable internet is one of those things the Government paid for then handed over to private industry to price gouge the general public for.

I live in the same state as Giramomma and Jelloshots4all.  My DD is still living in her apartment.  She is not in college housing, she is in a nicer apartment complex pretty close to campus if you have a car.  She also has a garage.  So Saturday, she rolls out of bed in the late afternoon and starts packing her car to come home b/c her Birthday was yesterday and we wanted a mini half assed celebration.  Her car wouldn't start.  It is a 2017, but she has nearly 100,000 miles on it, b/c have car, will travel. 

Her choices, Walk to auto parts store.  It is after 6, and they are open till 7 - 20 minutes.  Walk to Walmart - 30 minute walk.  Call her Aunt and Uncle who live about 20 minutes away - Aunt is high risk and works in a nursing home.  Uncle works 3rd shift.  Or, call her Dad, have him drive about 1hr. 10 minutes, only to turn around and come home again.  So she walked to the auto parts store and made it with 15 minutes to spare.  she had intended to buy a battery charger, but I don't know how she would have carried that home.  The auto parts manager decided to drive her back to her apartment and jump her car.  He told her if she needed a battery, he would "sell her one" and she could pay him on Monday.  She was on the phone with one of her friends who was having a fit b/c she did not know the guy and her friend said she could not trust he was not a Waco.  DD told her J, don't worry, I have my gun in my backpack.  

Anyways jumping it seemed to work, DH was sending her back to school with instructions to buy a new battery and a wad of cash (She has money in her bank account, she just can't seem to keep track of debit and CC - her CC was at home).  She is at school b/c she says she can study better, has less distractions in her apartment. 

I doubt DD's school will be shut down due to lack of funding b/c it is one of the larger campuses.  What could they do? maybe make more dorm rooms singles?  I am kinda chill about exactly when my DD graduates.  She better be done by fall, but I also advised her that it is not good to graduate into a recession, so kinda gave her permission to stay in school until spring.  My DH and I are still working, DD has worked all through college - had relatively decent job that is decimated by the recession, hopefully they will survive COVID-19.  One of her old managers at her prior job offered her a job, but then they semi- shut down, put a hiring freeze in place.  She was texting with another old manger who is now a DM about some of her employees...(because my kid is Management at heart, and the employees were violating health and safety regs of the company and the FDA). I fully expect them to hire DD back if they can swing it, but I don't think the job is something she should have as a career.

I think they could bring the kids back to campus if they have more of a closed campus and require people coming and going to adhere to quarantines to weed out the people that might have covid-19.  I really think the lack of testing in this country is willful on the part of the administration.  It boggles the mind why we are the only country incapable of administering testing otherwise. 

But these small towns that host the college campuses have to have a huge hit to the local economy.  Many of them were already suffering.  We need both testing for COVID-19 to be up and running and antibody testing in order to get back to business as usual.  I am even more fearful about the effect of the lost hours of education on the Elementary and Secondary Students of America.  Many, Many parents just are not capable of overseeing their student's educational progress, and the school systems are not up to the task of having every student learning in a remote learning environment.

Glad she was able to get her car fixed bean29!  My daughter stayed on campus in her house.  She has 2 roommates but one had already gone home sick(not CV19 related) before the lockdown.  My daughter hates the online learning for some classes.  Stated she had 2x as much work, then contacted her professor to discuss.  I'm sure a lot of those small town businesses are taking a big hit, especially the bars!  One nicer restaurant decided in the beginning to give out fee food until they ran out to college kids.  First day it was a quiche for breakfast and a bagged lunch. I do hope both my kids can go back to school in the fall, but only if we have adequate testing and the schools have a plan in place!

[Deleted]

So, a couple of the schools DS applied to have extended their date to accept.  Iowa State isn't requiring acceptance until the day before classes begin this Fall!  They'll also refund the deposit up until that date.  I'm kind of wishing I wouldn't have had him withdraw all his other applications now.  It would have been nice to have options on the table because I think if there was an on campus choice come August he'd go with that.

[debthaven]

MPL I'm betting that he could renegotiate that. 

But I think it's pretty unpredictable. Classes can start in person and then there could quickly be another lockdown. (I'm talking about here, but depending on the state it could be true there as well.)

Job 2 is in the process of reworking everything so it COULD be online if necessary. For example, they've switched the second year program because the Sem 2 program COULD be done online, while the Sem 1 program can't. 

Whenever I mention this issue to Job 1, my Job 1 boss still says LA LA LA I CAN'T HEAR YOU! Even though their main competitor (Job 2) is already working on being able to do ALL of Sem 1 online if necessary. 

 

[giramomma]

[div]I assume we'll be looking at a hybrid situation. One of the suggestions I've seen floated around is that for larger lectures of 500 students, those lectures would be done online or at a distance. However, labs and/or discussion groups would be done in person on campus.
[/div]
[div]I think back up plans will need to be made, unless the flu somehow is not an issue in the upcoming season-meaning everyone gets shots and somehow the inoculations are spot on with protecting the exact strains that are going around.[/div]

[debthaven]

I've heard the same here Gira ... except that they're thinking classes of even 40 may have to be online too! I am guessing our spaces are much smaller here.    

[giramomma]

[quote author="debthaven" timestamp="1588710636" source="/post/3127826/thread"]I've heard the same here Gira ... except that they're thinking classes of even 40 may have to be online too! I am guessing our spaces are much smaller here.    [/quote][div]Nope.[/div]
[div]You just have folks that seem to be interested in taking precautions with some sort of gating processing. The gates here are really meaningless.
[/div]

[bean29]

May 4, 2020 18:03:38 GMT -5 jelloshots4all said:

Apr 20, 2020 12:22:29 GMT -5 bean29 said:

Yes and the absolute joke is that Cable internet is one of those things the Government paid for then handed over to private industry to price gouge the general public for.

I live in the same state as Giramomma and Jelloshots4all.  My DD is still living in her apartment.  She is not in college housing, she is in a nicer apartment complex pretty close to campus if you have a car.  She also has a garage.  So Saturday, she rolls out of bed in the late afternoon and starts packing her car to come home b/c her Birthday was yesterday and we wanted a mini half assed celebration.  Her car wouldn't start.  It is a 2017, but she has nearly 100,000 miles on it, b/c have car, will travel. 

Her choices, Walk to auto parts store.  It is after 6, and they are open till 7 - 20 minutes.  Walk to Walmart - 30 minute walk.  Call her Aunt and Uncle who live about 20 minutes away - Aunt is high risk and works in a nursing home.  Uncle works 3rd shift.  Or, call her Dad, have him drive about 1hr. 10 minutes, only to turn around and come home again.  So she walked to the auto parts store and made it with 15 minutes to spare.  she had intended to buy a battery charger, but I don't know how she would have carried that home.  The auto parts manager decided to drive her back to her apartment and jump her car.  He told her if she needed a battery, he would "sell her one" and she could pay him on Monday.  She was on the phone with one of her friends who was having a fit b/c she did not know the guy and her friend said she could not trust he was not a Waco.  DD told her J, don't worry, I have my gun in my backpack.  

Anyways jumping it seemed to work, DH was sending her back to school with instructions to buy a new battery and a wad of cash (She has money in her bank account, she just can't seem to keep track of debit and CC - her CC was at home).  She is at school b/c she says she can study better, has less distractions in her apartment. 

I doubt DD's school will be shut down due to lack of funding b/c it is one of the larger campuses.  What could they do? maybe make more dorm rooms singles?  I am kinda chill about exactly when my DD graduates.  She better be done by fall, but I also advised her that it is not good to graduate into a recession, so kinda gave her permission to stay in school until spring.  My DH and I are still working, DD has worked all through college - had relatively decent job that is decimated by the recession, hopefully they will survive COVID-19.  One of her old managers at her prior job offered her a job, but then they semi- shut down, put a hiring freeze in place.  She was texting with another old manger who is now a DM about some of her employees...(because my kid is Management at heart, and the employees were violating health and safety regs of the company and the FDA). I fully expect them to hire DD back if they can swing it, but I don't think the job is something she should have as a career.

I think they could bring the kids back to campus if they have more of a closed campus and require people coming and going to adhere to quarantines to weed out the people that might have covid-19.  I really think the lack of testing in this country is willful on the part of the administration.  It boggles the mind why we are the only country incapable of administering testing otherwise. 

But these small towns that host the college campuses have to have a huge hit to the local economy.  Many of them were already suffering.  We need both testing for COVID-19 to be up and running and antibody testing in order to get back to business as usual.  I am even more fearful about the effect of the lost hours of education on the Elementary and Secondary Students of America.  Many, Many parents just are not capable of overseeing their student's educational progress, and the school systems are not up to the task of having every student learning in a remote learning environment.

Glad she was able to get her car fixed bean29!  My daughter stayed on campus in her house.  She has 2 roommates but one had already gone home sick(not CV19 related) before the lockdown.  My daughter hates the online learning for some classes.  Stated she had 2x as much work, then contacted her professor to discuss.  I'm sure a lot of those small town businesses are taking a big hit, especially the bars!  One nicer restaurant decided in the beginning to give out fee food until they ran out to college kids.  First day it was a quiche for breakfast and a bagged lunch. I do hope both my kids can go back to school in the fall, but only if we have adequate testing and the schools have a plan in place!

Yeah, my DD had mostly on-line classes to start with. They always said here on-line classes are more work, but she wanted to transfer to MKE and her work schedule was unknown. She got the transfer, but it turned out to be a bad decision due to the Pandemic. DH is moving her stuff home Saturday.