College parents...fall semester?

[mjkacmom]

i'll just suggest this-

if you have a returning college student whose classes are all on-line and the ONLY reason they are looking at going back to live on/near campus is b/c of the 'college experience'-i HIGHLY suggest that they do some research on weather what they enjoy about that experience will exist upon their return. at our local colleges-libraries closed (so are all the public ones), 'limited dining options' (college website terminology) means only 1 option-the institution type food that most if not all students pass on after their first few visits freshman year (and no salad bar, no pick and choose type meals-all prepackaged), student union is closed so no starbucks or other coffee place/no jamba juice, none of the movie nights/meet and greets/concerts/plays/comedy shows. if they are used to off campus venues/merchants as part of their experience-check to see if they are even in business any more. we've had allot of places go under or just choose not to reopen b/c they made their money during the academic year so losing part of winter quarter and then all of spring and summer with what's being anticipated at less than 30% of students returning for the fall on-line classes is a deal breaker. bars/clubs are hit and miss-with state laws on gatherings some are staying closed for the time being. no movie theaters, no concerts or plays and all community events (fairs, runs, festivals and such) are cancelled.

you have to dig around on the college websites to find out just how limited 'limited' means,
you have to google search your favorite off campus haunts to see if they still exist

My daughter just wants to be back with her friends and boyfriend. She is very social, loved the parties (and some daging). Right now stores and restaurants are open (great Main Street with tons of food options). She runs club track, hopefully that will continue, and she was pledging a sorority in the spring. Fortunately she’s in a nice apartment with 5 others, shares a bathroom with one girl.

 

[justafigment27]

DD will be a freshman at a mid size state university about 90 minutes from our house. At this point, she’s still planning on moving to campus and living in the dorms. Only one of her classes has been finalized and it’s in person - I suspect the other 3 will be hybrid where half the class attends in person one day and the other half the next. We expect things to be rocky initially, but hope things will stabilize by next spring. If they don’t, we can reconsider her options.

We are local to a large state university that her two closest friends are attending (along with about 40 of her classmates) - if her campus experience isn’t what she’s hoping for (she’s worried it will be an isolating experience with everyone holed up in their rooms and no opportunity to meet new people or get involved), I think it’s likely she will transfer to the large state university simply because she has a lot of friends who will still be local, so she’ll be able to have a social life and potentially be able to move into an off campus apartment with people she knows at some point.

She wanted to spread her wings a bit and liked the idea of a smaller campus, but the world was different when she made that decision, so who knows.

I don’t know. I guess we will see. As long as she has some in person classes, we are gearing up to have her live on campus. I don’t think it will be the experience she dreamt of ... but with no clear finish line for this thing, I don’t know when we can expect “normal” campus life to resume, so we are just forging ahead. Some days I feel optimistic about it and others I feel like it’s going to be a disaster and she’ll be back home with all online classes by October.

I just feel so bad for her - her senior year ended so horribly, her summer plans completely fell apart and now the one thread she’s hanging onto is college in the fall ... and that’s a big question mark that’s causing her a lot of stress.

 

[barkley]

Here is an example of how my daughters university is handling some aspects of campus life.



Housing and Residential Communities (HRC)

• HRC will preserve students’ residence life in their “home away from home.”
• COVID will require some changes, especially social distancing in common areas such as building kitchens and laundry, non- visitors will be limited, PPE for staff, education, training, enhanced cleaning, and staggered move-in.
• Isolation spaces will be provided for any on-campus students who may need them. has had a designated location since March and will increase access as needed.
• Move-in will be staggered with distancing.

Student Groups and Greek Life

• Student Life will assist student organizations to use and plan for larger physical spaces, allowing for greater social distancing for face-to-face events and meetings.
• Campus dining, including Greek dining, will require adjustments to maintain distancing.
• Social events and group experiences, such as , career fairs, swaps, parties, and recruitment activities will be planned to preserve the experience, consistent with health and safety requirements.
• Student groups will be assisted in their own efforts to educate and train on health promotions, and to maintain required distancing and other safety protocols.
• Student groups will be expected to have social distancing and PPE plans, and must keep attendee lists to assist with exposure notification.

Student Services

• Critical services, such as the Career Center, Counseling Center, WGRC, and Student Health Center, will continue, with enhanced remote availability.
• Academic support services, to including tutoring and the writing center, will also continue, with enhanced remote options.
• University Recreation will be open, with enhanced distancing and cleaning.

our university's info site has some similar language-but the things that they say will be 'planned' are prohibited by our current state law for the foreseeable future (our cases are increasing) and everything that has 'enhanced remote availability' is only available through remote (you have to call student health and get phone assessed to get permission to come into the building).

 

[JimMIA]

If you don’t mind me asking what school?

University of Central Florida in Orlando. It's possibly the largest public university in the US (69,000 students).

They're a member of the American Athletic Conference, who put the restrictions on bands, etc. The other members of the AAC for football are Navy, Cincinnati, East Carolina, Memphis, Houston, Tulane, Temple. Wichita State, SMU, Tulsa, and USF in Tampa.

 

[lilypgirl]

our university's info site has some similar language-but the things that they say will be 'planned' are prohibited by our current state law for the foreseeable future (our cases are increasing) and everything that has 'enhanced remote availability' is only available through remote (you have to call student health and get phone assessed to get permission to come into the building).

This what I can find currently on the state this school is located . It seems to fall in line with the universities current plan.

"The size limit on non-work gatherings has been lifted, but no gathering of any size is allowed if social distancing cannot be maintained "

 

[barkley]

This what I can find currently on the state this school is located . It seems to fall in line with the universities current plan.

"The size limit on non-work gatherings has been lifted, but no gathering of any size is allowed if social distancing cannot be maintained "

yeah, we're still much more restricted-outdoors it's no more than 5 people outside your own household, for gatherings it's no more than 5 people outside your household PER WEEK, you can't go to a restaurant with a group of more than 5 people (if that can even happen b/c they are supposed to operate at 50% capacity w/ social distancing met but we've had a surge traced to a bar/restaurant so while it closed other places are going down to 25%). we've been in phase 2 of our state's plan for over a month but with the numbers going up i wouldn't be surprised to see us get knocked back to phase 1 or be kept where we are for who knows how long.

 

[choirfarm]

My daughter's university has a chart with plans for different phases as far as what is open/carry-out, etc.. Right now she is going to the dorm, has a roommate and all of her classes will be face to face. They have an app that they have to register their health every day. Masks are required. ( Not sure how you wear masks in dance and choir, though...) Temps are taken every day.

If they go to online, she isn't sure she wants to go. Her university is 14 hours away from us. She is majoring in musical theater and has done all of her academic basics dual credit already. Theory would be ok online, but not ballet, choir, voice lessons, lyric theater, etc. But if she didn't go, her very nice scholarship would probably go as well. Plus, what in the world would she do??? She might be able to take one or two classes to completely finish her basics at the CC. She can't go intern at a theater or anything. She would end up working for Wal-mart of fast food, which doesn't thrill me to be honest. Plus, both of us are SO SO ready for her to be out on her own. I homeschooled her through 8th grade. When she went to a private Christian school for high school she had me for choir and history. Then after 25 years the school closed at the end of her junior year, so she just did all dual credit at the CC this past year for her senior year. Then Covid... She is so incredibly social. If we didn't have Covid, she wouldn't ever be home. I'm just praying she can go. And that she will have a good year and not one full of fits and starts. Her senior year sucked. I really want her freshman year in college to be good. College was my favorite time of life hands down. So much fun.

 

[maddiel]

our university's info site has some similar language-but the things that they say will be 'planned' are prohibited by our current state law for the foreseeable future (our cases are increasing) and everything that has 'enhanced remote availability' is only available through remote (you have to call student health and get phone assessed to get permission to come into the building).

Your post reminds me off this article I saw the other day: A MESSAGE FROM YOUR UNIVERSITY’S VICE PRESIDENT FOR MAGICAL THINKING

The majority of Canadian universities are planning to be online only for at least the fall term. A couple are planning a blended approach.

My daughter is about to start her third year in a public policy program in Ottawa. She's actually been working full time since mid May for her university from our home in Halifax. She has apartment up there for next year - the lease started in May. Our plan is to get her up there in late August even though her classes are online only for the fall.

I can't imagine how university life anywhere will be like it was in the past for at least the next year - but at the same time I will not be surprised to hear that there are US schools planning to try. I figure that my DD will be able to study with her roommates (who are in her program) and maybe some others in her classes and she may be able to participate in limited activities at her school if they happen and possibly do some limited volunteer work or paid work in her area of study. And she'll get to see her boyfriend ;-p But she'll also have to set ground rules with her roommates about how they will handle future shut downs if they happen and realize that she may well not be able to come home for Christmas if things flare up when winter starts.

M.

 

[Disneyfan754321]

My 23 year old has to take all his classes online.
He has classes that he needs to take that have labs and his doctor wont clear him to go on campus. ( he is year 3 cancer free) I know its fustrating for him.

 

[bjscheel]

DD18 stands at 3 in-person and 2 online classes as of now. One class was always intended to be online, the other got moved online because it is a very large gen ed. She's not upset to have political science online and no scheduled classes on Tuesdays.

I think I've posted already that she's already paying rent off-campus so will be living there regardless, sharing an apartment with just one girl and making her own meals. I would be more uptight if she was a freshman who had to live in a dorm.

Her Class of 2020 BF's plan is much more up in the air, as he will switch to cc last minute if classes and football at his private college don't pan out. He doesn't seem too rattled, I guess he will be okay either way and he doesn't yet have a strong connection to the school or any friends there. DD on the other hand really wants to get back to her people and campus.

 

[lilypgirl]

So a bunch of classes that were in person than switched to on line have now been moved to hybrid. We also got info on how testing was going to be done and a few other updates.

 

[JimMIA]

Here's an interesting argument FOR returning even if all classes are online: https://grownandflown.com/students-should-return-to-college-fall/

 

[AustinTink]

Son's classes were switched to all online and now one is in-person. Who knows where they will land come August.

 

[JimMIA]

Ours are still in a state of flux. Tomorrow is supposed to be the last day of changes to the method of presentation and whatever it says on July 1 is supposed to be the final answer.

So I'm waiting until Wednesday and then I'll be trying to make adjustments if any are possible. We've already been told that all math and chemistry classes will be 100% online for Fall, and that's half her classes, so I'm not optimistic.

 

[Southernmiss]

Here's an interesting argument FOR returning even if all classes are online: https://grownandflown.com/students-should-return-to-college-fall/

All of this makes sense to me.

College campuses are like small, insulated cities these days. So much is offered and available with that high cost of tuition.

Our students have many more services at their fingertips than what we can easily give them at home.

Our son's extra bedroom with weight sets does not equal the full gym with a rock climbing wall.

My child needs mental or health care assistance, how long would it take for an 'outside' appointment compared to on campus.

Dining is never easier than the variety of fresh, good food offered on campus.

And our kids do need their own learning experiences without the easy crutch of mom and dad solving everything.

Friends- I want my kids to meet others with a variety of viewpoints, backgrounds, and beliefs. Doesn't our world need those skills now?

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Ours are still in a state of flux. Tomorrow is supposed to be the last day of changes to the method of presentation and whatever it says on July 1 is supposed to be the final answer.

So I'm waiting until Wednesday and then I'll be trying to make adjustments if any are possible. We've already been told that all math and chemistry classes will be 100% online for Fall, and that's half her classes, so I'm not optimistic.

DS's university announced reopening plans, but the class information (in-person, hybrid or online) keeps changing. I'm not counting on any real final answer until he actually gets there. So much has changed with the number of cases rising in just the past week. His school is in a hot zone (Florida), so I think things will continue to be up in the air for the next several weeks. They're having a Zoom session tomorrow for students and parents, so I'm anxious to hear about the current plan and the challenges they still need to figure out.

 

[SmallWorld71]

UMass Amherst just announced their plans. The short version is that all classes are remote learning. The FAQ says that 'essential' classes are being held in person, but that must be extremely limited, as my son will be a senior with all small science lab classes (microbiology, soil science, etc...) and those are all remote. Seems like a giant cop out and a money grab to allow students to return to dorms but not go to any classes. No reduction in tuition, of course.
My son has always hated online learning and does not do well with it. He's known that about himself since he took one virtual high school class his senior year in high school. After that experience he said he would never take another online class again, but of course that's been thrust upon all students everywhere. He has an off campus apartment, so he will be living in Amherst. At this point, it doesn't make much sense to not go as he may as well just finish his degree. Lousy way to end what was otherwise a great college experience, though.

 

[JimMIA]

DS's university announced reopening plans, but the class information (in-person, hybrid or online) keeps changing. I'm not counting on any real final answer until he actually gets there. So much has changed with the number of cases rising in just the past week. His school is in a hot zone (Florida), so I think things will continue to be up in the air for the next several weeks. They're having a Zoom session tomorrow for students and parents, so I'm anxious to hear about the current plan and the challenges they still need to figure out.

Which school?

 

[okeydokey]

Saw this posted elsewhere and thought I would share. Obviously satire, but it feels sort of real at the same time, LOL.

https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles...C_VjypUmGfoVPqsASpSkEqwFLMtNwm9yI6OAoO2lhoH0Y

 

[okeydokey]

We are also in Florida and things are crazy here. Universities are still struggling with even opening for employees in any small way, never mind welcoming thousands of students back to campus.