Were supposed to pick up college belongings from dorm next week but...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son's college gave them a 10-day window to move out in the hopes that there wouldn't be crowds, and some moved out before the school decided to go on-line for the rest of the semester. We're planning to just go and do it tomorrow.

It's pretty clear that they would not allow some random student to pack up and go through the checkout procedure in my son's place. There is some paperwork involved.

I posted earlier--thanks. Hoping our DC's college also gives a large window. DH figures a lot of families might need to do it on a weekend if parents are helping and at least we can do it on a weekday. I'm tempted to just go do it Monday even if we don't have official word on logistics by then, but my DC's keycard for the dorm might not work; student keycards get deactivated during spring break (to ensure dorms are closed securely) and I'd have to be sure we could actually enter the dorm....

[Anonymous]

We got very late notice on Tuesday that our daughter's school (in NYC) was giving us until 5pm Wednesday to come up and pick up her stuff. Otherwise, it would be "stored", but possibly not in the dorm - i.e. they would pack it up and move it to a central location. We decided to make a run up and get it while we still could. We were concerned that if things continue to deteriorate, she would not be able to get her things until late summer/early fall. I will say the school is small and the notification only went out on Facebook, so we saw very few other families moving out. We were definitely able to maintain social distancing. I'm glad we went - today they were forced to shut down all the halls even to those students with special needs (i.e. international) who could not return home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
To those of you who went back to get belongings:

We now are facing this too. Waiting to hear what the college (in NY state) wants us to do and when to get things.

Did your kids' colleges at least try to stagger pickups, or assign dates to different dorms or different groups (freshmen, seniors etc.) so that the dorms were NOT busy with kids and parents all trying to move things at the same time?

Our college has been very adamant about total distancing for anyone still on campus (a handful of international students and students with nowhere else to go) and I am praying we don't turn up to get DC's things only to find the dorm swarming with people doing the same all at once. It would totally defeat the idea of distancing and put a lot of people at more risk -- NY is one of the top three states with CV cases. We cannot afford for my DH to get sick at this time but he must come with us as we cannot make the trip without him along to take turns driving.

Please share your experiences -- did your kid's college try to reduce contact among people coming to pick up things??

My kid's school is well organized around move out (which was only recently announced). THey told families to sign up for appointments (four hour windows). Only 50 kids will be allowed on campus at once (that is across all dorms, so not 50 in one dorm). You are not allowed to let other kids in the dorm during your window. Why don't you call your kid's school and suggest a similar system? They are scrambling I am sure and might welcome a suggestion (which may or may not be feasible for them).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
To those of you who went back to get belongings:

We now are facing this too. Waiting to hear what the college (in NY state) wants us to do and when to get things.

Did your kids' colleges at least try to stagger pickups, or assign dates to different dorms or different groups (freshmen, seniors etc.) so that the dorms were NOT busy with kids and parents all trying to move things at the same time?

Our college has been very adamant about total distancing for anyone still on campus (a handful of international students and students with nowhere else to go) and I am praying we don't turn up to get DC's things only to find the dorm swarming with people doing the same all at once. It would totally defeat the idea of distancing and put a lot of people at more risk -- NY is one of the top three states with CV cases. We cannot afford for my DH to get sick at this time but he must come with us as we cannot make the trip without him along to take turns driving.

Please share your experiences -- did your kid's college try to reduce contact among people coming to pick up things??

At DCs school students had a week to move out so there were no crowds at all. We drove up the night before and stayed at a hotel and then moved DC out first thing in the morning. The college provided free storage and had cardboard boxes and moving trucks at every dorm. There were signs at every entrance that said parents were not allowed in the dorms but nobody seemed to pay that any heed. There were plenty of moving bins available as well. Good luck with your DC.

[Anonymous]

My son's college gave them a 10-day window to move out in the hopes that there wouldn't be crowds, and some moved out before the school decided to go on-line for the rest of the semester. We're planning to just go and do it tomorrow.

It's pretty clear that they would not allow some random student to pack up and go through the checkout procedure in my son's place. There is some paperwork involved.

This was my post and now the college is asking that students only come to move out if absolutely necessary. They indicate that they are working on an appointment system instead and will make sure everyone has a time to come pick up their stuff. We went ahead and canceled our plans to go this weekend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
To those of you who went back to get belongings:

We now are facing this too. Waiting to hear what the college (in NY state) wants us to do and when to get things.

Did your kids' colleges at least try to stagger pickups, or assign dates to different dorms or different groups (freshmen, seniors etc.) so that the dorms were NOT busy with kids and parents all trying to move things at the same time?

Our college has been very adamant about total distancing for anyone still on campus (a handful of international students and students with nowhere else to go) and I am praying we don't turn up to get DC's things only to find the dorm swarming with people doing the same all at once. It would totally defeat the idea of distancing and put a lot of people at more risk -- NY is one of the top three states with CV cases. We cannot afford for my DH to get sick at this time but he must come with us as we cannot make the trip without him along to take turns driving.

Please share your experiences -- did your kid's college try to reduce contact among people coming to pick up things??

My kid's school is well organized around move out (which was only recently announced). THey told families to sign up for appointments (four hour windows). Only 50 kids will be allowed on campus at once (that is across all dorms, so not 50 in one dorm). You are not allowed to let other kids in the dorm during your window. Why don't you call your kid's school and suggest a similar system? They are scrambling I am sure and might welcome a suggestion (which may or may not be feasible for them).

That was me you're replying to--thank you! DC got word after I posted that they will use an appointment system very like the one you mention above. And DC's roommate is moving out two days ahead of DC so they won't be in each other's way. It's a good system. The college has been working so hard.

But now...NY state has gone on an "essential workers only" status so I have no idea what impact that will have on move-outs scheduled from tomorrow through the following Sunday. We're scheduled to get DC's things on Tuesday (fewer folks around on a weekday plus it works with DC's new online class schedule/DH's work). But now I wonder: If they proceed to actual "shelter in place" statewide in NY, I don't know if we're even allowed to drive into the state to enter the dorm....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We got very late notice on Tuesday that our daughter's school (in NYC) was giving us until 5pm Wednesday to come up and pick up her stuff. Otherwise, it would be "stored", but possibly not in the dorm - i.e. they would pack it up and move it to a central location. We decided to make a run up and get it while we still could. We were concerned that if things continue to deteriorate, she would not be able to get her things until late summer/early fall. I will say the school is small and the notification only went out on Facebook, so we saw very few other families moving out. We were definitely able to maintain social distancing. I'm glad we went - today they were forced to shut down all the halls even to those students with special needs (i.e. international) who could not return home.

I'm so sorry to hear this! What arrangements can they make for the international students and those with nowhere else to go? There sometimes are students who have no safe place they call home to which they can return in a crisis, and in this particular crisis, it's not going to be easy for friends' families to take students in, possibly.

[Anonymous]

In NYC the Army Corps is turning dorms and other buildings into temporary hospitals, which may explain the abrupt change.

https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/coronavirus/article241383116.html?fbclid=IwAR2FZg8aOtIex2BmfgQBnyyDtNk3CdhlrRY_PUaXQwfDu2ESuUi5FafKJ7M

My son's college has been asking alums and faculty to house students who cannot return home for some reason. A few students also went home with friends.

[Anonymous]

We live in Denver and my DC goes to college outside of Chicago. We have not heard anything about moving/getting her stuff.

[Anonymous]

That surprises me since JB locked everything down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That surprises me since JB locked everything down.

Which is consistent with what the PP you responded to said. Her kid’s Chicago college isn’t encouraging or supporting or requiring anyone returning to campus right now.