What has William and Mary decided to do about upcoming academic year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if Colonial Williamsburg will just throw in the towel already and close permanently. No one really cares about that historical period anymore. Then, the area could be redeveloped. In terms of reopening, they’ll just follow what UVA does.

Are you insane?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if Colonial Williamsburg will just throw in the towel already and close permanently. No one really cares about that historical period anymore. Then, the area could be redeveloped. In terms of reopening, they’ll just follow what UVA does.

Agreed, that place is an utter eyesore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:W&M parent. So far not a lot of COVID in the Williamsburg area.

Actually, Williamsburg and James City have a fairly high per capita rate (look at the Virginia department of health page). Williamsburg 289 per 100,000 per capita, James City 200 per 100,000 capita and a high fatality rate. They had an early outbreak due to college + tourism area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's the rub:

Whatever they have announced, so far, doesn't matter. They could say "we are open" but then add a caveat "but this might change" or they could say "we are online only" but have a caveat "but this might change".

July 15.

I think a large number of schools have penciled in July 15 for a decision. It's a month to six weeks before the start of term, and it will be close enough to have an idea what the sitaution will be like Sept 1 but still far enough away that people can make plan B arrangements.

(FYI I haven't heard July 15 formally from anyone, but in talking to some school administrators and university staff many are using that date as a holding place for some sort of decision to be made).

I work at a university and have heard July 15 cited as the date by which a final decision about fall operating status will be made. In the meantime, there will be communication about the options under consideration and the factors that will drive the ultimate decision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if Colonial Williamsburg will just throw in the towel already and close permanently. No one really cares about that historical period anymore. Then, the area could be redeveloped. In terms of reopening, they’ll just follow what UVA does.

Yep. I'm sure plowing Colonial Williamsburg over and building a strip mall is imminent. . .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if Colonial Williamsburg will just throw in the towel already and close permanently. No one really cares about that historical period anymore. Then, the area could be redeveloped. In terms of reopening, they’ll just follow what UVA does.

Winner! Most ignorant statement!

[Anonymous]

I was in Williamsburg yesterday moving my DD out of her dorm. Almost no one in Colonial Williamsburg, except a few random tourists or the restaurant workers, were wearing masks. It was very off-putting, especially since in NOVA where we live many, many people wear masks. Apparently the locals aren't worried about Covid.

[Anonymous]

Schools don't really know what they are doing at this point, even if they say they will be open.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was in Williamsburg yesterday moving my DD out of her dorm. Almost no one in Colonial Williamsburg, except a few random tourists or the restaurant workers, were wearing masks. It was very off-putting, especially since in NOVA where we live many, many people wear masks. Apparently the locals aren't worried about Covid.

Same at UVA. Except it was very crowd (I guess a lot of students who wasn't living in dorms stayed in their rentals and continued studying on-line). A lot of students walking, jogging around, no social distancing, no masks. It was a weird feeling that there is no covid there at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:W&M parent. So far not a lot of COVID in the Williamsburg area.

James City County was early on a hot spot but seems to be under control.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was in Williamsburg yesterday moving my DD out of her dorm. Almost no one in Colonial Williamsburg, except a few random tourists or the restaurant workers, were wearing masks. It was very off-putting, especially since in NOVA where we live many, many people wear masks. Apparently the locals aren't worried about Covid.

This is very surprising since James City County was an early hot spot. This was very early on with Covid and it has been under control.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if Colonial Williamsburg will just throw in the towel already and close permanently. No one really cares about that historical period anymore. Then, the area could be redeveloped. In terms of reopening, they’ll just follow what UVA does.

Yep. I'm sure plowing Colonial Williamsburg over and building a strip mall is imminent. . .

Not a strip mall. Something much better than that. Merchant’s Square could stay. Tourism there has really been cratering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They will probably decide by early to mid June so kids who want to defer for gap year can declare that by July 1.

There's no deciding to defer or take a gap year at this point. You can reapply.

[Anonymous]

I think the college will open.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the college will open.

I'm feeling optimistic now that that UVA says they'll open.