Colleges and Universities almost universally plan to be open in the fall

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m confused. How can colleges decide that they will be open in the fall? Isn’t it the state government that decides for them?

That was literally the first sentence or so of the podcast. There's a transcript too. Maybe read it before commenting?

[Anonymous]

This shines some light on why colleges would need to be open

https://www.chronicle.com/article/What-Prospective-Freshmen/248681?key=q4TXrwr-OMa1HtB1buRmJXkntta0etFRw6i1RnUtKa3wjGeSqK2Yj9GnFHeXTj_tTk42b2RCaUVDWmZlU1hBcjBsQ2tZX2FBNWZEVW9RQV9nYjNUMUY4MjlVOA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of course they have to reopen. The risk to the college age cohort is truly negligible (a statistical nothing despite all the fear mongering) and no one sane is going to pay tuition for distance college. The whole point is to be there - the “college experience” . . .

Do you think only students are at colleges?

Professors, other instructors, food service workers, building maintenance employees, security staff, medical clinic staff, grounds staff, administrative staff, many others are all on campuses all the time. Maybe you're referring to a magical campus where the "college age cohort" teaches, feeds, houses and maintains absolutely everything for itself? While also...going to class and studying?

You embarrass yourself with your blithe lack of understanding. College campuses are not exclusively peopled by your college age cohort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s enormously complicated. Liability fears must be the key factor.

Waivers from college students/families who attend and employees who want to work.
Plus it seems nearly impossible to determine source when virus is out there.

There might be a need for a wider (govt) approach to this risk, though, for all businesses.

Well, the GOP Senate seems to think so. The Democratic House vehemently disagrees. My guess is that the Dems will force huge concessions from the Republicans to get a watered down form of liability protection. Whether that will impact colleges and universities is anyone's guess. In any event, waivers can only go so far--they have to be perfectly drafted to have any chance of having success. And there will never be waivers for gross negligence. Some schools may be sued out of existence. Causation issues and the like aren't the point--it's the flood of lawsuits that will hit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s enormously complicated. Liability fears must be the key factor.

Waivers from college students/families who attend and employees who want to work.
Plus it seems nearly impossible to determine source when virus is out there.

There might be a need for a wider (govt) approach to this risk, though, for all businesses.

Well, the GOP Senate seems to think so. The Democratic House vehemently disagrees. My guess is that the Dems will force huge concessions from the Republicans to get a watered down form of liability protection. Whether that will impact colleges and universities is anyone's guess. In any event, waivers can only go so far--they have to be perfectly drafted to have any chance of having success. And there will never be waivers for gross negligence. Some schools may be sued out of existence. Causation issues and the like aren't the point--it's the flood of lawsuits that will hit.

If my university asks me to sign a waiver in order to teach on campus, I will move my courses online or quit. If a waiver is needed that tells me it isn’t a safe environment. I expect many students would feel the same way.

[Anonymous]

I wonder in the past whether you could she your college if you caught the flu.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s enormously complicated. Liability fears must be the key factor.

Waivers from college students/families who attend and employees who want to work.
Plus it seems nearly impossible to determine source when virus is out there.

There might be a need for a wider (govt) approach to this risk, though, for all businesses.

Well, the GOP Senate seems to think so. The Democratic House vehemently disagrees. My guess is that the Dems will force huge concessions from the Republicans to get a watered down form of liability protection. Whether that will impact colleges and universities is anyone's guess. In any event, waivers can only go so far--they have to be perfectly drafted to have any chance of having success. And there will never be waivers for gross negligence. Some schools may be sued out of existence. Causation issues and the like aren't the point--it's the flood of lawsuits that will hit.

If my university asks me to sign a waiver in order to teach on campus, I will move my courses online or quit. If a waiver is needed that tells me it isn’t a safe environment. I expect many students would feel the same way.

A waiver simply states there’s a risk. Student families have had to sign them for just about every activity they have participated in since birth. Most probably won’t bat an eye if required to send their kids to go off to school in the fall. And covid is a well known risk at this point so would be hard to argue one didn’t know about it.

There’s no safe vs unsafe. Only varying levels of risk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s enormously complicated. Liability fears must be the key factor.

Waivers from college students/families who attend and employees who want to work.
Plus it seems nearly impossible to determine source when virus is out there.

There might be a need for a wider (govt) approach to this risk, though, for all businesses.

Well, the GOP Senate seems to think so. The Democratic House vehemently disagrees. My guess is that the Dems will force huge concessions from the Republicans to get a watered down form of liability protection. Whether that will impact colleges and universities is anyone's guess. In any event, waivers can only go so far--they have to be perfectly drafted to have any chance of having success. And there will never be waivers for gross negligence. Some schools may be sued out of existence. Causation issues and the like aren't the point--it's the flood of lawsuits that will hit.

If my university asks me to sign a waiver in order to teach on campus, I will move my courses online or quit. If a waiver is needed that tells me it isn’t a safe environment. I expect many students would feel the same way.

A waiver simply states there’s a risk. Student families have had to sign them for just about every activity they have participated in since birth. Most probably won’t bat an eye if required to send their kids to go off to school in the fall. And covid is a well known risk at this point so would be hard to argue one didn’t know about it.

There’s no safe vs unsafe. Only varying levels of risk.

Right, and having to sign a waiver just to live in a dorm building or attend classes doesn't exactly convey the idea that it is a low risk activity. It's not like signing a waiver to participate in a sport where there is potential for injury.

[Anonymous]

Hopefully universities have paid attention to this: https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/xx/65-d646ad78-2a94-4fb3-bf07-9d7a7d833c03. They could set themselves up for liability with regard to how quickly they notify students about COVID-19 and how they respond with regard to cleaning and mitigating risks to other students.

At my university, there were a couple of suspected COVID cases back in January, from international students returning from China. The university sent out emails to keep everyone updated on the test results. They eventually came back negative, but it was unnerving. I can't imagine what will happen to student morale if there is an outbreak on a campus and everyone is just continually getting emails about possible and confirmed cases, and then wondering what the college is doing to try to contain the outbreak. No easy answers here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s enormously complicated. Liability fears must be the key factor.

Waivers from college students/families who attend and employees who want to work.
Plus it seems nearly impossible to determine source when virus is out there.

There might be a need for a wider (govt) approach to this risk, though, for all businesses.

Well, the GOP Senate seems to think so. The Democratic House vehemently disagrees. My guess is that the Dems will force huge concessions from the Republicans to get a watered down form of liability protection. Whether that will impact colleges and universities is anyone's guess. In any event, waivers can only go so far--they have to be perfectly drafted to have any chance of having success. And there will never be waivers for gross negligence. Some schools may be sued out of existence. Causation issues and the like aren't the point--it's the flood of lawsuits that will hit.

If my university asks me to sign a waiver in order to teach on campus, I will move my courses online or quit. If a waiver is needed that tells me it isn’t a safe environment. I expect many students would feel the same way.

Then they are free not to sign and pursue an education elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hopefully universities have paid attention to this: https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/xx/65-d646ad78-2a94-4fb3-bf07-9d7a7d833c03. They could set themselves up for liability with regard to how quickly they notify students about COVID-19 and how they respond with regard to cleaning and mitigating risks to other students.

At my university, there were a couple of suspected COVID cases back in January, from international students returning from China. The university sent out emails to keep everyone updated on the test results. They eventually came back negative, but it was unnerving. I can't imagine what will happen to student morale if there is an outbreak on a campus and everyone is just continually getting emails about possible and confirmed cases, and then wondering what the college is doing to try to contain the outbreak. No easy answers here.

PP here. I guess the link isn't working. It's about the family of a UMD student who died of adenovirus. I'm not sure what the latest is, but the family at least took steps toward a lawsuit because the they claim that the university took too long to notify students about another case where the student was hospitalized or do enough to make the dorms safer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder in the past whether you could she your college if you caught the flu.

I’m not aware of such lawsuits. But it’s America, and any suit is possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s enormously complicated. Liability fears must be the key factor.

Waivers from college students/families who attend and employees who want to work.
Plus it seems nearly impossible to determine source when virus is out there.

There might be a need for a wider (govt) approach to this risk, though, for all businesses.

Well, the GOP Senate seems to think so. The Democratic House vehemently disagrees. My guess is that the Dems will force huge concessions from the Republicans to get a watered down form of liability protection. Whether that will impact colleges and universities is anyone's guess. In any event, waivers can only go so far--they have to be perfectly drafted to have any chance of having success. And there will never be waivers for gross negligence. Some schools may be sued out of existence. Causation issues and the like aren't the point--it's the flood of lawsuits that will hit.

If my university asks me to sign a waiver in order to teach on campus, I will move my courses online or quit. If a waiver is needed that tells me it isn’t a safe environment. I expect many students would feel the same way.

A waiver simply states there’s a risk. Student families have had to sign them for just about every activity they have participated in since birth. Most probably won’t bat an eye if required to send their kids to go off to school in the fall. And covid is a well known risk at this point so would be hard to argue one didn’t know about it.

There’s no safe vs unsafe. Only varying levels of risk.

Right, and having to sign a waiver just to live in a dorm building or attend classes doesn't exactly convey the idea that it is a low risk activity. It's not like signing a waiver to participate in a sport where there is potential for injury.

Waivers have included risk of injury and death from the activity. Sports, zip lining, field trips, parent drivers, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hopefully universities have paid attention to this: https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/xx/65-d646ad78-2a94-4fb3-bf07-9d7a7d833c03. They could set themselves up for liability with regard to how quickly they notify students about COVID-19 and how they respond with regard to cleaning and mitigating risks to other students.

At my university, there were a couple of suspected COVID cases back in January, from international students returning from China. The university sent out emails to keep everyone updated on the test results. They eventually came back negative, but it was unnerving. I can't imagine what will happen to student morale if there is an outbreak on a campus and everyone is just continually getting emails about possible and confirmed cases, and then wondering what the college is doing to try to contain the outbreak. No easy answers here.

PP here. I guess the link isn't working. It's about the family of a UMD student who died of adenovirus. I'm not sure what the latest is, but the family at least took steps toward a lawsuit because the they claim that the university took too long to notify students about another case where the student was hospitalized or do enough to make the dorms safer.

That was such a sad story. That virus was also unkown to most at the time. COVID is extremely known now and families can make their decisions accordingly based on comfort levels with the risk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hopefully universities have paid attention to this: https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/xx/65-d646ad78-2a94-4fb3-bf07-9d7a7d833c03. They could set themselves up for liability with regard to how quickly they notify students about COVID-19 and how they respond with regard to cleaning and mitigating risks to other students.

At my university, there were a couple of suspected COVID cases back in January, from international students returning from China. The university sent out emails to keep everyone updated on the test results. They eventually came back negative, but it was unnerving. I can't imagine what will happen to student morale if there is an outbreak on a campus and everyone is just continually getting emails about possible and confirmed cases, and then wondering what the college is doing to try to contain the outbreak. No easy answers here.

PP here. I guess the link isn't working. It's about the family of a UMD student who died of adenovirus. I'm not sure what the latest is, but the family at least took steps toward a lawsuit because the they claim that the university took too long to notify students about another case where the student was hospitalized or do enough to make the dorms safer.

That was such a sad story. That virus was also unkown to most at the time. COVID is extremely known now and families can make their decisions accordingly based on comfort levels with the risk.

yes, but if their child comes back to school and dies of Covid will the university be protected from all liability? This (the death a student) is bound to happen.