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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It will be safe when treatments - which exist - are more widely publicized.

This, we can see the death rate falling faster than the infection rate and since the death rate should be lagging after the infection rate, it means that the medical community is developing treatments that work better than before.

[Anonymous]

I don't think that voluntary furloughs or salary cuts are a good idea. Its trendy now but in the end it won't be good for the organization or the employees.

-It will disproportionately impact women where there already exists a pay gap. Women are more likely to step up to volunteer. Women are more likely to be saddled with more childcare responsibilities and will be expected to take a voluntary furlough for this etc. I would predict that if you did a gender pay gap review at the end of the year after this program you would see a widening of the gender inequity.

-It will create drama with employees. Who is wealthy enough or perceived wealthy enough to take one? Who is embarrassed that they can not afford to volunteer? Who gets royally ticked off that they took one while others that they believe could afford it did not? Employees will fear that not taking one will make them appear to be less of a team player. Employees who do take one will fear that they just showed that they are expendable if they can be gone for two months.

-The impacts are disproportionate throughout the institution. Some programs will be very quiet while others will be busy. Universities are not nimble in re-assigning their workforce. Most jobs are learned on the job with very little documented procedures. Even basic administration activities require a few weeks to figure out what to do and how to do it in various departments. There will be employees on the job with much less to do while others in areas of higher demand will be paid less or on nine weeks of furlough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think that voluntary furloughs or salary cuts are a good idea. Its trendy now but in the end it won't be good for the organization or the employees.

-It will disproportionately impact women where there already exists a pay gap. Women are more likely to step up to volunteer. Women are more likely to be saddled with more childcare responsibilities and will be expected to take a voluntary furlough for this etc. I would predict that if you did a gender pay gap review at the end of the year after this program you would see a widening of the gender inequity.

-It will create drama with employees. Who is wealthy enough or perceived wealthy enough to take one? Who is embarrassed that they can not afford to volunteer? Who gets royally ticked off that they took one while others that they believe could afford it did not? Employees will fear that not taking one will make them appear to be less of a team player. Employees who do take one will fear that they just showed that they are expendable if they can be gone for two months.

-The impacts are disproportionate throughout the institution. Some programs will be very quiet while others will be busy. Universities are not nimble in re-assigning their workforce. Most jobs are learned on the job with very little documented procedures. Even basic administration activities require a few weeks to figure out what to do and how to do it in various departments. There will be employees on the job with much less to do while others in areas of higher demand will be paid less or on nine weeks of furlough.

Absolutely, I'm sure the cultural studies departments will be expected to furlough, but maybe that's a good thing.

[Anonymous]

How very white of you ...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I almost think it's more of an optimistic outlook to think colleges won't open. If they do, it will be putting their financial interests over public health.

I don’t think you’re wrong, but what would you do? Keep everything shut down and furlough thousands of workers? A university ecosystem would collapse, involving teachers, administrators, and facilities workers. There is no safety net for them and their families.

This isn’t just a binary of economy vs. public health.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It will be safe when treatments - which exist - are more widely publicized.

This, we can see the death rate falling faster than the infection rate and since the death rate should be lagging after the infection rate, it means that the medical community is developing treatments that work better than before.

+1.

And what is happening on the ground in hospitals isn't being reported very well in the media, as far as treatments. By the very nature of the newness of the disease, there is very little available "evidence-based medicine" that docs are interested in discussing on camera, as that goes against the grain of modern medicine politics. And yet they are healers finding their way. It's a shame that this great progress is not more widely disseminated. Hopefully, come August, the picture will look a whole lot different. If treatments are working as well as I think they are and/or will be in August, going back on campus isn't going to be such a risk for the older staff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It will be safe when treatments - which exist - are more widely publicized.

This, we can see the death rate falling faster than the infection rate and since the death rate should be lagging after the infection rate, it means that the medical community is developing treatments that work better than before.

+1.

And what is happening on the ground in hospitals isn't being reported very well in the media, as far as treatments. By the very nature of the newness of the disease, there is very little available "evidence-based medicine" that docs are interested in discussing on camera, as that goes against the grain of modern medicine politics. And yet they are healers finding their way. It's a shame that this great progress is not more widely disseminated. Hopefully, come August, the picture will look a whole lot different. If treatments are working as well as I think they are and/or will be in August, going back on campus isn't going to be such a risk for the older staff.

But we still have little information -- and lots of conflicting examples-- of longer term consequences of the virus. So I'd want to see a decline in hospitalization rate, duration of hospital visits, and follow-up info on patients in addition to death rate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It would be interesting to collect data on how many university related cases there have been during this pandemic. In other words can we count how many university employees or their family members got sick as well as students or their families. Just curious. I don’t think there will be HUGE outbreaks if kids go back in the fall.

Now this would be so unfair to the students.

Liberty actually saw zero coronavirus cases after they let some students back. Two inspections from the state health department gave them high Mark's and said they were in full compliance with the giv's guidelines.

Not a big Liberty fan but followed their story to see how it worked out.

I can't say anything about the inspections, but the first statement is not consistent with the press reporting I read in mainstream papers.

The inspections were surprise state health dept inspections, and the results were they were following the gov's guidelines. No fines or changes to what they were doing recommended. The reports in the MSM were speculation/wishful reporting. There were 0 CV cases. Precautions were being followed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It will be safe when treatments - which exist - are more widely publicized.

This, we can see the death rate falling faster than the infection rate and since the death rate should be lagging after the infection rate, it means that the medical community is developing treatments that work better than before.

The virus is also mutating though -- which is little reported but factual.

[Anonymous]

I'm in higher ed. Realistically, the industry as a whole is shifting constantly, since the rules of the game keep changing almost daily. But in-person college in the fall as we recognize and remember it? I wouldn't plan for it. Maybe something that looks a little more normal in the spring semester, but really not until the following fall (21).

[Anonymous]

Per CHE, currently 60% plan to open fully in-person. My (informed) guess is that this flips to less than 40% fully in-person by opening day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It will be safe when treatments - which exist - are more widely publicized.

This, we can see the death rate falling faster than the infection rate and since the death rate should be lagging after the infection rate, it means that the medical community is developing treatments that work better than before.

The virus is also mutating though -- which is little reported but factual.

Source? I have seen articles that explicitly say it hasn’t mutated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It will be safe when treatments - which exist - are more widely publicized.

This, we can see the death rate falling faster than the infection rate and since the death rate should be lagging after the infection rate, it means that the medical community is developing treatments that work better than before.

The virus is also mutating though -- which is little reported but factual.

Source? I have seen articles that explicitly say it hasn’t mutated.

And I’ve seen some that say that with mutations often comes a weakening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Per CHE, currently 60% plan to open fully in-person. My (informed) guess is that this flips to less than 40% fully in-person by opening day.

I've been tracking this, it's now only 9% fully online. Although "fully" in person can be attributed in many different way because so m any colleges are changing that dynamic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Per CHE, currently 60% plan to open fully in-person. My (informed) guess is that this flips to less than 40% fully in-person by opening day.

I've been tracking this, it's now only 9% fully online. Although "fully" in person can be attributed in many different way because so m any colleges are changing that dynamic.

Those are different things. Very few universities will be FULLY online because they need to have some in - person classes for labs, etc.

But how many universities are mostly online? Like UMD -- 80% of classes will be online.