Are any of your kids expressing concern about going back?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a professor (intending to teach in-person). We've been told we need to have both in-person and online versions of our classes. Even if we're still in-person as a campus, we need to accommodate students who want to be online. I have heard from a few students, who are registered for my class, who aren't sure what they want yet.

I would completely understand not wanting to move into a dorm room with 1-3 strangers, who may or may not have the same level of risk you're willing to take. Living in a dorm room is not at all comparable to working in an office. You are sharing a very small space and there won't be as many hang out and study spaces on campus this year. Last I heard, they still weren't sure about opening the library.

I am not worried about the students wearing masks. My dad is a surgeon and he wears a mask - it isn't going to damage their ability to think. I have taught in one now, it's not bad at all. I think the students will probably wear masks in class without complaint. However, I do think there will be lots of students doing normal 19 year old things like partying and making out and drinking too much. Because of that I'm concerned for the community as well as the older staff and faculty.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We haven’t had another family over for dinner since March. And probably won’t for a long time. Why does anyone think sending kids to live in a campus dorm is a good idea??

My child is a rising senior itching to get back to her friends and the school she loves. In some ways, I think she will he safer at school than at home. Her college is requiring negative tests for all students, facukty and staff, and is imposing stringent rules. No off-campus travel, everyone lives and works in pods, no varsity sports, no parties. Anyone violating the rules (caught outside their dorm room without a mask, for example) will be asked to go home. My child is confident she will be safe if everyone follows the rules. It's in a rural location with few cases. If there's an outbreak, the school has strict isolation plans, and will send everyone home if they have to. Not every college can do this, though. There is literally nothing kids can walk to off campus aside from farms and woods.

[Anonymous]

No. My DC is staying home and learning remotely and we are all happy about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

My child is a rising senior itching to get back to her friends and the school she loves. In some ways, I think she will he safer at school than at home. Her college is requiring negative tests for all students, facukty and staff, and is imposing stringent rules. No off-campus travel, everyone lives and works in pods, no varsity sports, no parties. Anyone violating the rules (caught outside their dorm room without a mask, for example) will be asked to go home. My child is confident she will be safe if everyone follows the rules. It's in a rural location with few cases. If there's an outbreak, the school has strict isolation plans, and will send everyone home if they have to. Not every college can do this, though. There is literally nothing kids can walk to off campus aside from farms and woods.

Will you feel less positive about this plan if it becomes harder to get test results back? People locally are saying 7-9 days to get test results, which seems too long for the college's purposes.

I agree that the rest of the plan sounds doable. Small, rural campus might be able to curtail an outbreak.