Is social distancing even possible at universities?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is college much different than living in NYC?

Multiple units in one building, very few live alone, etc. Require masks, distance as much as possible, hope for the best and prepare for the worst.

Shared bathroom, group dining..

Dining could be spaced. The bathroom situation is inevitable, but you’d encounter the same risk in an office, store, or restaurant.
The most current research shows that infection from a surface is significantly less likely than infection from a person, so if you’re not in a crowded bathroom and you wash your hands after, the risk should be manageable.

The plans for elementary schools are to put in partitions between communal sinks, which could be done in dorms and academic buildings too. If kids are using soap in showers (god I hope so) then bathrooms are less bothersome. And yes hiring more cleaning crews would have to happen.

Most colleges still have populations of international students on campus. My kid’s LAC has about 250 of have been absolutely fine. Zero cases. They have consolidated the students into just a couple dorms in single rooms, but they have hall bathrooms. The dining hall does to-go meals only. Classes are online, but I’m sure the kids hang out together.

[Anonymous]

How is college much different than living in NYC?

Multiple units in one building, very few live alone, etc. Require masks, distance as much as possible, hope for the best and prepare for the worst.

Most New Yorkers that live 2-3 people in a very small studio without a bathroom or kitchen which is what college dorms are like. Dorm rooms are incredibly small. You have room for two beds, two desks and two very small dressers. With this furniture inside it is very tight on space. The libraries and student halls are popular because the kids have more space to study, spread out and quiet space.

New Yorkers are not leaving their apartment for all their meals, to go to the bathroom, go to class, and walk around.

[Anonymous]

There is some good creative thinking on here, but speaking from the college world most of it is simply not possible to implement, at most schools, under most circumstances. It requires a complete rethinking of infrastructure in a context where most responsibilities cannot just be exchanged. Staff at every level and in every division are specialized, from union electricians to certified food-service employees. Faculty cannot just teach extra class sessions to shrink groups to social-distancing levels, especially since their own children may end up on staggered school schedules at home. And hiring additional staff is probably not feasible in many places after the millions of dollars that were already lost this spring. (No "oh poor us" here, btw, just mathematics.)

Perhaps most fundamentally, in-person college this fall requires a critical mass of the faculty to be willing to endanger themselves. That goes for everyone from the adjuncts to the tenured to, perhaps most disturbingly, the graduate students.

All of this aside, though, just a simple thought experiment: will all college undergraduates around the country agree to stay 6 feet away from all other college undergraduates at all times? If they will not, they stand a good chance of accidentally harming others, especially the older faculty whose teaching is in theory part of the reason why they are going to school in the first place.

[Anonymous]

I went to six years of college. Undergrad and Grad. None of my professors lived on campus, we did not eat with them, they had own teachers bathrooms and often was on a stage or behind a desk at front of classroom and I dont think I even shook hands with a prof in my life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to six years of college. Undergrad and Grad. None of my professors lived on campus, we did not eat with them, they had own teachers bathrooms and often was on a stage or behind a desk at front of classroom and I dont think I even shook hands with a prof in my life.

That's pretty sad. I think it says more about you and your educational experiences.

I'm a professor at a large university (20K+ undergrads). I frequently eat in the dining hall. I do not have my own "special" bathroom. I meet with students regularly in my office and in small groups. I go to many university functions which might be considered "social" that students also attend.

As a grad student, I regularly socialized with my professors and advisor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I also think that colleges know that they can't achieve social distancing but financially can not afford not to open. They need to bring students back to collect tuition checks, have the states shut them down and then keep the tuition as an Act of God measure in the contract. They may prepare to refund room and board but they need to keep the tuition and not reduce because its online.

They'll have students sign waivers to return to avoid liability and may offer students who are afraid to come back an on-line option at full cost.

This exactly. They’ll open and let the governors make the call so tuition is collected.

[Anonymous]

No, it's not possible. Those universities that are promising an August opening are in it for the June 1st deposits. After that, they will announce that they are closing. Just watch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your kid is 128 times more likely to die from an accident on the drive to college and more likely to die from the standard flu.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-evidence-on-kids-and-covid-11590017095?mod=hp_opin_pos_1

"During these times parents and doctors need to be especially vigilant. But as a society we also need to keep in mind that the risks to children from the coronavirus are small, especially relative to others. The Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity projects that children under 15 are 6.83 to 20.07 times more likely to die of the flu or pneumonia than coronavirus—assuming 150,000 Covid-19 fatalities in the U.S. this year—and 128 times more likely to die of an accident."

Why the f$&k can people not remember that their snowflakes are not the only ones on a college campus?????

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your kid is 128 times more likely to die from an accident on the drive to college and more likely to die from the standard flu.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-evidence-on-kids-and-covid-11590017095?mod=hp_opin_pos_1

"During these times parents and doctors need to be especially vigilant. But as a society we also need to keep in mind that the risks to children from the coronavirus are small, especially relative to others. The Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity projects that children under 15 are 6.83 to 20.07 times more likely to die of the flu or pneumonia than coronavirus—assuming 150,000 Covid-19 fatalities in the U.S. this year—and 128 times more likely to die of an accident."

Why the f$&k can people not remember that their snowflakes are not the only ones on a college campus?????

+100. Probably at least 15% of people on a college campus each day do not fall into the student/grad student age group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous[b wrote:]Well, the professors barely show up so it is certainly possible for the professors. Many professors average like 3 hours a week on campus pre covid.

[/b]


Why do you post negative stuff like this?

Most full time professors (not instructors or adjuncts) work more than 60 hours a week. Just about all weekends.

This forum must not know a SINGLE academic. They keep throwing around images of a cushy lifestyle and they are absolutely clueless.

In my town at the University it is very common for the professors to show up on campus around 3 hours a week. Many run second businesses on government time that are pretty profitable in the medical/stem fields.
A lot of the teaching is done by the T.A.s.

At the community college in town (this has 30,000 students) the professors work more hours.

So the only time a professor is working is when he is standing in front of a classroom teaching?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are several ways colleges are going to try to enforce social distancing.

Every student gets a single.

You have a scheduled time to shower in am so students are spaced out. Students have to be off of cleaning and disinfecting.

Dorms for quarantined students who test positive. M

Tests administered to all students upon arrival at the college

Masks mandatory.

No gatherings larger than 10.

Spacing in cafeterias and to go options.

Classes are broken into groups so social distancing can be observed in classrooms — such as group A is in person on Mon while group B is in person on Weds. On the day you aren’t in person you participate remotely.

Etc.

Whoever wrote this must have never stepped on a college campus in their life.....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, the professors barely show up so it is certainly possible for the professors. Many professors average like 3 hours a week on campus pre covid.

Multiple studies show that professors work >50 hours/week on average.

[Anonymous]

"There are several ways colleges are going to try to enforce social distancing.

Every student gets a single.

You have a scheduled time to shower in am so students are spaced out. Students have to be off of cleaning and disinfecting.

Dorms for quarantined students who test positive. M

Tests administered to all students upon arrival at the college

Masks mandatory.

No gatherings larger than 10.

Spacing in cafeterias and to go options.

Classes are broken into groups so social distancing can be observed in classrooms — such as group A is in person on Mon while group B is in person on Weds. On the day you aren’t in person you participate remotely.

Etc.


Whoever wrote this must have never stepped on a college campus in their life....."

Maybe, maybe not. But it does seem possible/probable that if kids don't follow something like that set of rules, they or their whole campus will be back in Mom's basement by October.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your kid is 128 times more likely to die from an accident on the drive to college and more likely to die from the standard flu.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-evidence-on-kids-and-covid-11590017095?mod=hp_opin_pos_1

"During these times parents and doctors need to be especially vigilant. But as a society we also need to keep in mind that the risks to children from the coronavirus are small, especially relative to others. The Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity projects that children under 15 are 6.83 to 20.07 times more likely to die of the flu or pneumonia than coronavirus—assuming 150,000 Covid-19 fatalities in the U.S. this year—and 128 times more likely to die of an accident."

Why the f$&k can people not remember that their snowflakes are not the only ones on a college campus?????

+100. Probably at least 15% of people on a college campus each day do not fall into the student/grad student age group.

Then change careers. Educators have become essential workers. From childcare on up, education absolutely must continue. This is not a job that can be done remotely, so those who cannot take any risk of being in a public space at all, should change careers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your kid is 128 times more likely to die from an accident on the drive to college and more likely to die from the standard flu.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-evidence-on-kids-and-covid-11590017095?mod=hp_opin_pos_1

"During these times parents and doctors need to be especially vigilant. But as a society we also need to keep in mind that the risks to children from the coronavirus are small, especially relative to others. The Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity projects that children under 15 are 6.83 to 20.07 times more likely to die of the flu or pneumonia than coronavirus—assuming 150,000 Covid-19 fatalities in the U.S. this year—and 128 times more likely to die of an accident."

Why the f$&k can people not remember that their snowflakes are not the only ones on a college campus?????

+100. Probably at least 15% of people on a college campus each day do not fall into the student/grad student age group.

Then change careers. Educators have become essential workers. From childcare on up, education absolutely must continue. This is not a job that can be done remotely, so those who cannot take any risk of being in a public space at all, should change careers.

That's ridiculous! College education can absolutely be done remotely in many (though by far not all) fields. It just takes more dedication by both the student and the faculty. It isn't perfect - but if it saves lives, it is absolutely worthwhile. Indeed, if higher education in many subjects can't be done remotely, no job that requires human interaction can. Take a look at the videos of those (mostly young) people partying in pools in the Lake of Ozark. Would you want to teach them in an indoor classroom the following week if you are in your 50s with a high-risk spouse and 3 kids of your own?
My 10 year old is taking online classes voluntarily and is flourishing.