I'd bet Stanford, MIT and Harvard will again be first to announce fall 2020 is online

[Anonymous]

They were the first to cancel classes on March 5th. They are also the most prepared to continue online. I think they'll announce fall is online with a January 2021 reopening of campus. Why I think they have to punt fall opening is because there's no way they're going to be ready for orientation in June and July. Plus all these colleges have heavy international student enrollments. I see Stanford, MIT and Ivies announcing fall's closure on or around May 2nd -- then other universities will fall in line.

There isn't enough PPE even if you required masks for all kids. If you can't have groups of 50, how can you have kids in 100+ seat lectures and 500+ seat dining halls. Not to mention dorms with shared bathrooms. These colleges are risk adverse, they're not going to risk class action suits opening too early.

[Anonymous]

It's way too premature to make decisions about the fall right now. They should be doing contingency planning, but there are way too many factors to consider.

[Anonymous]

MIT alum here. we got an email within the last few days saying they haven't made any decisions but are of course making preparations. they hope to make a decision by early summer if not sooner. friends at other institutions are all deeply involved in figuring out how to take things like labs "online" or "remote."

[Anonymous]

In the this age of constant lawsuits, I bet fall will be online. And you make a good point about who will be first to announce. People will be pissed at fall being online and these can handle the criticism better than most because of their reputations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MIT alum here. we got an email within the last few days saying they haven't made any decisions but are of course making preparations. they hope to make a decision by early summer if not sooner. friends at other institutions are all deeply involved in figuring out how to take things like labs "online" or "remote."

Why pay tuition for MIT online when they have open courseware for free?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MIT alum here. we got an email within the last few days saying they haven't made any decisions but are of course making preparations. they hope to make a decision by early summer if not sooner. friends at other institutions are all deeply involved in figuring out how to take things like labs "online" or "remote."

Why pay tuition for MIT online when they have open courseware for free?

Surely you are not serious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In the this age of constant lawsuits, I bet fall will be online. And you make a good point about who will be first to announce. People will be pissed at fall being online and these can handle the criticism better than most because of their reputations.

There are lawsuits going the other way, suing for paying tuition for online classes.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2020/04/16/college-students-are-rebelling-against-full-tuition-after-classes-move-online/?cv-campaign=4fda08e2fbca0387b958bb44bf5cc2b6&utm_campaign=wp_to_your_health&utm_content=2020_04_16&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_tyh
https://www.dailycamera.com/2020/04/16/class-action-cu-student-sues-for-tuition-reimbursement-after-covid-19-closure/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MIT alum here. we got an email within the last few days saying they haven't made any decisions but are of course making preparations. they hope to make a decision by early summer if not sooner. friends at other institutions are all deeply involved in figuring out how to take things like labs "online" or "remote."

Why pay tuition for MIT online when they have open courseware for free?

Surely you are not serious.

I’m not PP, but this is clearly a question that is weighing on people’s minds. Especially at other schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They were the first to cancel classes on March 5th. They are also the most prepared to continue online. I think they'll announce fall is online with a January 2021 reopening of campus. Why I think they have to punt fall opening is because there's no way they're going to be ready for orientation in June and July.

Orientation in-person isn't happening in June and July, but there's an easy fix: orientation at the start of fall classes, like the old days.

[Anonymous]

Why can't DCUM close for COVID? Clearly the transmission of stupidity is an incredible problem for our country. Everything will be back to the new normal in the fall. Wearing a bandana like a bank robber will be the next fashion statement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Why can't DCUM close for COVID? Clearly the transmission of stupidity is an incredible problem for our country. Everything will be back to the new normal in the fall. Wearing a bandana like a bank robber will be the next fashion statement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They were the first to cancel classes on March 5th. They are also the most prepared to continue online. I think they'll announce fall is online with a January 2021 reopening of campus. Why I think they have to punt fall opening is because there's no way they're going to be ready for orientation in June and July. Plus all these colleges have heavy international student enrollments. I see Stanford, MIT and Ivies announcing fall's closure on or around May 2nd -- then other universities will fall in line.

There isn't enough PPE even if you required masks for all kids. If you can't have groups of 50, how can you have kids in 100+ seat lectures and 500+ seat dining halls. Not to mention dorms with shared bathrooms. These colleges are risk adverse, they're not going to risk class action suits opening too early.

I agree, but would guess the announcements will come a little later. I expect the majority of colleges and universities will be 90%+ online this fall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MIT alum here. we got an email within the last few days saying they haven't made any decisions but are of course making preparations. they hope to make a decision by early summer if not sooner. friends at other institutions are all deeply involved in figuring out how to take things like labs "online" or "remote."

Why pay tuition for MIT online when they have open courseware for free?

Courseware doesn't get to the degree?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MIT alum here. we got an email within the last few days saying they haven't made any decisions but are of course making preparations. they hope to make a decision by early summer if not sooner. friends at other institutions are all deeply involved in figuring out how to take things like labs "online" or "remote."

Why pay tuition for MIT online when they have open courseware for free?

Surely you are not serious.

It's a fair question -- but not for an elite like MIT. The colleges that will be screwed are the fairly non-selective state schools and regional LACs. Why pay a premium for those online courses when you can just have Jr. enroll in the local community college's online sections for 1/3rd to 1/6th the price?

Then after you do that for the fall, aren't most rational people going to say why not just keep the savings going through the end of the year, then let Jr. transfer to the more expensive college in Fall 2021 -- if not Fall 2022 with two years completed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MIT alum here. we got an email within the last few days saying they haven't made any decisions but are of course making preparations. they hope to make a decision by early summer if not sooner. friends at other institutions are all deeply involved in figuring out how to take things like labs "online" or "remote."

Why pay tuition for MIT online when they have open courseware for free?

Surely you are not serious.

It's a fair question -- but not for an elite like MIT. The colleges that will be screwed are the fairly non-selective state schools and regional LACs. Why pay a premium for those online courses when you can just have Jr. enroll in the local community college's online sections for 1/3rd to 1/6th the price?

Then after you do that for the fall, aren't most rational people going to say why not just keep the savings going through the end of the year, then let Jr. transfer to the more expensive college in Fall 2021 -- if not Fall 2022 with two years completed?

Totally agree. This will also devastate nearly every in-residence MBA program in this country outside the top 10 or so.