Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:East Coast bias much? Cal State announced two days ago that they are definitely online for the fall. Florida is certainly not the first (nor is it even confirmed).

To be fair, OP said "first major flagship." The 23 Cal State campuses are not a flagship.

But I agree, not confirmed. "Tentative" being one of the key words in their announcement.

California has so many great universities- you can’t really say which one is the flagship.

Anonymous wrote:Is it because it's cheaper? Is this, as much or more, a budget decision as a health decision?

It's definitely not cheaper, as the projected losses from moving mostly online are significant. But it's also expensive to implement the extra measures that would be needed to clean classrooms and other shared spaces, possibly pay more faculty to teach multiple smaller sections of courses in order to comply with social distancing, contract with hotels to have quarantine dorms, etc. Universities are going to take a hit either way. I do think most are thinking of health first and foremost because the reality is they have to choose among multiple bad options.

Is it because it's cheaper? Is this, as much or more, a budget decision as a health decision?

I mean, it probably is what they will end up doing. It's what most large universities will have to do unless things get a lot better in the next couple of months. They just don't want people freaking out yet.

Anonymous wrote:Here's a real story:

https://www.wcjb.com/content/news/UF-and-Santa-Fe-presidents-announce-plans-for-potential-reopenings-570459521.html

So what will Fall look like? Will students be back in classes? President Fuchs said that answer likely won't come at least until July, but he is sure about one thing.

"COVID-19 is here to stay. We are going to have to learn how to live with COVID-19 in Gainesville and in Alachua County ... and worldwide. We will have to learn how to do that safely. We have to learn how to restore those things at UF that we cherish, like effective education for students," Fuchs said.

Doesn’t sound like someone who is closing in the fall

Here's a real story:

https://www.wcjb.com/content/news/UF-and-Santa-Fe-presidents-announce-plans-for-potential-reopenings-570459521.html

So what will Fall look like? Will students be back in classes? President Fuchs said that answer likely won't come at least until July, but he is sure about one thing.

"COVID-19 is here to stay. We are going to have to learn how to live with COVID-19 in Gainesville and in Alachua County ... and worldwide. We will have to learn how to do that safely. We have to learn how to restore those things at UF that we cherish, like effective education for students," Fuchs said.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tweet deleted ... is there a reliable source?

She rephrased it is all. I already posted her follow-up and then an editor of Higher Ed who tweeted her as well. It's legit.

Nope. Not legit. When you search, stories that said this have been taken down.

Anonymous wrote:Tweet deleted ... is there a reliable source?

She rephrased it is all. I already posted her follow-up and then an editor of Higher Ed who tweeted her as well. It's legit.

Tweet deleted ... is there a reliable source?

Perhaps large universities feel pressured to decide sooner rather than in another month or two.

We've only been in this quagmire for two months. It's a little premature to know what will happen in August, though housing decisions need to happen for some.

Anonymous wrote:East Coast bias much? Cal State announced two days ago that they are definitely online for the fall. Florida is certainly not the first (nor is it even confirmed).

To be fair, OP said "first major flagship." The 23 Cal State campuses are not a flagship.

But I agree, not confirmed. "Tentative" being one of the key words in their announcement.

East Coast bias much? Cal State announced two days ago that they are definitely online for the fall. Florida is certainly not the first (nor is it even confirmed).

Looks like the University of Florida is learning toward online classes for the fall. This would, among other things, cast further doubt on any kind of normal-ish college football season.
- editor at Chronicle of Higher Education

Student reporter at UF.

First major state flagship to announce? And in a warm weather climate, no less. Plus major D1 athletics -- huge top 25 SEC football program. Wow.