University

[tobee]

I'm surprised that nothing joined up has been said about university students. My son is currently half way through self isolating 14 days. Away at university.

I'm happy that he does whatever he's told by government but interested that I've not seen it mentioned.

I'm guessing stay put? It's particularly complicated because Dh who lives with us is one we need to shield.

I don't care as long as we follow the rules!!!

Bump

He should stay put.

I went to get my DD last week and collected all her stuff as I don't expect she will be back before the autumn - if then. I got her before lockdown as I didn't want her to be on her own for months and months. And she wouldn't have wanted to be. Nearly everyone has now left. Even though the university never announced it was closing (I understand others have).

I guess if you and him are happy where he is thats fine. And he can cope on his own - are other people still there?

I've tweeted my mp asking the question my daughters university isnt actually closed its giving lessons online and they reccomended that they stay put as they have oral exams to do and they were hoping to get them done somehow now we are locked down I can't go get her she is in wales we live in England so it's not a quick trip

I'm in exactly the same situation. DS1 at Uni hundreds of miles away - he stayed because he had just got a part time job at McDonalds which has now shut. Most housemates have all gone home except one who now has a very sore throat. I'm worried about him coming home because he has been in a shared house with five others until recently. Then again I don't want him to be left there alone in case he becomes ill. Dh is severely asthmatic on injections that make him immunosuppressed. No idea what to do ?

Thanks for replies!

He will be with his other housemates. Dh thought he would be allowed to be picked up because it's like travelling to work.

You see it's so unclear. I was intending to bundle him home a couple of weeks ago like everyone else was doing. But while he was waiting to hear from his university the self isolating put paid to that for 14 days!

He's very sensible but likely to be upset by missing his family.

Ds is about an hour and half away so doable with no stops but I want to the correct thing.

slippery I'd be interested to know if you got a reply from your mp.

I'm surprised this hasn't been mentioned more widely. You'd have thought it would have been thought of and made clear!!

I'm surprised. The uni students I know (including my two DDs) have all been packed off home. We picked up ours this week, with all their kit.

I'm setting off to pick mine up very early tomorrow morning.

@tobee

What I would say is that the police currently have no powers to actually implement this lockdown and won't until at least Wednesday I'd have thought.

So, I'd be driving to collect him either right now or first thing tomorrow morning if I were you.

My ds also still at university and in the middle of 14 days of self isolation as one of his flatmates had, or most likely had the virus and was very poorly. My ds is thankfully fine at the moment and we planned to bring him and all his belongings home next week as all his lectures are online. (Provided he doesn’t become ill, bit worried as he is asthmatic but so am I and his elder brother so we cannot take any risks) the journey is about three hours each way. He is off campus but in student accommodation and says his food will just about last till the weekend. He has just messaged to say all the others in his flat are going home tomorrow so he will be on his own, on the one hand I think we must stick to the rules and leave him till beginning of next week but then it seems we won’t be able to go and collect him next week. Don’t know what to do for the best to be honest.

The OP is correct on this, messages from many universities have been very unclear. From what I've read and heard from friends is that looking at returning in September and lecturing is online with staff working from home.

I cant imagine that September will be not be adhered to. Universities are reliant in students for income.

Get him home and safe now @MyGirlDaisy

My two Uni kids are staying put. Their studies are now online and they're quite sensible. If the youngest was already at Uni we'd make great efforts to retrieve. But the older ones are quite ok for now. If they need to come home then that can happen, I'm sure. (not sure if this is really the right thing to do but they are adults and so we accede)

Thanks for the replies!

I can't get ds home any sooner than when his self isolation ends which is due to be next week because Dh is in the 1.4 million severe group so ds needs to isolate away from Dh.

The other frustrating thing is we don't know if ds's housemate actually had coronavirus. If ds will ever know about himself. It would be amazing if he's one of the symptomless ones and is now immune. He could help us in so many ways and he'd be relieved too!

I'm hoping that a test will be widespread soon that can tell if you'd had it. What a great thing that would be for healthcare workers first of all!

Take care everyone xx *

• un mumsnetty but pffft

I've just read some information on it. Universities are unable to close because of students on site in halls and other accommodation. They have a responsibility to their students.

That makes total sense now. I hope that's some comfort for worried parents. Also, many universities do have international students that may well be unable to get home. Universities and their leaders have a duty to then too. Possibly one of the few institutions that are unable to lock down fully....

Hope those parents travelling to collect their children have safe journeys.

Universities HAVE shut down though Absentwomen

I presume some have had to make some arrangements for International students who couldn't get home, but whole Universities have been cleared out years of on-going research lost
Staff aren't allowed in, let alone students.

That's not to say students can't stay in their university towns of course.

Just been looking at similar thread but about child custody sharing exchanges. Apparently, a footnote has been added to the guidance for that but it only mentions 18 and under so far!

🤷🏻‍♀️

Also I've had FaceTime with Ds and he seems more relaxed now which is something.

I doubt anything 'joined up' is possible as each uni may be doing slightly different things, and it depends on what sort of accommodation the students are in.

DDs college initially said anyone who wanted to stay could, but that evolved into 'please only stay if you've really nowhere else to go'.

whole Universities have been cleared out --years of on-going research lost
Surely there must be some research labs still operating?

As a footnote:- ds is staying in private rental accommodation for students. Wonder what the letting company/landlord are going to be thinking/doing with properties full of stuff abandoned for however long over the rest of the year and summer even? Ds hadnt heard a peek from the letting agency. Presumably they're not currently bothered if they are still getting rent.

I’m sure retrieving young people from digs/halls will be permitted. Imagine the consequences otherwise! We don’t know how long this will go on.

Yes. Really I just want clarity (as I'm sure we all do).