University students possibly told to stay at uni over Christmas

[WearyandBleary]

This has just been leaked and Matt Hancock has done a non-denial.

This has shocked me. Why not tell old people to stay at home over Christmas instead? The mental health of our students is going to be horrific.

Who is going to pay?

Pay for what?!

Link for more context (what the OP says is absolutely correct).

www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/bristol-coronavirus-live-matt-hancock-4544129

People will ignore it. People ignore most things he says now anyway, he's so inept.

I think they've realised that sending students back to campuses this term will be an epic mistake, they can't backtrack now so they're going to make it as shit as possible for those that do return. Mental health problems are a very big problem at universities, and this is yet another measure that has the potential to make students very unwell.

Utter shitstorm.

Pay for what?!

Accommodation over the Christmas break!!!!!!$£%^&*())

My dd’s Accommodation costs include Christmas anyway so there is no additional cost. I don’t know about halls.

Pay for what?!

Accommodation, living costs. Students returning home over holidays have far fewer costs than those living away from home. Those I know already have jobs lined up for the Christmas holidays in their home towns, so not only do they have fewer costs they have greater income.

Bloody hell, this is a shock. And it can't be a last minute thing either - Universities will need time to prepare for this to support our students surely?

And if they are in catered accommodation, will the unis keep serving food through the holidays? They have no catering facilities at my ds’s hall

I've seen a few people comment on how lonely their fresher DC is feeling (admittedly Uni students are still moving in for the next week here).

If I discovered that my DC just had 4 hours face to face teaching a week I think I would be driving them to Uni to register and get their keys and then driving them straight back home. I would not have wanted to spend 22 hours/day in any of my old Uni accommodation.

How much more can they expect young people to give up, while simultaneously blaming them for everything?

I can't see this happening. It's barbaric

Why not wait and see what happens? We dont need to go "max drama" for every rumour do we.

Quite a lot of students might actually fancy a uni Christmas much to the bitter disappointment of their parents.

Who is going to pay?

Perhaps it's not the same at all uni's but my halls were paid from Sept - June. Regardless of whether I was going to be there at Christmas or not. Same with a private rental, you don't only pay for the weeks that you're there.

@AwaAnBileYerHeid

Who is going to pay?

Perhaps it's not the same at all uni's but my halls were paid from Sept - June. Regardless of whether I was going to be there at Christmas or not. Same with a private rental, you don't only pay for the weeks that you're there.

But you do have to pay for food for that two weeks - and the uni for staffing, and laundrette costs, and heating the buildings etc . And like others have said, what about catered halls?

So basically be prepared for restrictions to still be in place in December. If you're uni aged children won't be allowed home for Christmas neither will your aunts, uncles, siblings, parents etc.

Some Uni halls also rent out to none students during holidays.

This is a terrible prospect in terms of its ramifications for their mental health.

Then again, it was an absurd prospect to have most students attend in person anyway (this term). Online teaching is more than feasible for many subjects. What did they think was going to happen when students return from their shared accommodation back to family homes?

I can't see this happening and think it would be unfair and unenforceable.

But, if made a voluntary option for students, I can see how it could conceivably make quite a difference to new infections over Christmas.

Why not tell old people to stay at home over Christmas instead? The mental health of our students is going to be horrific

I don't agree with this though. If I really had to choose between an 18-21 year old being away from their family at Christmas and an 80 year old, I would opt to be company for the 80 year old.

Most students would be disappointed and perhaps homesick but I think they would also have a great time making alternative Christmases with small groups of housemates and friends. I think I would have had a fabulous Christmas Day at university although I'd also have cried about not seeing family.

But for an 80 year old, there probably wouldn't be alternative fun and friendship. Just themselves and an empty home. I can't bear to think of my grandparents alone this Christmas. I know there's no way we will all be allowed to see them but I also know they'll be top priority for ensuring that somebody is with them.

That's not going to adhered to unless universities have a policy to penalise students. It's not their place to do that, I think it'll end with the unsure students leaving.

Some Uni halls also rent out to none students during holidays

Usually, yes. But not this year, surely?

And unlike schools, many unis already have the capability to hold online lessons.

Wasn't the decision to open them normally because of overseas students and the money this brings? Not all these students return home for holidays so many halls and student accomodation is still fully operational.

The buildings will still have running costs regardless of is the students are on a break or not.

Perhaps it's not the same at all uni's but my halls were paid from Sept - June.

I am only familiar with the Christmas and Easter vacations in halls being included at extra cost.

If I was a uni student or their parent and they brought this in I would be ignoring it.

@manicinsomniac

Some Uni halls also rent out to none students during holidays

Usually, yes. But not this year, surely?

If hotels and B&B's are still operational then why not?

I would be very surprised if this happens. It is one of the inevitable parts of Christmas and will be factored into whatever Christmas lockdown variants we get. Also, I’m pretty sure most university terms finish in enough time for you to be able to come home - or do so a couple of days early - and isolate at home for 14 days before seeing your granny. This is also such a hard one to put a blanket ban on, as everyone’s situation is different. I think the restrictions are much more likely to be - no more than 6 people together @ Xmas etc.

I have a fresher DS, but I’m not really giving this one too much headspace till it actually happens.