University life for freshers (2019/20) - we're hopping towards Easter with a pandemic to avoid **Title edited by MNHQ**

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@Benjispruce So much for being empty nesters - my DS will be very happy to be back here to spend time with his gf

Newcastle are umming and ahhhing I think. Dd said they may do what Durham has done. She is back home anyway. Does feel nice to have all my chicks in the nest.
At the hospital yesterday (routine appt for other Dd) the nurses were very much in the camp that almost everyone will get the virus - it’s just a matter of staggering it.

Live BBC 1 now

@witchend DD sent me a screenshot of the email. Doesn’t look like a hoax.

DS was at Wrexham Maelor today, one confirmed and four unconfirmed cases. The nurse said there are a lot of cases in N Wales unconfirmed as Boris just said at his press briefing.

Over 70s shouldn’t go on a cruise! Wow, that was worth a press conference!!

@Benjispruce hopefully it's wrong anyway.

Over 70s shouldn’t go on a cruise! Wow, that was worth a press conference!!

All the proclamations on corona so far from the government have left me thinking "they really needed a meeting to work that out"!

I hope so too @witchend she’s already panicking about her first year being ruined by strikes and her field trip has been cancelled. Surely they won’t cancel third term??? Anyone else with Durham links know anything?

@Benjispruce

I don't think they could say that at this stage anyway. They may be closed all next term, but I don't think they'll be able to tell what's best next month let alone 2 months' time. I think they might end up with a shortened term, but not more than that.

It says the students are not expected to return for a third term!

Just realised it’s an email to Durham staff as says ‘Dear Colleagues’ and refers to ‘the students ‘ now I am worried.

This is what the BBC says:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-51857142

The message dd has had directly, rather than the one that apparently is leaked, is just saying this week the departments are closed and students are expected to work on their own/at home.
I can't see them making a decision to close next term at this point.

It’s what they’re anticipating. It says-“A decision about what to do about exams has not been taken as the students are not expected to return to Durham for a third term.” I can’t believe it!

I’ll attach it.

@Benjispruce

That really doesn't sound right to me. I would expect the wording to be more along the lines of "contingency plans about what to do about exams will need to be taken if the decision is made that students can't return for the third term."
I would definitely at this distance of 5/6 weeks expect it to be saying "if" not "won't".

They're the first university to send home, I think. They currently have no cases. On what basis are they thinking that they cannot let the students return? The students have over a month off. Who knows what will happen in that month?

It may be a email that was meant to go to one set of people and is not the view of the university as a whole.

I may be wrong, but unless they know something no one else does, it doesn't really ring true to me.

But it doesn’t look like a hoax does it? Surely it would say something more outrageous. It’s too close to the truth.

Not meant to be read by students and parents of!

It does look like a hoax still to me. If you want a hoax to take off, then you need to keep it mild, and wrap it in truths.

If you go onto the uni website there is a letter sent to staff:

Coronavirus letter sent today

The thing I notice in this letter is it says:
It is important, too, that we get used to this way of working, not least because it may be needed later in the academic year.

Later in the academic year.
If they were saying that they didn't expect the students to return, then that line would be much more definite. This only says the remote way of working may be needed, not this "will" be the way of working.

But, I hope you’re right @Witchend

Apart from Durham any other unis. moving towards online lectures and students working remotely??

No. It’s business as usual at Newcastle. ZandathePanda DD had an email from the university stating this, so I expect your DD did. One of DD’s friends is in isolation because she has been in close contact with a relative who has corona virus. Fortunately, she hadn’t returned to university.

And the letters to students includes the words:

Please know that all of DU’s staff are committed to making sure that your learning continues, and that you get the inspiring DU education that you joined us to get. Please be assured that those of you who looking forward to graduating this summer will be able to complete your degrees

Yes, they could be thinking they won't complete until next summer, but I doubt it. Can you imagine the logistics!

I’ve sent it to DU and advised them it’s causing a bit of unrest. Over to them now to reassure.

@Benjispruce

I hope I am too

@Benjispruce

Good idea. Hopefully they'll say something about it. (although then the conspiracy theories will then go into overdrive about denying it)!