University life for 'freshers' (2019/20) - first year campus life suspended, sitting out/surviving the pandemic and staying on top of studying [Edited by MNHQ at OP's request]

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

Previous post

Think we all need to be careful about listening to rumours. The Manchester website says that lectures will be on line so it could be that the govt are saying no gatherings over a certain number, eg lectures with more than 50 (or some other number) - this is what it says on the staff FAQ page www.staffnet.manchester.ac.uk/coronavirus/faqs/staff/#facetofaceteaching:

Will face-to-face teaching resume at this point and non-essential facilities on campus re-open?
We look forward to welcoming staff and students on to campus as soon as it is safe to do so, however we recognise that this might not be possible for a little while. When we do return to campus this will be in a phased manner. We are currently planning for every eventuality so that we are in a position to follow Government advice and either begin the new semester wholly online, or deliver some activity on campus but provide our lectures and some other aspects of learning online. As we are planning for the possibility of social distancing measures to still be in place for some time, we have taken the decision to conduct all lectures for Semester 1 online.

No rumours on DS uni. website, they have admitted it is fluid and will let us know what, when, where, when they know for next year.

Jenny Harries this evening said that in an infant school of 100, the chance of anyone having CV is extremely low and they expect it to halve by 1/6. Why then are universities thinking online in 4 months time? If they are planning just in case, that’s quite different to telling students it’s all online for the first term which apparently Cardiff has now done. Do any lecturers in here know whether they could lift the restrictions mid term if indeed they did start online?

a) that science is in hot dispute
b) there is a reason whey even Sweden doesn't have unis open or oldest students at school...

Sorry, that sounded snippy but the schools thing is causing me stress!

I’m not exactly champing at the bit to share a room with 15 year 1s either! I tend to listen to the Chief Medical Officers more than the ministers. Would be pretty worried if she’s quoting some duff science.

To answer your question sensibly I imagine the theory around universities is about transmission and social contacts. University student swill have huge numbers of social contacts so drive the R up. This is the theory about older school children:

older children are more likely to have higher numbers of contacts outside of school so pose a greater transmission risk, and they are typically better able to learn at home

Austria has students aged 14+ back first.

It's not for this thread benji but the DfE have released the science again today : which contains no references at all to what science they are using. You couldn't make it up.

Just for you, should you ne interested: (or anyone else who is!)

dfemedia.blog.gov.uk/2020/05/15/questions-on-the-protective-measure-being-put-in-place-in-schools/

It is true they are ignoring universities : I think they are just leaving it up to them, so at some point they can be blamed, is my guess...

I think all countires are doing things a bit differently (all with lower infection numbers, of course) but I just thought it interesting that renegade Sweden does still have its unis closed.

I think the main reason they are trying to get young children back is because it has such a massive impact on their life chances. Children who do not have parents who are able to support them significantly at home are going to fall so far behind the more fortunate children and will never recover that learning loss. Reception and Y1 are so important for laying down foundations of academic success. It is less difficult for older children to work remotely.

It is very noticeable that private schools, and grammar schools to a certain extent, are providing an educational experience much closer to normal than mainstream schools. Social mobility will be hit really hard for years to come.

I think that and the fact that small children at home make it hard for parents to work are making the govt try to justify getting young ones back.

I think your last paragraph is the main reason. Always follow the money. They’ll say it’s for the children but it’s all about the economy.

I’d like to think it is for their wellbeing and to support the most disadvantaged to lay foundations, they are least likely to be badly affected by CV, etc, but I’d think it’s mainly so that pen pushing parents can WFH as small children need a lot of adult time.

On the subject of school children, apparently TFL have suspended school children's free Oystercards, apparently temporarily but who knows? I know that DC in London are lucky to get free travel but given that they criss-cross boroughs regularly to go to school, there will be lots for whom a bus is the only viable option (I don't really think an hour's walking each way is acceptable). Imagine having to pay if you are now more than ever struck for cash?

The 16-19 year olds really miss out on any discussion. Warwick Uni did their'release the 20-30 year olds' thing (which, oddly , given who produced it didn't mention university..) and then there is the debate about which school year should return. I fear universities are being left to make their own plans and decisions and this leaves them open to bile, vitriol, challenge, and to making mistakes and errors of judgement, seeing as they aren't public health experts (although they may have some on their staff, hopefully).

The SAGE group doesn't have a single educationalist on it.

DS tells me all his teaching is done for the year now!

God, yeah , I read that yesterday OP. Not exactly joined up thinking there. Presumably they are discouraging large groups and children form public transport. But it will cause problems. Every time I go to London on a course there are lots of schoolkids on the tube and buses and not only affluent private school kids.

I would like to think @PIggywaspushed that it's reported as temporary because it's only going to cover the time when they are not at school. I am not sure how the Oystercards are funded (Local Councils or by TFL directly?) but I would imagine that possibly hundreds of thousands of them are sitting currently unusued.

I am not even sure if there is a school child rate for bus passes but sure there will be an outcry if parents are suddenly expected to pick up the tab for annual passes. Suddenly there will be children who cannot afford to get to school...

Again I suspect it will disadvantage the children from already struggling families. If it becomes permanent it will mean they can probably only have the option of attending their most local school (which may not be the one to give them the best chances of improving their life chances).

Sighs.

Sighs too.

DD tells me Durham residents have raised an objection through the council to students returning to Durham to take their exams in their private accommodation and party in between and after!

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/durham-university-students-returning-city-18259738.amp

Well I can understand it as it heightens the risk of COVID-19 spread potentially. However, given that a lot of these towns/cities rely on the universities for their local economy, I'm not convinced they really have a leg to stand on. It's a bit rich to bite the hand that feeds you (and I'm sure Durham does very nicely out of its generally very affluent student population)

Ob

I understand the concern but surely this will be the case in every university town or city!

Durham town-gown relations have always been shit - combination of bad vocal factors on both sides. Both sides will complain about the other for anything and everything - always have, always will.

Oh I agree @Benjispruce.

Yes, I've heard that @DominaShantotto. Have friends where DH went to Durham but was 'local' (with a NE accent). His university mates used to get him to order drinks in the local pubs to avoid 'detection'. This was at the height of the miners strikes when class warfare up there was really very marked.

Durham will be extremely quiet and peaceful (and empty) without the students or tourists. The university has grown recently which has led to more tension.