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]

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Good luck Mine - we actually went up on lockdown day (the Monday) - DH had actually picked him up on the Sat (but not thought about properly emptying and cleaning the room ) and then we made a very quick decision to back on the Monday to do a final clear out and clean up - and took photos. We got back by 8pm for the announcement on no more travel!

@Benjispruce
No not just to party actually. For the independence, the team sports, being among so many peers and of course the social side but that’s not all partying. The experience was everything.

Totally agree.
I am not a party girl by any stretch of the imagination, but I really would have been gutted to have been sent home to do it online.
I was ready for that bit of independence, and loved it.
I came from a village with very poor public transport, friends lived in similar but a good number of miles away, didn't drive (and wouldn't have had a car anyway) and with overprotective parents. Being able to decide that I was going out, eat my choice of food, see friends and work at 2am if it suited me was fantastic.

For dd though I think she's quite enjoyed being at home and doing it online. She is missing out, but I think she feels it's got its own compensations.
I'm hoping that'll be back next term, but she's happy whatever.

Witchend you have summed up DD's situation as well. She just wants to live with her friends and have some fun without the pressure of studying.

She is hopeful that lockdown will have eased sufficiently for her to have her birthday (mid July) in the student house with her friends.

Last nights Zoom call went on for 5 hours

@simbobs we’re in a similar position, DS has had some mental health issues and stopped going to lectures (we had no idea) he now has the option of retaking units in August to try and pass the year, or on medical grounds, start in year 1 again.
Not sure what he’s going to do yet, but he will probably defer a year, he’s all signed up to a house, so we think he will go anyway and try and find a job.
I’m hoping he will sort himself out and decide to return to university after a year out and seeing as this could be a difficult on-line year it might not be a problem missing it.
DS isn’t that so sociable but would rather be living in a student house than at home with us.

Those intending to move into second / third year rented accommodation, but not actually be a student for the coming year will be liable for Council Tax, but presumably they have already factored this in? Better if more than one is not a student, of course, as the amount payable each is less (at least two responsible for the full amount between them being a lesser burden than one person responsible for 75%).

Thank you for the heads up MarchingFrogs.

As far as I know all of DD's housemates intend to still be students.

Oh, I didn't know this. I will mention it to DD. Maybe that will help her decide to continue. It is a mental health issue for her, so the affordability won't really have been factored in. She is going to be living with just one other friend who will be doing a post grad and the decision to share was made ages ago as DD was meant to be abroad for the whole year. She doesn't think her friend will be able to find someone else to share, but in some ways I would prefer DD to stay here if she defers as she may not be able to find the kind of work she wants to do which could make things worse.

Some good things that have happened here. DD's college decided to pack and either store or ship all students' belongings for them at no charge, which was a relief. So we now don't have to worry about her stuff 1700 miles away.

They've announced a phased return to university ie staff, then students who do research in labs, then undergrads, then non-research postgrads. But it's in Illinois and the college has to follow the rules set by the Illinois governor in terms of actual dates for reopening. There are going to be so many rules in place - masks are likely to be compulsory, big lectures will be online, there will be limits about size of gatherings. I still can't imagine how it will work.

I'm on a group on FB for parents of students at her university, and discussion is raging about whether they should open faster or slower. People from the South are quite cavalier, while people from New York and LA want to move much more slowly. Meanwhile international students under current rules aren't even allowed to enter the country. Who knows what will happen?

DD is due to live in a sorority house next year which is classed as living on-campus, so it really is up to the university when she's allowed back. There are students there who stayed, and are living in their own apartments, but it doesn't sound like much fun right now.

I have had an email from DD's university today to say that they have given us a refund for the few weeks she wasn't in halls after I collected her in March. I got the meail because we are paying for her accommodation. I checked the bank account and the money has gone in

@ZandathePanda have you or your DD had the refund email yet?

Yes! Very nice. And a refund for the gym. I think it was from 29th March until the last payment (which we didn’t pay). Newcastle have been very good.

Facebook update and links to emails from Nottingham Uni today ... back on 21 September .. quite useful and informative emails

Love Nottingham as have kept students up to date all through this. DD itching to get back in autumn.

@mumsneedwine ... my DS is really looking forward to going back to Nottingham and to shared house too !!

One DD got a “prepare to return to campus in September” email, the other has received the “patchwork” approach email and is not sure if it’s worth it just for online lectures etc.

That sounds great re Nottingham!

Don’t think my DC have heard anything re September from their unis

I’ve sent you a pm @bigTillymint

My DS has a chat with his Course Director (not sure of exact title) today about deferring for a year. He is really undecided but he doesn’t need to make a decision until August. Pros and cons both ways .... not least his second year accommodation which he is committed to ....

One point she made is that his course has an optional year in industry & a number of the placements have already been cancelled as companies can’t afford to offer paid work experience .

Boris has just been asked which path should unis follow; that of Cambridge or NTU and he said it’s up to them but face to face teaching is preferable and he hopes unis know that.
Most sensible thing he’s said in weeks.

He was also asked if he’d consider refund of tuition fees for students working in nhs right now. He said he’d come back on that.

He never gives a straight answer to a question. Mr Prevaricator is his real name.

thetab.com/uk/nottingham/2020/05/27/breaking-uon-announce-all-campuses-will-be-open-in-september-47986

Sorry I’ve just seen that you already knew this! 🙃

The Student Room are running a live session with a couple of Admissions tutors, Universities UK and the Office for Students at 4:00. They are taking questions....

www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6509424

I have just read on the unipol.org.uk website, under covid19 guidance, that the Scottish Government has introduced new emergency legislation into the Scottish parliament, which if approved will give students the right to a 7-day notice to leave period for those currently tied to a student accommodation contract. This is exactly what we need in England, as it seems increasingly unlikely that it will be worth returning to campus in September for at least one of my DDs and I am currently guaranteeing a large sum of money for private student accommodation which I cannot afford to lose.

Rags I read with interest what you said about industry placements ending. My DS changed from the 4 year to 3 year course because of the work placements in year 2. I dont think that will happen now, which would be a shame