University 2020 :8: Use the CAGs, don’t use the CAGs...

[MillicentMartha]

...if you can use the mocks, then use the mocks but not if they're higher than the CAGs.

And hopefully on to university!

Old thread
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/3993327-University-2020-7-Results-tombola-roll-up-roll-up-pick-a-prize?pg=39

Probably irrelevant but I was struck by the fact that that there were no female faces in that video. All masked white men in what looked vaguely like forced uniforms

Sorry that should read forces uniforms

Peaseblossom, I thought something similar about the video - slightly threatening ....My DS (who is going to be in Pollock Halls) has already agreed with people in his house that they will just get takeaway from the canteen and either eat outside or bring it back to the common room in his house (if that's allowed). I really think the powers that be have to think long and hard about how isolated some of these young people are going to feel. They're in single rooms in long corridors, have very few welcome events that are actually taking place in the flesh (so to speak) and now they can't even eat together - one of the main attractions of being in very expensive catered halls!

Can I ask what unis are doing with those coming from countries where a 14-day self isolation is required? DD has at least 2 flatmates in this situation and says that they are allowed to self isolate in the flat with the rest of them (shared kitchen and bathrooms). Is that right? Only those having to isolate need to stay in. Those who are isolating are meant to keep away from the others until 14 days are up. There are 2 bathrooms so they will probably give one to the isolators. Not sure about the kitchen.

Manchester are suggesting they come 2 weeks before term and stay for free in their accommodation.

Yes lots of international students already isolating before uk students arrive - I imagine plan is to minimise overlap though that’s more uni accom than private

Edinburgh also suggested coming early but they were charging £25 per day including food which DDs flatmates don't want to pay. If you choose not to come early and need to self isolate do Manchester let you stay with non isolating students?

I think Lancaster are operating a similar system to Manchester and also keeping some accommodation separate for later arrivals who need to quarantine, at least in the residences they own.

If you choose not to come early and need to self isolate do Manchester let you stay with non isolating students?

Not sure, Clerk. DS hasn’t been very proactive joining chat groups and Manchester and the website doesn’t mention those arriving too late to self isolate 14 days before term starts.

Thanks for the responses. DD isn't the least bit bothered about having 2 flatmates self isolating. More me worrying as DD works part-time where social distancing is non existent and I'm worrying that she'll be a superspreader.

DD's overseas flatmate and others have already arrived in Edinburgh as mentioned above and have been answering questions on rooms/layouts etc, along with some difficulties in ordering online shopping without UK-registered cc.

St Andrews are providing free accommodation for quarantining students, but charging for food which they deliver to the students (although some parents on FB are saying it is all sandwiches and pot noodles!). It sounds grim, they are not allowed out and seem to have been told they also have to keep their rubbish for 2 weeks. Parents were saying that it is worse than prison - at least prisoners are allowed to exercise!

I suppose people will just have to shout loudly to their friends eating across that distance.

And thus in one fell swoop rendering the exam desk spacing almost entirely useless.

Surely they will have dining hall invigilators...?

Are we saying they should eat in total silence then like a convent or only speak to their friends during meals by phone calls across the room?

Yet they can go to a local cafe. This is madness and surely will lead to drop outs?

Cynically, I think the universities see this as a relatively cheap way to appear to be "covid compliant". Is it reassuring to a certain type of student or parent? An oversimplified view of the risks and benefits at play here.
They're assuming that the people paying circa £20,000 pa for the priveledge will do as they're told and are happy to drive socialising underground and off campus. Certainly doesn't have the physical or mental health of their students at the centre. And not something a cafe, hotel, restaurant would get away with offering their customers.
What about students who can't afford to pay twice to eat, or who were looking forward to the social element of catered halls to help make friends?
This type of solution isn't fit for purpose. What sort of mind comes up with a dining area modelled on an exam hall?!?
I don't know why I'm so invested in this though. DD at a university hundreds of miles from Edinburgh and has been allocated cheapest self catering in flat of 16 with shared bathroom. Not what she wanted but it'll do. That's our 2020 in a nutshell really, and I appreciate that makes us far luckier than most.

I agree gym - there is so little info coming out of each uni that it’s hard for an 18 year old to make an informed decision. They are ready to be independent but are not being given info or consulted. Have any first years been asked what measures they would like? They seem so devalued in all of this.

The Edinburgh video reminds me of OFQUAL's approach to the exam results. They stepped back and looked at rules and data and completely ignored the human angle.

I agree with people that the lack of any female presence is also really odd. I am sure that usually catering is mainly female!

Yes working like that in catering can’t be fun either

If you can go to eat inside a restaurant currently in Scotland as eight people from three households, surely they could have had tables for at least 3-4 (assuming two of them were from the same 'bubble')?

Cornflake - that would work wouldn’t it?

Is it reassuring to a certain type of student or parent?

I'd put my money on You bet! being the answer to that one. (Btw, anyone else have a niggling feeling that the flurry of, The mask-averse already a at the sociopathic end of the population in their pre-Covid lives, research shows stuff in the press recent is possibly a subtle way of trying to ensure compliance?).

Xenia, the issue is that having to shout at people raises the risk of droplet / aerosol transmission, compared with speaking at a normal level. And looking at the number of tables in those spaces, if the diners do attempt to engage in conversation, not only will they have to raise their voices to be heard across the gap, they will have to raise them even further, to be heard above the increased level of noise caused by people having to raise their voices in order to be heard across the gap And so on...

DS has finally got a moving in slot. All easy in the end, 2 hour slots all available on Sunday 20th for his accommodation. So no worries about trying to take time off school and 2 hours seems positively leisurely compared to some.

That's great @MillicentMartha, 2 hours will hopefully make for a leisurely stress-free experience.

@MillicentMartha that's great! Having to get a day off work in a school is not easy.