Study in the time of COVID-19 (2019/20 intake): online learning, the rule of six and who knows what's next? Anything could happen!

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

Following on from the previous thread as our young adults start their second year at universities up and down the land (and some overseas too!).

DS apparently has one 4-hour face to face tutorial per week. For maths. No way I can see them sustaining a high level of concentration for that long and what happens if you have questions following a lecture or doing work and have to wait a week? Hopefully they have additional ways to keep in touch with tutorial groups and leaders outside of the face to face

Aragog, I thought there was a travel ban in March? I remember one son coming home early before Easter from university - he was in his last year and his twin came a week later just after lock down - yes just looked it up the 23 March stay at home instructions unless to buy food or go to work (where you can't work from home).

I think there may well be a national insurrection if students are barred from returning home for Christmas, coinciding with the fallout of the BREXIT exit. This year's festive season may be like no other (and not in a good way). The Govt must have foreseen that students would be scattering their germs (potentially) all over the UK and beyond with the start of the new academic year.

I despair.

Yes, already seen several suggestions to suggest that COVID-19 infections/outbreaks are happening in some universities. It's a ticking time bomb isn't it?

Agree with you @simbobs that it's probably better if the young people get it sooner rather than later. I still can't believe that they estimate that only 8% of the population has had COVID-19.

He's only said that he wouldn't rule it out.
Judging by how quick the government brings these things out if they do decide to do it, then it'll be about 3pm on 24th December.

You could move throughout lockdown as long as it was a permanent move, not back and forward, so moving from student rooms would have been allowed.

Wtichend, at the time - 23 March it was not clear though. I read the legislation. My son who came back in lockdown for the Easter holidays is hardly a permanent move and one reason he didn't stop on the whole drive home was in case police asked where he was going and why. However he wasn't stopped and I don't want anyone to be worried. I am pretty sure students in England will be able to come home for Christmas. Whether we can see our families at Christmas is another matter of course. Our family Easter was not allowed by law to go ahead. Our family summer holiday abroad was cancelled. Christmas is the next time we can get together and we shall see....

@simbobs I think it was in the Daily Fail

Neither of mine seem to know what their timetables are yet, but DD says only allowed 10hrs per week on the library. I seriously hope they will think to open up unused rooms for SD self study

I copied and pasted the bit about Matt Hancock from BBC news page. Never taint my fingers with the Daily Fail!

Here:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-54278053

The currebt situation is beginning to get to the students in DD's house. One of the boys broke the agreement to not mix with other people, and there was a big bust up. DD had nothing to do with it, but it has made her feel very anxious.

Sorry to hear that @ginfordinner. That must be hard for you too. Hope things settle soon. I hope that those students not following the rules understand that they will end up in the same situation as Scottish students. I am trying to impress this on DS.

@Ginfordinner it’s obviously going to be difficult where there is a range of attitudes to the rules within the household- a clear source of conflict of some wanting to be careful and others more nonchalant

Yes this is what I’m concerned about too. Not just because of Covid but because of it being a source of tension between people who ( in DS’s case) don’t know each other at all.

@Ginfordinner, sorry to hear that. I agree with all the others - v difficult for all concerned. It seems likely that Covid will sweep through universities even with the best intentions of no mixing. My friends DD started as a fresher on Friday and their flat is already in isolation.

Anyone know what is happening with food, if a flat goes into isolation. I've sent my son with some extra but there's not much space in the kitchen. I'm hoping that the uni's are going to be supportive in some way or that they're still allowed deliveries.

We would help Dd sort out an online shop.
Of things got really bad we'd have to drive over and take her food - it's an hour and half or so each way but doable if necessary.

I told DS that he should try and keep 2 weeks worth of meals in hand but space will be an issue for that . There is the same amount of storage space in the kitchen for 7 of them that they had for 3 last year, and he will be the last to move in. Deliveries to their student flats would be difficult as they are in a block behind a locked door and a further locked gate, so they would have to leave both the flat, the building and the complex to receive it. We'll have to think a bit more about this.

Over 100 years ago Scottish parents used to send students to university with a huge sack of oats (which were eaten with water)!

I've advised DS to set up accounts with all the supermarkets just in case. I know that last time, Sainsburys stopped taking on new customers for online shopping.

Leeds going into lockdown too. I guess we won’t be seeing Dd for a while 😢

I think if students are on campus the University will reach out to them but not sure what happens in student houses off-site.

Back from dropping my DS at NTU, he was so happy to be back. He is in a studio so can have 5 people round and has promised to be sensible. You are right Rags Nottingham was looking great and everyone seemed to be following the rules. I miss him so much already. Fingers crossed for Xmas

@minesawine, my DS went back on Wed and I am a bit surprised that I am already missing him as he was in and out to his gf’s anyway

@Decorhate

Leeds going into lockdown too. I guess we won’t be seeing Dd for a while 😢

Spoke to DS today in Leeds, he said if it wasn`t for his girlfriend in halls with him, and two friends from home in the same building he would come back home. As a second year he is not as wide eyed as he was last year.

DD only went back last week. By Monday she was already on about coming back and seeing if she could get some hours in her old job. All her main friends were being very careful so limited interaction there. Tried to go out with flatmates, really hard as everything pre-booked. In Scotland and telling me she can't be seen with her flat mates walking to the supermarket to do individual food shops, on top of which there's now restrictions and they can't come home.

I forecast she'll eventually come home, get hours in her old job along studying, then pack in uni - the manager at her summer job actually asked her if she'd be interested in working her way up management, and I think that'll now happen. Shame as Scotland provide 3/5 of the courses in her line, and when this mess is over, we'll be totally focussed on again.

Hi New on this thread xx well we due to take daughter off to Bristol within the week from Newcastle (in local lockdown) and to say my nerves are getting jangled is understatement ! She seems ok though tonight said worries due to rumours around about staying there for Christmas! I have said try not to worry and also they will be unable to impose things due to mental health issues ? Also said I’d need be and can’t get test we’ll pay for one for her before we then travel 5hrs to pick her up! Omg this is stressful for different reasons this year as her second year and living with a couple of girls in flat so not in halls which I hope helps.