Is there any thought yet as to how students are going to get home for Christmas?

[TawnyPippit]

I haven’t seen anything, but I’m assuming some thought must be being given to this, whether by the universities or the govt?. DS is in catered accommodation and I can’t believe that that that would keep on going all over the Christmas period. I’m not a Christmas obsessive - DS is just coming to the end of his first lockdown period, and also can’t come home for reading week as originally planned as we are Tier 2. But I have told him (rashly?) that it will all be ok for Christmas.

I guess the way it would currently work would be to do another period of isolation - which hopefully will be just 7 days by then - and then come and re-join our household. He is in Tier 1, so coming home is not a problem for him, its us that cannot mix households ATM.

I suspect its all too far away to strategise about at the moment as we will likely have several different iterations of lockdown restrictions before then, just idle musings.

I think it is outrageous that there hasn't yet been any update on this. Makes it more and more likely that individual students will bottle it and just leave quietly before there is an official "policy" announced. I cannot see the tier 2 and 3 restrictions holding either, for students returning home, certainly in the last lockdown students were coming and going from private student acc to their homes, albeit only every so often. But it still wasn't "the rules"; not everyone kept to them then and they won't now.

It is only in halls that they can enforce restrictions..it is a form of coercion for the younger inexperienced students.

Students are already trickling back home. Out of the 8 in my son's Uni flat, 2 have already gone back. One tested positive and instead of isolating with the rest of the flat as required, he just went home and left them to it. Uni knew and took no action. My son's uni is in a tier 3 area so they should be staying put, but another lad went home last weekend to a tier 1 area and has also said he's not coming back to January at the earliest. Again, Uni know and don't seem to care. I'd be surprised if many students are still in halls/flats by the end of November. There's nothing keeping them at Uni in many cases. My son has had two face to face sessions with PHD students (none of his lecturers are on site) and only has one more session before Christmas, so other than that, absolutely no point in him being there. I think most uni halls/flats will be pretty empty by mid-end of November so whatever last minute decisions are made by Govt/Unis will be too late.

@Nettleskeins

It is only in halls that they can enforce restrictions..it is a form of coercion for the younger inexperienced students.

Unis don't even seem to be bothering enforcing the rules/restrictions in their own halls/flats.

I'm more concerned about them actually going back in January.. I can't see it happening..

Whatever happens, my daughter will be coming home for Christmas. She lives alone and is already struggling with the isolation of only seeing a couple of people, for 2 days a week. Nothing would make me leave her there.

Don't worry Gavin Williamson has said he'll make an announcement about this very soon. Only he said that on 29 September and we're still waiting....

It’s too early for me to even think about it!!

I live in a tier 2 area, DS’s university is in a different tier 2, but he lives in a private rental in tier 1. And I’m ECV

I doubt very much he would SI diligently for 14 days before coming here! I suppose he could go to his DDad’s got a while before coming here

I think this is one to solve nearer the time! Goodness only knows what the case numbers will be by then and what the rules will be

Because they're ultimately inhumane and unenforceable rules if people aren't minded/ able to comply.
Reopening universities with no idea how to manage the movement of an itinerant population to and from home is a very poorly thought out strategy and as pp says, individuals will be forced to make their own decisions.

Well dd1 is getting a lift with dp's dd and dd2 is getting a lift off my brother if she hasn't past her test (unlikely) they are all in private accommodation and as adults far as I'm aware we are not a police state the government has no authority to stop them travelling to their homes. We are assuming public transport isn't wise though

My university has been planning for this since early sept but with little confirmed information coming from the universities minister we are somewhat limited to modelling different scenarios. They'll likely be a shutdown to online learning two weeks before closedown - halls are people's homes so they will remain open for those who wish to stay and we're looking at how we can make this an enjoyable experience. The SU is involved in these plans - as they should in all universities. No one is coerced and we're observing the rules as far as we can with young adults keen to experience whatever they can of the world. It's a bit like herding cats but to be expected. Our infection rates are comparatively low.

I'll intending to collect my daughter when ever she is ready to come home... She has onsite practicals in November.. Shit to what the government states... They lost my respect by not following the scientific recommendations.. They have not only lost lives, seen businesses collapse and people loose jobs due to the students going back term time but also a major affect on mental health.

For those who support their kids being at Uni... I'm sorry if you know of people who have been in hospital recently in student areas.. In beds next to people gasping for breath you will know that this was a shambolic mistake by the government.

.

I'm amazed any students and their parents are sticking this out. I was disappointed DS wouldn't consider Uni but I can't imagine what this must have been like, especially for 18yos away from home for the first time.

DS is at Uni in a tier 1 area and we live in a different tier 1 area. However, if he comes home by train (as usual) he will have to travel through a number of tier 3 areas - including changing trains in one of them. He could isolate when he gets here but it won't be much of a fun start to Christmas! At the moment he still has F2F sessions at Uni so won't be coming home until they end.

We are lucky that DS is overall having a good experience. He has had one period of lockdown so far, but we all view that as fairly inevitable. His university have been pretty good throughout this (well, my info is filtered through a fairly lackadaisical 19 year old) eg his corridor/flat of 10 were quickly given a food package which they were going to have a Ready Steady Cook style attempt at cooking in the communal microwave, (while still getting some catered stuff sent over, parental food parcels and Deliveroo - no one is going to starve!). So I think he will stick it out as long as possible to the end of term, but he will be v ready to come home for Christmas. We have someone vulnerable in the household, so bringing back a healthy but potentially germy DS means we would have to move things around so closer to the time we will need a plan.

And thanks @khaleesi71 for the work you are doing to keep them as safe as feasible

Dd is in Scotland and getting mixed messages. She has had c19. If she can test before leaving hopefully she can return although dh is vulnerable. Realistically they have been unable to prevent comings and goings so far so it seems unenforceable anyway.

They'll likely be a shutdown to online learning two weeks before closedown

I can see the sense in that, but isolating at the start of term has already been tough for some. Cancelling all the end of term festivities just puts the tin lid on it

DS1 said there was a mass exodus from his Welsh uni last Fri. With English students heading home to avoid the Welsh lockdown.
The majority of the ones left are health students on placement and postgrads.

We will do our best to get our 3 home for Xmas. I'm particularly proud of the 18year old as its his first time away from home and so far he is doing very well and keeping himself occupied.

DS is in Halls whilst doing his Masters. No cases in his block. He’s driven home (Central London) a couple of times this term and will do do whenever he decides to come for Christmas. They can’t be blocked in and as they don’t need to self isolate they can come and go as they like

DD living in a privately rental and will be coming home - I anticipate driving to collect her ( 5 hour round trip) but wouldn't leave her there over Christmas but would rather she avoided public transport

Let’s not get hysterical

Universities cannot lock the doors to halls of residence to keep the students in. Students living off campus can travel wherever and whenever they like.

Of course there’s guidance (not law) about travel into and out of Tier 3 areas (or Scottish and Welsh equivalents) but as we all know we take our own risk assessments and act accordingly.

Of course there’s guidance (not law) about travel into and out of Tier 3 areas (or Scottish and Welsh equivalents) but as we all know we take our own risk assessments and act accordingly.

Well, can try...

metro.co.uk/2020/10/26/backlash-after-polices-shameful-spot-checks-on-trains-in-wales-lockdown-13478154/

My university has been planning for this since early sept but with little confirmed information coming from the universities minister we are somewhat limited to modelling different scenarios

This.

All staff at my place have been warned about the possibility of a university-wide lockdown for the last 2 weeks of term, so we can help students mitigate the risk of spreading the virus when they go home for the Christmas vacation. This has meant planning over the entire summer break so we can pivot to total online teaching with as little disadvantage to students as we can possibly manage. My teaching hours have tripled, for just this reason.

But ...

Universities are not the government, and nor can we impose the law on students (and their families who encourage them) who break current laws and regulations.

When half of MN seems to be preparing for a "normal" Christmas, with a fuck you to those of us following regulations (often at considerable personal costs of all sorts) I think it's outrageous that parents come in here and slag off universities.

Some parents need to make up their minds: either accept that their DC are adults and need to take responsibility for their behaviour, or treat them like children and instruct them properly on their responsibilities. And parents then need to back that up with their own behaviour.

My university has spent the best part of 20 million pounds to keep your DC safe. That's money we don't have, that's taken from cuts in staffing, cuts to staff salaries, and increases in staff workloads. Tuition fees don't touch these kinds of costs. If you want world-class universities to survive, and keep on educating your DC, some of you need to have a bit of a think about your attitudes here.

Just wanted to say 'Well said!!!' to @MissMarplesGlove

The 'my Xmas is more important than anyone else's Xmas' attitude is appalling. The risk assessments and views being suggested here are all about the individuals risk not about collective risk.

If we all followed the rules (and more importantly the intent of the rules) we would be in a better position to actually have a Xmas, but oh, no let's try and bend them so that we can do exactly as we please whilst others are making the sacrifice.

I know Cummings and several other high profile individuals didn't follow the rules and we are all outraged by it but we should not be using it as a bloody excuse to flout the rules ourselves.

And yes, I do have a DC at Uni (an only DC that I have brought up on my own) who may not come home

Many students have reading week at the moment and from what I’ve seen parents in tier 1 are visiting their kids at uni or the students are coming home To tier 1 from unis in tier 3 and then arranging meet ups with other friends back home.