Some of our young people are half way through their degrees (2019/20 intake): lockdowns on repeat, light at the end of the tunnel with vaccinations (?) and the legacy of COVID-19

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

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Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose is all I can say!

Aha @Motherhubbardscupboard - DS has picked much more modern stuff this term!

For students studying degrees that rely on access to a library and are unable to gain access, are the universities offering a no detriment policy?

That's a good question. My DS is flip-flopping between staying here and going back. DD has already been back for 3 weeks. I feel that if a student can work better at uni, and has accommodation there for which they are paying, they should be able to go back. DS will probably go back tomorrow without all that he brought home, stay a week and see what now feels best. His bf in the flat has decided not to return before Easter, which is making him uncertain what to do.

@Motherhubbardscupboard you could also cite mental health problems on the basis that if she is getting stressed about not having the correct reading material it might make her worse. I’m not dismissing the impact of mental health problems for all those students who have moderate to severe mental health difficulties. My DD is one of them and It is not nice. However I’m a great believer in addressing things early before they get out of hand and if heading back to uni will help her feel more confident and settled in her studies then I think she has a right to do that, and of course much easier if in private rental.

@Motherhubbardscupboard Hi there. I have a second year at Durham. She’s gone back and we supported her decision. She can’t use the library though as her course is not one approved for early return. She has similar situations with texts she can’t access but has to do her best with what she does have access to. So far her results have been really good. I think she has flagged up to her tutors that she can’t access everything, though I’m sure they’re aware so need to take that into account.
Mental health is an exception and I’m firmly of the opinion that her mental wellbeing is better for her being with her friends and peers and enjoying her independence.

DD went back 3 weeks ago, but her subject was on the approved list. All but two of her houseshare friends have gone back.

yes difficult issues over spirit of the law etc but my son took his own lawful decision to go back and give I am paying at least £6000 this year for the room unless the state is about to pay me back that £6k my son is an adult (22, post grad) and it s better for him to be with his housemate. They have both had cv19 too in November anyway although he had a negative test but is sure he had it then or earlier in the year although they realise they could get a different strain of it. I think almost every one of his friends had it by the way too so it will be interesting to see once lockdown is over if they can catch it a second time.

All of DD’s housemates and friends have had it too.

We have done everything asked of to the letter but I had no hesitation in letting DS go back to his student rental at the end of December. He needed to come home for a break and a Christmas morale boost but equally, he needed to go back to his own place for study space and peer camaraderie.

That's interesting re the library and not being an approved early return course, neither is history but people seem to be using it. I'll check that out. I don't really want to use the mental heath exemption as there are people who genuinely suffer, and whilst it's important to maintain good mental health she really doesn't have any issues there. She has managed to get an email from college which is clear that although she has to make her own decision, they wouldn't take any action if she did go back. I think needing to use the library is the reasonable excuse that she needs. Current plan is to get the train mid week.

Us too @NewModelArmyMayhem18 DD went back to her shared house, as did all her housemates. They are in lockdown there. Her train was booked prior to the lockdown and she only had one other in her carriage. I’d argue her case in court any day! I feel strongly about this issue and feel universities could have become bubbles with regular testing and protection of the local community to avoid this.

My dds university have announced they have to have a weekly test to remain on campus

DS hasn’t gone back and is still at home doing his Masters. His course isn’t on the approved list. I thought he would want to go but his friends haven’t and he has plenty of local friends he is seeing for a run each day.

His course is going well with plenty of free time and they have carried on with the Friday night zoom drinks night.
I’m glad to have him home with us as he moves to Singapore in September to start work. I’m enjoying his company whilst we can.

That’s nice @Parker231. Everyone’s circumstances are different. DD’s local friends are away at uni apart from one and she’s working all hours.
@dingit That sounds sensible.

DS went back two weeks ago with the agreement of his personal tutor - it's very hard for him to study here because his brother has autism and is pretty noisy and demanding. bHe's had two LFTs since returning - both negative, but thinks he had Covid in October with the rest of his flat. He is in Yr 1 and in partnered accommodation - there was no issue with him returning there. One flatmate is back as well, another returning this weekend, two more are at home and one has deferred until Sept.

@Benjispruce2 - I think it would have been different if his friends had gone back.

DDs local friends havve moved on and she sees very little of them. She would be very lonely if she stayed at home.

Mine hasn’t gone back yet . She seems to be fine with online lectures and zoom meets with fellow students .

Mine has gone back today on a trial basis. He was fine at uni last term when he could at least do some of his leisure activities, as well as having a particular mate to do them with. Now that this friend has decided to stay home he doesn't know what it would feel like being back there. He is such a social animal that he just can't stay in doing nothing, and at uni he can hang out with mates indoors, whereas here he sees a couple of people outside on walks and bike rides, but it isn't exactly the weather for it at the moment.

Hope it works out for him @simbobs.

After a chat with DD today, it turns out she can use the library. They just have to book slots. Sorry for the misinformation.

I have just seen a post on the uni Facebook page from a parent who is enquiring about catered accommodation for her son, and the only reason he is going after catered is because he is male!

Gin if she’s said her son is unable to cook because he’s male it says more about her than him. How bizarre.

I was so tempted to comment, but refrained. IMO being able to cook is an important life skill. Bringing up her son to think that only women do the cooking is not going to make him an ideal partner.

Sadly, this does happen. DS has one particular flatmate who seems unable to put a meal together. He has given up trying to help him.