Oxford and Cambridge current students

[sandybayley]

Nearly filled up the old one...

Good. Also Cherwell have an article today about which exams will be held in person (not very many). They mention that students unable to return can stay away under the suspension of the residence requirement. This surely implies that the majority will be allowed and expected to return to Oxford.

I’m an alumni not a parent, but this may be of interest to some on the thread - we had an email from Merton College today which says:

“...we will be able to welcome back more students to College for Trinity term - I am looking forward to seeing more friendly faces here again soon! It will be a term much like Michaelmas 2020 was, with us using our wonderful Chestnut Hall as an alternative p

Oops - cut off mid sentence!

“ we will be able to welcome back more students to College for Trinity term - I am looking forward to seeing more friendly faces here again soon! It will be a term much like Michaelmas 2020 was, with us using our wonderful Chestnut Hall as an alternative dining space, and students in ‘households’ as before.”

Sounds like good news.

That does sound hopeful. :) If anyone sees anything like that for Cambridge, that would lovely.

Thank you @Worried1305 - that is reassuring and very welcome news.

@Worried1305 that sounds hopeful.

@worried1305 that does sound hopeful! I've sent another batch of emails to Boris, Gavin and my MP (who "promised to look into it" whatever that means). I'm not under any illusion that they will make a difference, but I want to feel that I've done all I can. We also prayed for it at our church zoom prayer meeting today!

DS1 was grumbling today about visitors being allowed into his college. I think he meant tourists but I can't probe because it makes him really cross to talk about it. It turns into a rant about civil liberties so best not to go there at the moment. DDog is a much safer topic of conversation.

With 3rd year exams coming up, sometimes any conversation can be no go territory I've found. I've found offering chocolate is a suitable approach for conversation.

University Vice Chancellors have written to Gav & Boris explaining that students need more notice than just "the end of the Easter holidays" due to the impact of all of this uncertainty on exams and mental health. Gav replied by repeating the end of Easter deadline again.

@OhYouBadBadKitten, it’s getting a little tense here too. We all need chocolate! Finalist DD is in revision mode (and assuming she is returning to college on 12th). DS is drowning in work (two projects due at end of vac). He would feel much better if he knew when he can return and chat about his work with his peers. He has become rather socially isolated in our small village.

And what exactly does he mean by the end of Easter?

He = Gav

Apparently the decision rests with number 10... heaven help us (and I mean that!).

You lovely people know by now what I think of this government and its pathetic handling of university students and schools. Much though I hate to write this, I don't think there will be any clarity from dear Gav this side of the summer break.

DD1 is back in C as she has reports etc to hand in and doesn't trust our crappy wifi. Her college has been really fair to her, and I'm sorry that other people have not had such a good experience either with the university or the particular college. They have been really good, kind and approachable with her.

As a teacher in an 11-18 school, Gav's "pronouncements" have been woeful both in their content and timing. I have not bothered logging onto my work laptop since last Thursday as I really need a break, but am starting to stress about what I will find when I do look. Why release exam information on the final day of term for most state schools? This has been the pattern over and over again during the pandemic, meaning that school leaders have lost almost every holiday to planning & preparation, which has almost always needed to be changed due to the next pronouncement. Christmas 2020 was a prime example; only exam years were due back in week 1. Then actually nobody would be back, unless you were opening on 4th January. Then at the end of the day, another lockdown was announced. All my planning went out of the window - another wasted holiday. My DDs are under no illusion as to my thoughts on this and both have emailed our (Tory) MP about the pathetic state of affairs that we find ourselves in.

I'm really sorry to be so negative and recognise that due to our rural home and DD1's bursary, we/she are actually quite lucky in that her college has been largely sympathetic and helpful. My current view is hope for the best (students can go back), prepare for the worst (they can't go back) and hopefully the reality will be somewhere in between.

DD is sorely tempted to hype up the inadequate study space, disruptive younger siblings, etc — both of which are real, but she’s been stoic about them thus far... now thoroughly fed up.

@PantTwizzler you have my sympathy. To protect their core voters, this government has sold out the futures of the young. I really hope they remember it when the next general election comes around. Both my DDs would like to emigrate. Whilst I would hate that in many ways, I don't blame them for wanting to clear off...

PantTwizzler From what youve said, stating those issues to the college wouldn't be hyping up her circumstances. If she feels it is affecting her degree adversely then she has legitimate reasons to request a return.

DD has written to her college outlining her reasons to want to return — academic reasons, ie access to libraries. The previously said that academic reasons weren’t acceptable while MH was and DD has pointed out that academic limitations affect her MH. She also acknowledged that the uncertainty isn’t the college’s fault.

Meanwhile, DD’s BF’s Cambridge college has said that all students can return next term. Alas, no such message from DS’s college.

PantTwizzler, might it be good news if one Cambridge college has said all students can return next term? Could this lead the way for others to join too? I really really hope so. My nightmare scenario is that one of my DCs can return but the other can't. I can't imagine what that might be like for the one remaining at home as at least they currently have each other at present.

DS2 (O), who because of his role in his JCR has a tiny bit of insider knowledge, thinks his college is gearing up for student to return but of course there's absolutely nothing definite or official about this. Ironically, he's currently helping to organise events for Freshers in October - the like of which he never had the chance to enjoy himself. It will be very weird if the current Freshers know virtually no one from their own cohort when next year's Freshers start.

Lack of any social contact with peers is surely universally detrimental to mental health for all our DCs - those who have had to remain home that is. Can't that be reason enough for all colleges to allow all students who want to - and who feel safe to do so - to return for the summer? I do feel like giving Boris and his team a piece of my mind!

....Also, for those current first years like my DS1 (C) who haven't yet met anyone at university/ college who they might consider as a new friend, how will the college enable his year group to find people to share a corridor with in the second year? His college (and DS2's college) hasn't yet allotted accommodation for the second year - and both colleges offer accommodation in college for all three years.

If students can't go back this coming term, will the college just lump together this year's households again for the second year too?

DS2 has people he'd prefer to be with next year than those in his current household and DS1 hasn't met anyone yet at all who he has things in common with, although I'm sure he'd accept those from his current household. It's just yet again not going to give him the opportunity to meet like-minded people at university and if there are further periods of social isolation in households from October onwards, then it's even more important to be with people with whom you can share common interests.

DS's college have pre-empted any requests to return with this statement: "Until the Government has made its announcement, we have temporarily suspended making decisions on any new requests from individual students to come back to their College accommodation."

Also, for those current first years like my DS1 (C) who haven't yet met anyone at university/ college who they might consider as a new friend, how will the college enable his year group to find people to share a corridor with in the second year?
DS hasn't yet cemented any friendships in college; he entered the ballot and has been allocated a room in a staircase with a random selection of students from those who also haven't found a group to share with.

All third and fourth years at DD’s O college can return from Monday. Hurray! First and second years still have to wait for further information.
DS has heard nothing from his C college. DH and I would like him to ask to return because we can see that he is struggling to keep his work in perspective. He feels penalised for following the rules whilst his college continues to post photos of college life on Twitter.

Just had lengthy glib generic reply to the email sent to no10 re return to University. Money spent on mental health support, how to claim a refund for tuition, rent rebate. ‘We are working closely with the OfS and the sector to ensure we are doing everything possible to support students at this difficult time”.
I dont think its a parody.
The only thing needed is a level headed sensible decision based on the superb data we now have. Most regular posters know I felt staying at home when things looked wild and woolly in the winter was the right decision but there can be no excuse for the foot dragging we are seeing now.
Breaking news as I type; DD has been given permission to return to her C college having contacted her tutor. Hurrah and phew.

I got the same generic reply @hobbema a short while ago.
Hurrah for your DD! How soon can she return?