All in person classes suspended at my son’s college

[JenneinCA]

So my son is on spring break and he decided to come home.  Today his school suspended all in person classes until at least March 30.  I wonder if more schools are going to do the same,

https://info.rpi.edu/coronavirus/communications#CoronavirusCOVID19RensselaerSuspendsAllInPersonInstruction

[Bootsie]

A number of colleges have done this:  Fordham, Harvard, Hofstra, Rice...  and even more are considering it.

My daughter is in Austria and went to class last night, returned to her apartment and about an hour later she got an email that all classes would be offered remotely beginning this morning.  

[Kassia]

So many colleges are doing this now and I know more are close to making that decision.  My daughter has a lab class so I'm concerned about how that will be handled.

[alewife]

My oldest son just texted me that MIT is requiring everyone to vacate campus.  All instruction for rest of semester will be conducted online

Still waiting on what my other son at Williams will be doing.  
 

My daughter was planning on flying back to RPI on Monday because her team events have not been cancelled. But I am not sure her team will have any opponents at this point.  In any event, she has not yet booked a flight. 

Edited March 11, 2020 by alewife

[Momto6inIN]

Purdue just switched to all online after this week also.

[JenneinCA]

And my younger son’s dual enroll class has been suspended too.  He actually had class this morning.  The instructor gave directions on how to deal with the impending closure.  Everyone expected it.

Only my daughter is still having class as scheduled.  I think they are desperately trying to make it to the end of the week.  Their spring break starts Monday.  Flagstaff is awfully isolated from everything so they don’t have any active cases nearby.  I hope it stays that way. 

[Bambam]

I'll be interested to see how they handle labs. My oldest currently has four labs (Biology major). But her school has only cancelled all University-sponsored international trips and study abroad options for spring and summer. 

[Pronghorn]

My child is a music major. Ear training, choir, voice lessons, piano lessons, performances of her compositions (three scheduled in April) -- none of these lend themselves to online study.

[edelweiss]

My daughter’s university announced that they are going to online classes this afternoon. I think that most, if not all, Ohio colleges and universities have made this decision. 

[lewelma]

MIT gave students by Tuesday at noon to leave.  Huge problem for the 10% internationals there. But the community has been wonderful and there are about 100 people all over the country willing to take students until September. 

We just about had a heart attack as with both MIT and Harvard vacating this weekend -- we were unsure if we could even be able to get plane tickets and storage. But we did. Hurray!  It was a super fast morning!

[easypeasy]

My dd's college hasn't yet, but I can't see it being far off. I already booked an airline ticket for her for next week, but if they pull the plug any earlier, I'll change her flight to get her home ASAP. 

She's in an area with a few cases of the virus, so I'm not exactly sure what to do when she gets home? Do we all hole up for a while? I don't even know! 😕

[elegantlion]

This list is making the rounds in the grad school circles. My university isn't on the list, so far anyway, but we're working on ways to go online when/if necessary. So, I assume this list will grow over the next week or so. 

 

https://gist.github.com/jessejanderson/09155afe313914498a32baa477584fae

[Wheres Toto]

My daughters university is on that list.  She just told me they extended Spring Break to two weeks and then are going online after that.   This is her last semester of classes (masters) before doing an externship so she'll be okay as long as it doesn't last too long.  

Our local county college has cancelled all outside organization activities.  We had a big 4-H program scheduled there later in the month that has been cancelled.

[8filltheheart]

3 hours ago, elegantlion said:

This list is making the rounds in the grad school circles. My university isn't on the list, so far anyway, but we're working on ways to go online when/if necessary. So, I assume this list will grow over the next week or so. 

 

https://gist.github.com/jessejanderson/09155afe313914498a32baa477584fae

Thank you for that link. Just saw dd's U on the list. 

[RootAnn]

1 hour ago, 8FillTheHeart said:

Thank you for that link. Just saw dd's U on the list. 

But if you click the date on that link, it takes you to a different U's announcement. The latest I saw for your DD's U says that classes will resume as scheduled on March 16th. There is a note about self-quarantining if you are coming from an area with outbreaks. So, double check announcements that should be on the official U pages.

[marbel]

One of my kids is on break now, and no word from the school about potentially moving to online classes. As of now, he's going back on Sunday. His school is in a very small town kind of in the middle of nowhere; maybe that will make a difference.  His has all lecture classes, so could be done online, though he dislikes online courses intensely and enjoys the class discussions. 

My other kid's school is going to all online starting tomorrow; they have break next week, and then they will be online the week after break. It will be reassessed after that.  She is a fine arts major (printmaking) and very worried about her classes. She had one short study-abroad (spring break week) cancelled; another coming up in May is obviously in jeopardy. 

 

 

[plansrme]

I didn't look at the link, so maybe this is old news, but Stanford has cancelled all undergrad classes for the remainder of the quarter and indefinitely postponed the commencement of in-person classes for next quarter.  Even though my daughter is a grad student (and grad students are not affected), I receive their very nice parent-wide emails.  I have no idea how they even have my contact info, but they seem very earnest about doing the right thing and taking into account as many needs as possible.  The one this morning offered financial assistance for students who have expensive travel disruptions, which is quite thoughtful of them. 

[8filltheheart]

40 minutes ago, RootAnn said:

But if you click the date on that link, it takes you to a different U's announcement. The latest I saw for your DD's U says that classes will resume as scheduled on March 16th. There is a note about self-quarantining if you are coming from an area with outbreaks. So, double check announcements that should be on the official U pages.

I Googled after I saw it on that page.

https://www.wmbfnews.com/2020/03/11/university-south-carolina-extends-spring-break-extra-week-due-coronavirus/

[Sebastian (a lady)]

Stanford University announced March 10 that not only would the rest of winter term be done online, but also spring term would be online until further notice. 

Students who need to may remain in dorms, but programming and services may be limited. 

Stanford admissions events have been cancelled. 

###

Maryland public colleges and universities have largely moved to online delivery of classes.

 

 

[fourisenough]

My DD is a 2nd semester senior nursing student. She literally only has 120 practicum hours to complete + sit for her comprehensive predictor test. If they close and send even these nearly-nurses home I will cry. She’s so close. And I want to attend her pinning & commencement! Waaahhh! (I absolutely understand efforts to disperse highly-concentrated populations to ‘flatten the curve’ of disease transmission, but it doesn’t mean I like it!)

[8filltheheart]

SC just announced:

• Classes will be canceled for the week after spring break (March 16 – 22). 
• All campus events next week will be cancelled.
• From Monday, March 23 through Friday, April 3, we will suspend all face-to-face instruction in lectures, discussion sections, seminars and other similar classroom settings and move to virtual instruction. 

[8filltheheart]

FWIW, my ds made an observation that hadn't occurred to me about the U closings--going online.  It isn't just about slowing the spreading, but many of the professors are in the upper 50s/60s category.  His pt was that if they end up with numerous professors out ill that it would also cause serious disruption but without a plan.

[katilac]

University of New Orleans is doing a practice run of all classes online - it's just for today, but a good idea to work out the kinks in case it's necessary. 

Alabama has no confirmed cases, so we're hoping commencement at the end of April will be a go. Of course, Louisiana went from zero to one to six cases in a day, so who knows? 

[Selkie]

UW Madison just announced they are suspending all face to face instruction beginning March 14. 

My boys are at another UW school and I'm wondering if they will follow suit.

[Another Lynn]

Cedarville University is going online and closing dorms for two weeks. Evidently Ohio’s governor urged all universities to do so?

[RootAnn]

45 minutes ago, katilac said:

Alabama has no confirmed cases, so we're hoping commencement at the end of April will be a go. Of course, Louisiana went from zero to one to six cases in a day, so who knows? 

Alabama isn't really testing. The buzz on your dd's campus this morning is they might shut completely down which, IMO, is tough to believe.

My DD did a ton of live, online classes in high school, but like @ByeByeMartha's, likes the comraderie of the other kids. She commented this morning that there are enough tech-savvy kids (And former online homeschoolers) to help the profs that aren't set up to do their classes online.

The funniest moment was when she commented that her Russian prof doesn't believe you can learn Russian online. I have to assume she means "without a live component" because otherwise, she just hasn't had anyone explain how they learned what they already know coming into her class. [DD's German prof does all online or hybrid classes already so he'll be fine.]

[Kassia]

1 hour ago, ByeByeMartha said:

 

 Many of them are inviting friends over and doing their work together. So much for social distancing! LOL I wonder if we'll see an increase in homeschooling (or online public school at home) after all this is over. 

 

 

My daughter said that over 1,000 students gathered to celebrate classes going to online instruction!  Yes, so much for social distancing...

 

ETA - University of Dayton

 

Edited March 11, 2020 by Kassia

[Matryoshka]

Woot - just got the notice that all the UMass campuses are going virtual after spring break (which covers my 3 kids on 2 campuses).  They are all in apartments, so will hunker down in place.  I am so glad now that my youngest insisted she needed an apartment this spring.  We were annoyed at the time... she is probably losing her roommate, who has said she'll go back home to South Africa for the duration if they went virtual.

[El...]

5 hours ago, fourisenough said:

My DD is a 2nd semester senior nursing student. She literally only has 120 practicum hours to complete + sit for her comprehensive predictor test. If they close and send even these nearly-nurses home I will cry. She’s so close. And I want to attend her pinning & commencement! Waaahhh! (I absolutely understand efforts to disperse highly-concentrated populations to ‘flatten the curve’ of disease transmission, but it doesn’t mean I like it!)

It seems to me that those are the people you want to get finished training right away! 

[Matryoshka]

14 minutes ago, ByeByeMartha said:

That's really great that they have apartment space! I can't imagine functioning in a dorm room without being able to spread out into classes. What about common areas? Do you think a lot of the students are actually staying or are they going home?

A lot of the colleges are telling kids not to come back to campus.  The UMass email did say they would make provisions for those who need access to research or labs to finish capstone or other projects. That does include my senior, but I'm still glad they have a kitchen and can prepare their own food.

[Bootsie]

My university just sent a message via its emergency messaging system that spring break will be extended through next week (we are on break this week) and then will move to online classes through April 3.  Faculty and staff received no heads up about this; the message went out to students at the same time it went out to faculty.  The message said faculty should watch their email about how to prepare for this.

Many of my students left for break without their books or other class materials.  I am thinking through how I am going to handle this

 

[8filltheheart]

16 minutes ago, Bootsie said:

My university just sent a message via its emergency messaging system that spring break will be extended through next week (we are on break this week) and then will move to online classes through April 3.  Faculty and staff received no heads up about this; the message went out to students at the same time it went out to faculty.  The message said faculty should watch their email about how to prepare for this.

Many of my students left for break without their books or other class materials.  I am thinking through how I am going to handle this

 

With the exception of just notifying and students hearing same time as staff, that is the scenario for dd's school. Luckily her roommate is local and is going to mail her her books. Since next week is extended break, her books should get here in time.

[Bootsie]

The more I contemplate how to handle this as a faculty member, the more difficult it becomes.  Our university is on break this week and students are being asked not to return to campus until at least April 3.  I am sure that few of them took their books, financial calculators, and other course materials with them to work on remotely.  

[JenneinCA]

Oh many (insert rude words here)!

My son’s school has decided to close the dorms and do the rest of the semester on line.  They have until March 20 to be out of the dorms.  The problem is that the kids are on spring break.  My son is not even in the right state.  We are looking at having to fly him back long enough to pack out and then come back.  

Arggggg!

And now I wait until I find out what is happening with the other kids.  One is at home doing a local dual enroll class.  The other has made no announcements at all.  Information please, people!

 

[katilac]

The three main universities in New Orleans have all announced that they are going online only indefinitely. 

I'm not sure about the others, but my dd's school is currently allowing them to stay in the dorm (it is all single rooms but shared bathroom and common area). Caf will remain open for takeout only. 

 

Edited March 11, 2020 by katilac

[Mom0012]

12 hours ago, 8FillTheHeart said:

FWIW, my ds made an observation that hadn't occurred to me about the U closings--going online.  It isn't just about slowing the spreading, but many of the professors are in the upper 50s/60s category.  His pt was that if they end up with numerous professors out ill that it would also cause serious disruption but without a plan.

This actually makes the closings make more sense to me. I keep thinking why is it the schools closing when this is the population that isn’t at risk. 

[easypeasy]

So, dds school is "making the move to online classes" sometime over the next few weeks. 🙄 WTH does that even mean? She's a senior, which sucks. They don't seem to be intending to close campus and many of her friends want to stay on campus. She does too because she NEEDS study groups to get through her classes this semester. But I want her home! lol She is very far away from us and if she gets sick... what do we do then? (If the world were normal and she got sick, I'd just hop on the first plane outta here... but this is different and I might not be able to just come back home when she's better and we also have grandparents here to worry about and the rest of the family!)

What a crazy, insane time to be alive! Who let this virus loose?!? Geez!!

Edited March 12, 2020 by easypeasy

[Kate in Arabia]

They've switched to online classes at both of my boys' universities in the US, at least until April.  I'm very thankful they are living with my parents, I don't know how manageable it would be if they needed to come home and all that entails. Over here they have mandatory 2-week home quarantine for travelers, and all schools, universities, etc. have switched to e-learning (which is kind of ironic, because the ministry here doesn't officially recognize homeschooling 😉 )

Ds1 is also working in retail part-time, I hope they don't get hit too hard as, frankly, he needs that income to pay for his tuition and costs. They had literally just cut back on ds2's work-study hours as he was earning too much, but looks like he may go back to a regular schedule if and when the campus opens again.. I wonder how that'll work if they need to stay closed for the rest of the school year.. 

[Guest]

DD's college announced today that they are extending Spring Break by a week and will bring all classes online/remote until April 6. For some of the more technical/vocational areas, I doubt there is more than a few weeks of "possible to put online" content which doesn't require specialized equipment, so I think the plan is to bring just those classes back if possible. DD watched the live stream. I am thankful she doesn't have any labs this semester.

[RootAnn]

Okay, DD's U has announced online classes starting Monday for the next two weeks, then spring break. Deciding after Spring Break what will happen. She says as long as they don't have a confirmed case on campus that dorms will stay open.

So, good to be out of some limbo. DD will start to prep her stuff in case they make them move out later. 

[frogger]

2 hours ago, RootAnn said:

Okay, DD's U has announced online classes starting Monday for the next two weeks, then spring break. Deciding after Spring Break what will happen. She says as long as they don't have a confirmed case on campus that dorms will stay open.

So, good to be out of some limbo. DD will start to prep her stuff in case they make them move out later. 

 

I feel like this puts us in limbo. If online classes last the rest of the year my son should fly home but we don't know. Should he fly back and then they want him on campus for 3 weeks that will stink. He has to take two flights totalling 9.5 hours and a layover in a hotspot (probably Seattle) to get home or get back. The original plan was to just stay in Alabama over short breaks like spring break. And only 3 weeks of classes afterwards to boot. 

 

I don't know what they will do about labs.  I understand it's complicated for everyone. Just wish I had a better idea on what's next. Whatever we choose to do it will probably be wrong. 😕

[fourisenough]

On 3/11/2020 at 10:58 AM, fourisenough said:

My DD is a 2nd semester senior nursing student. She literally only has 120 practicum hours to complete + sit for her comprehensive predictor test. If they close and send even these nearly-nurses home I will cry. She’s so close. And I want to attend her pinning & commencement! Waaahhh! (I absolutely understand efforts to disperse highly-concentrated populations to ‘flatten the curve’ of disease transmission, but it doesn’t mean I like it!)

Quoting myself for an update. Their school will close for one week after tomorrow’s classes are completed and then will resume with online-only instruction 3/23 through 4/14. Sophomore DD’s nursing clinicals are canceled, but, luckily, senior DD’s practicum will go on as planned. She’ll be working/training in the trauma ICU of a major Level 1 trauma center/academic hospital. She’s so happy. And also a bit terrified.
 

Unfortunately, it is ‘likely‘ her pinning and commencement will be canceled, though no formal decision has been made. They plan to resume in person instruction on 4/15, so I’m cautiously optimistic they might, just maybe?? be able to hold the graduation festivities.

 Update 3/18/2020: Senior DD’s practicum in the ICU has been cancelled and the students are being required to move home. I knew it was inevitable, but am just glad she was able to complete a few shifts to confirm she absolutely wants to work in critical care after graduation. So, no pinning, no commencement, no closure with friends/faculty, but we’re told their degrees will be conferred in May. I guess that’s the best we could hope for.

Edited March 18, 2020 by fourisenough

[Selkie]

I'm annoyed that the university my boys attend has decided to go ahead with classes as usual for the next week. They'll have their spring break the following week, and then start online instruction on March 30. I want my boys out of those germy dorms and classrooms ASAP, so I wish they would send students home now like the other colleges around here have done.

[RootAnn]

4 hours ago, frogger said:

Just wish I had a better idea on what's next. Whatever we choose to do it will probably be wrong. 😕

Well, the latest email from Residence Life says they will be all online the rest of the semester, so I think you can plan for that.

I told DD to concentrate on her schooling for now & we will work on the moving out contingency plan plus where she's going to live the rest of the semester if they close the dorms.

[frogger]

1 hour ago, RootAnn said:

Well, the latest email from Residence Life says they will be all online the rest of the semester, so I think you can plan for that.

I told DD to concentrate on her schooling for now & we will work on the moving out contingency plan plus where she's going to live the rest of the semester if they close the dorms.

 

I hadn't heard this yet.

[Lori D.]

DS is on Spring Break this week and just got the following notice (below). He does not live on campus, so no dorm/meal plan issues for him, thank goodness. At this time, the plan is to move as many classes to online as possible, and still hold labs on campus which require use of laboratory equipment.

we are delaying the start of classes to Wednesday, March 18, and moving from in-person instruction to onlineinstruction wherever possible.

• Residence halls, recreational facilities, food services and Campus Health are open now and will remain open.
• Classes will continue in online mode until Monday, April 6, at which time the University will assess its operational status.
• All public events will continue... unless otherwise announced.

Edited March 13, 2020 by Lori D.

[Bambam]

On 3/10/2020 at 8:30 PM, Bambam said:

I'll be interested to see how they handle labs. My oldest currently has four labs (Biology major). But her school has only cancelled all University-sponsored international trips and study abroad options for spring and summer. 

School announced two days ago that spring break extended by one week, then one week of online classes, and then they will decide how to progress from there.  Professors to email details about how their specific class will be handled.

One already online class said they were sticking to the original schedule. Keep on keeping on. No extra week of spring break for you!
Another class had an exam scheduled this week, Professor elected to give everyone a 100 on that test and will work to get stuff up online by the proper time. 

 

[Kassia]

55 minutes ago, Bambam said:

 

One already online class said they were sticking to the original schedule. Keep on keeping on. No extra week of spring break for you!
Another class had an exam scheduled this week, Professor elected to give everyone a 100 on that test and will work to get stuff up online by the proper time. 

 

 

My daughter's online class has gone on as scheduled.  She had a midterm in a regular class on Wednesday that she studied for days for, but classes were canceled the night before so she can't take it until next week now and doesn't know how it will be administered.  She is still waiting to hear from her professor about physics lab and how that will be handled.  

[elegantlion]

We've finally closed. Classes will be online next week, then we have spring break, then they're going to reevaluate. Professors are getting ONE DAY 😳 to set up online protocols (obviously there will have to be flexibility). Okay, their weekend too.  I hope they announce whether we'll be online for the rest of the semester because I could vacate my apartment at the end of April and move home. Survival mode is how it was labeled today. 

[GoodGrief]

My daughter was hopeful she would get to stay on campus when Princeton made the decision to finish out the year with online classes. She is senior completing a thesis that requires work in the lab. It did not play out that way though. She is pretty shocked at the abrupt end to her college experience. There are worse tragedies, of course, but I do feel badly for her. She's had some challenging health issues over the past 10 months and it seemed like things were coming together. Her school has some significant traditions that go along with senior spring and graduation, and it's a loss for sure.