Fall Semester In-person to Begin August 26 MU

[Newsdreams]

https://twitter.com/mu_wire/status/1261326403397697538?s=21

BREAKING: The 2020 fall semester will begin in-person Aug. 26 and will end Nov. 24, among other changes to the academic calendar.

"It is important that we are able to move students out of residence halls earlier than normal," a news release said.

Story to come via @MU_Wire.

[Newsdreams]

More details

https://marquettewire.org/4033317/news/fall-semester-to-begin-and-end-early-among-changes-made-to-2020-21-academic-calendar/

[5DollarPitcher]

Is the University saying they're predicting a winter 2020-2021 wave?

[GooooMarquette]

Is the University saying they're predicting a winter 2020-2021 wave?

Sounds like it. I suspect we will see the next wave before August....

[The Sultan]

They are saying that they don't want to deal with students coming back to campus after Thanksgiving.

[WarriorDad]

Sounds like it. I suspect we will see the next wave before August....

Define wave?  That's the risk profile that will need to be assessed.  Some people don't think the current situation is a wave and coming to an agreement on what that definition is will be key and also highly controversial.

[Hards Alumni]

Define wave?  That's the risk profile that will need to be assessed.  Some people don't think the current situation is a wave and coming to an agreement on what that definition is will be key and also highly controversial.

Wave

noun

1. a disturbance on the surface of a liquid body, as the sea or a lake, in the form of a moving ridge or swell.

2. any surging or progressing movement or part resembling a wave of the sea:
a wave of the pulse.

[pbiflyer]

They are saying that they don't want to deal with students coming back to campus after Thanksgiving.

This. Exactly this. Was just on a call with another university today and they voiced the same concerns.

[The Sultan]

This. Exactly this. Was just on a call with another university today and they voiced the same concerns.

It's almost like I work for a college and have had the same exact conversations!   

[MU82]

They are saying that they don't want to deal with students coming back to campus after Thanksgiving.

Makes sense, really. You go home for T-Day and you are in close proximity to family and friends for extended stretches. Hugging, kissing, eating, drinking, talking, shouting at football on TV, etc.

[WarriorDad]

Makes sense, really. You go home for T-Day and you are in close proximity to family and friends for extended stretches. Hugging, kissing, eating, drinking, talking, shouting at football on TV, etc.

Which is likely less interaction with people they will have from August until T-day.  As I said last week, my youngest talks to her friends up at MU daily via social media.  Those that stayed up there are getting together all the time, still having parties and interacting.  Kids will be kids.  When they all go back to school that isn't changing.

I'm not against the policy, but think it naive to suggest T-day is suddenly the day when all these kids will acquire the virus.   She and I spoke about it this morning and the really long break she will have.  What happens when 2 kids get the virus when school starts?  What if it is 10?  That is why the question of wave definition should be known. 

[The Sultan]

There is a difference between a community interacting with itself, and that community doing that then leaving and returning.  Why do you think so many campuses were rushing so they didn't come back for Spring Break.

And they're not kids.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I'm not against the policy, but think it naive to suggest T-day is suddenly the day when all these kids will acquire the virus.

But you do understand how travelling home for Thanksgiving and returning to campus could increase the risk right?

It's all about mitigating risk. Not eliminating it all together.

[tower912]

I foresee masks required to attend class.    Hand sanitizer inside the door of every classroom.     Chairs spread out as much as they can.   

[The Sultan]

I foresee masks required to attend class.    Hand sanitizer inside the door of every classroom.     Chairs spread out as much as they can.   

You may also see classes set up so only half the class is in the classroom every other day, virtual the other day.

The biggest problem is the residence halls.

[tower912]

Agreed.   And the cafeterias. 

[Newsdreams]

If you read the detailed article they want to try to avoid flu season and Covid. Which obviously would be a bad recipe.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Agreed.   And the cafeterias.

And the rec centers

And the limos

[Hards Alumni]

And the rec centers

And the limos

You can shut those down or massively reduce service... not so much with the dorms.

[The Sultan]

You can shut those down or massively reduce service... not so much with the dorms.

Require those who live within a certain radius to commute.  Rent a hotel.  Try to keep as many students in single rooms as possible.

[Mr. Nielsen]

I foresee masks required to attend class.   

I don't see that happening.

[Hards Alumni]

Require those who live within a certain radius to commute.  Rent a hotel.  Try to keep as many students in single rooms as possible.

What about common areas of dorms, hotels, etc?

[Billy Hoyle]

Require those who live within a certain radius to commute.  Rent a hotel.  Try to keep as many students in single rooms as possible.

how is MU for room space now? There were issues they had a few years back where they were renting out hotels and putting kids in study rooms/common areas. I cannot imagine parents signing off on having two kids in a room in O'D or Schroeder. How do you find housing for enough kids so that MU can move to singles?

[Lennys Tap]

They are saying that they don't want to deal with students coming back to campus after Thanksgiving.

Very logical. Anyone opposing is a moron.

[wadesworld]

Very logical. Anyone opposing is a moron.

I think it's smart, but it doesn't really make someone a moron who doesn't. Nobody knows what this will look like in the winter/flu season.