Thanks again for providing evidence for my arguments. “Life matters more than a visa” well a visa to study here is our path to a better life — we escaped adversity in our home nations and came here for an education. If BU fully goes online, my mental health (as well as many others) will deteriorate. Also, for someone with an underlying health condition, there is the American with Disabilities Act which provides avenues for reasonable accommodation. I hope BU comes up with something better before the due date on student accounts before Fall semester. Some Deans don’t like people working from home (which I’m sure is easy for them to say from behind the closed door of their personal office and not from the windowless cubefarm everyone else has to work in) and would rather endanger these workers and everyone else on campus by increasing the number of people having to commute to campus every day so that people can be in poorly ventilated buildings, risking their lives needlessly. This saving of personal privileges must be exactly what bank execs must have been talking about when their banks were failing while they vexed about why their bonuses were so important. Your email address will not be published. I have never seen 2 professors jointly teach a course. April 9, 2020 Updated July 12, 2020 at 2:32 pm With the novel coronavirus bringing much of American life to a standstill, Boston College has now been practicing remote learning for weeks. Education is a privilege, but it became that way due to the high cost associated with higher learning, and that does not have to be the case anymore. … LfA is also going to be challenging to implement considering infrastructural limitations. It is very likely that there will be other protests in the city of Boston and in the country. Students can select an … So maybe a hybrid mode is for the best. It would be far safer for students, staff, and faculty to remain at home and reduce the risk of disease spread. Is it mandatory for all faculty members to show solidarity with all students showing up for in-person classes? Each have their own reasoning. Nonetheless, BU insists that we return to campus, despite no indication that disease prevalence is low enough to allow this to happen safely, and they have no plans to provide PPE. Students can still receive first rate education for the coming academic year and still (with a little luck and God-willing a vaccine) enjoy three years of the fully residential in-person education that’s so formative and rewarding. You can do this. Also what about students that are going to come from States that are now the EpicCenter of the virus? ... McMaster University says its 2020 fall semester will be entirely online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Sorry professors who aren’t at especially at risk, you’ll have to get up from your cushiony apartments in the North End and do the same as everyone else has which means trying to maintain a semblance of normality to make ends meet because let’s face it, the show must go on. So please keep your politics to yourself. As an international student myself, I thoroughly understand your concerns. Harvard University has told faculty that most teaching this fall will likely be online. Well then it sounds to me like you are privileged because you could pay for your doctorate, eh? There are far more cases in the US now than there were when they deemed the university too dangerous to keep open in March. I too, never turned my camera on because I was in bed, like I said, for every class. I don’t want the incredible Boston medical system overwhelmed due to the bottom dollar. Congratulations to the Jury Prize winners Ashley Villard and Kevin “Ali” Mehdizadeh, h an Honorable Mention to Alexandria Mercado, all three are vocalists. But I fear we will have to get everyone in Boston to follow procedures made by us to actually get this efficiently working. That alone will go a long way toward reduce the pressure on student and minimizing the risk to faculty and staff. Then: If experience has shown that large gathering of people WITHOUT social distancing and masks (aka protests) does not cause spikes in COVID-19, so there is no reason to think it does in classrooms WITH social distancing and masks. A vast majority of students don’t even bother to turn on their camera, and for good reason. Before we find a vaccine or cure for COVID-19, life cannot return to normal. For those over 65, the majority of deaths occurred in senior care living facilities, where residents had compromised health. But as an adult, and presumably an educator, you more than anyone need to understand, empathize with, and support young people through their educational journey, not tear them down after their years of hard work. Since May, the views of the Online-or-Bust community have been replete across the opinion pages. Full online, partial online, online only if you are quarantined…none of these are “learning as normal”. The BU leadership must be complimented for creating the LfA module which is the need of the hour. I mean, it is better to not get infected than getting treated after getting infected, possibly giving people near you the virus. But it is clearly a middle way between the two irrational positions. Boston College joins a small list of higher education institutions who plan to hold in-person classes in the fall. Each department in the company will need to reorganise the roles for those who work from home vs those who work in the office. Anyone interested in submitting a piece, which should be about 700 words long, should contact John O’Rourke at orourkej@bu.edu. Take a course tour to learn more about Boston University's online courses. But I believe less than 50% and international students should attend in-person to help mitigate contagion. It is absolutely unjust that those who must work in person— people who already work long hours at thankless jobs with rude and inconsiderate customers—are not being adequately compensated. And yet the PhD students would still get their free education and free healthcare. This is a great idea, but is not what BU is proposing. Your point of view would leave higher education as the domain of only the already wealthy and privileged. Everyone needs to understand how strict health guidelines affect their daily life on campus before going back. The goal here is to get through the next 3-6 months with minimal human suffering. These difficult times have not decreased their desire to connect with their students, support their learning, help them, and also learn with and from them. I hope BU members will be more sensible than them when returned to campus. Probably the most tone deaf and inconsiderate and cruel thing I have read recently. Are his parents allowed to visit him? As another person in the comments section pointed out, lower-wage staff are expected to and HAVE BEEN coming to campus through the pandemic. Returning to campus? Are teachers expected to supply them or make the student leave? This includes workers who only work with BU’s online programs and do not interact with on campus students in anyway. While Massachusetts has flattened its curve, allowing large groups to congregate—say, on college campuses—will likely trigger a second wave. This article clearly belongs to the first group and it is not difficult to find out: “until we have a vaccine or cure for COVID-19, that day [returning to school] cannot come.” There is no guarantee that that day will come at all as we still don’t have vaccine for other viruses. On one hand we have a crazy President in Washington and on other this fake anguish of privilege from our educated elites. We know that BU doesn’t have an endowment the size of Harvard’s but it does have a considerable endowment as well as any number of budgetary fatted cows that could be trimmed down without layoffs or furloughs. Sometimes healthcare in our nations is so bad that we benefit from being students in the US by going to better hospitals. I have tried to be rational and look at all sides of this situation, and as someone who teaches in the Business area, I am very well aware of the financial implications of closing the campus. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! This is how we take care of each other. Officials at Boston University, and other colleges and universities in New England, are considering what they will do if the coronavirus pandemic continues into fall semester. Sometimes, you are not. And if we put our students back out there too soon it’s going to be making it worse. Because she does not have your privilege and position. 1. Yes health is important but preserving health while discriminating against international students is a major problem in and of itself and no it’s not more important than health. All other industries are adjusting to this new reality. 1% of 5,000 is 50 (not 500 that was in the article ). Don’t want to sound mean, but here is my point: If life has given you a good break (and if you are a professor or PHD you got the greatest break of all), then be thankful. There are plenty of undocumented workers and lower-wage workers who have gone several months without pay and are behind on rent. It is not the responsibility of the “ivory tower” to prevent the economy from collapsing. Let’s also not forget about false-negatives—or the cases the test misses. Take up the challenge. Boston University has announced that students will be back on campus for the fall semester, but with restrictions. BU has been thinking about this since the first day after the shutdown. But given BU seems to have mandatory testing for non-symptematic individuals, the positive rate is going to be much lower than MA. 2) If a student gets sick and needs hospitalization, how is BU planning to support and coordinate with remote parents? These pay rates mean that PhD students are paid the same as, if not less, than most of the other employees atBU. Or maybe this applies to universities as well… welcome to the real world. Boston University says students may not be allowed back on campus until January 2021. It is also irrational for other reasons. Additionally, as most doctoral students in the humanities are not funded for the summer, their hourly rate of pay is actually far less than other hourly workers on campus, and decidedly less than adjuncts and full-time instructors. Setting aside whether “everyone in the world” has adjusted to the new health guidelines (and the severity of what is happening in other places in the US, and whether the university’s efforts to protect the community through testing, contract tracing, quarantine, etc. At this rate, 50 people who aren’t even sick would be sent into quarantine per day. They too have had to absorb many costs as a result of the pandemic as well. 82. Your status is safe, ours is not. https://gettinggenz.com/2020/07/07/a-day-in-the-life-at-corona-college-fall-2020/. Even though the number of students … Consider the ethics of that. It certainly is not for performing arts which my daughter is majoring in or a major that includes any type of lab work or international students to name a few examples. boston university fall 2020 courses provides a comprehensive and comprehensive pathway for students to see progress after the end of each module. I do not know if you are. Coursework is usually completed after the first two years, with a PhD lasting approximately five years. I worry. Yes 35k or 25k for 20 hours a week plus health insurance and 50k worth of tuition is privilege. And it would be criminal to pay brick and mortar salary and perks to faculty and PhD students. 15k. If they return to their country, they will be in danger. I feel like we will probably be putting others like custodial staff MORE at risk by doing this, as well as all the other folks we will encounter on public transport. Small businesses are suffering terribly. Yes, it is a privilege to be able to work from home—one that should not be squandered by needless trips to the bar or crowded beaches or large gatherings. People do still die. Do not assume that we are living plush, cushy lives. Note that this is not a question about the relative merits of well-designed online instruction (i.e., NOT the emergency transition that happened this Spring) vs in person instruction. However, I fear (I even doubt to myself if I do return to Boston) members will be able to do this. Its OK for my sister to give your son a haircut. Clearly this is a very difficult issue, and I thank Emily for putting into writing the concerns that many of us share! Not sure, if anyone has answers for my questions: 1) How is Boston University going to take care of students getting infected by COVID-19? Together with students, we wrote a personal diary of a student on campus under the university’s strict guidelines and format. After careful deliberation and informed by extensive input from our community, the Faculty of Arts and Sciences announced plans to bring up to 40% of our undergraduates to campus, including all first-year students, for the fall semester.Assuming that we maintain 40% density in the spring semester, we would again bring back one class, and our priority at this … It’s cruel to force people to risk their lives. Also – LIFE and wellbeing matter more than degrees and timelines and visas, at the end of the day. Dorm income and food is a major part of BU’s revenue, and I can absolutely understand the imperative to get some income flowing, and to open the campus to head off the arguments about reduced tuition for ‘online’ offerings. BU might want to think about doing what the states of NY, NJ and CT are doing which is to mandate 14 day quarantine for anyone traveling from states/locations with infection rates > 10% or >10/10,000 residents. Paying PhD students means that those of us who are immigrants, low income and working class, and disabled can pursue higher education. 7/6/2020. I will like to suggest that instead of complaining about the decision made by the BU leadership, the professors and PhD students should step up to come up with a workable Teach from Anywhere solution that meets the need of Learn from Anywhere. 3) Is option of in-person classes adding a risk to student’s health as long-term effects of COVID-19 are still unknown? However, those who want to stay home have more than their own interest in mind. Their views merit attention and offer important points, but they’re also myopic, awash in moral superiority, underestimate the length of time that concessions will be made, and hide the fuller picture. Thank you for your comment. Students may not be in the age group most likely to die from the virus, but new data is emerging about the potential for long-term continuing health consequences after even mild cases of the virus (respiratory, pulmonary, neurological). But somehow its OK for me to mag your groceries. BU’s plan to return to school is not getting back to normal; the author’s article is misleading to say so. Less than 1 % of the population has the virus, less than 1 % of those under the age of 65 succumb, and those who do typically have underlying health conditions. So I wrote a narrative to help parents and students understand the reality. Boston University leaves coronavirus-prompted Fall 2020 postponement option open BU reportedly not only college or university preparing for possible Jan. 2021 return Taking a gap year, as some have suggested, is for the privileged and not feasible for everyone; plus, the situation might be worse when you return. That’s WITHOUT college students coming together from all over the country/world. Boston College joins a small list of higher education institutions who plan to hold in-person classes in the fall. Visit Back2BU for the latest updates and information on BU's response to COVID-19. The six-foot rule does not apply inside: As Bromage states, “Social distancing guidelines don’t hold in indoor spaces where you spend a lot of time.”. I totally agree with you. I, for one, will be gearing up in PPE and keeping my distance. We Want to Hear from You. Given the ‘spikes’ in infection just in parts of the US, COVID is going to come to the campus. The following is a hypothetical narrative by a fictional character named Izzy, going through her day at “Corona College” in what could well be a non-fictional scenario. Please join us in a socially-distant round of applause to them, and to all our Music students for participating in juries in a challenging semester. The one thing we do not want to teach them is to turn run in fear. Our non-PhD peers get to stop working at the end of the day. Besides what have been outlined by BU, UV rays and better filters can be installed in the air conditioning systems of all buildings to ensure clean air; cleaning and sanitizing schedules can be increased; and temperature scanners and safe entry codes can be installed at all entrances to buildings. What I’ve read is there will be testing, contact tracing, required PPE, daily health reporting, support to quarantine, ventilation audits, reduced class size, Increased cleaning, fewer students on campus, flexibility for faculty, etc. Go join Harvard and MIT. You are not a victim, you ARE the establishment. If they bring everyone back like that there is going to be a huge outbreak. From atop the ivory tower, it’s hard to see the little people. We fight for social justice in our work as researchers and instructors. There is no guarantee lawsuits against ICE result in our favor. Why are we discussing safety and ethics if protests are allowed? The pressure of “If it’s open, I need to be there” is real. The next generation of scientists, engineers, occupational therapists and physicians need to be trained. Forcing faculty and graduate teaching fellows back into the classroom is wrong. When it comes to the health and safety of my grandchildren, I would prefer that the university not allow students and teachers on campus at this time. The higher number cited in this article includes a broader swath of tests being performed right now. They had no other choice. Remove these precautions prematurely, and we risk undoing months of hard-won work to tamp down the virus. Boston University has acknowledged that the reopening of its campus in time for the 2020 fall semester may not be possible amid the coronavirus pandemic. Professors who taught remotely this summer noted surprising benefits—for instance, students who didn’t usually speak up in class contributed more via Zoom’s chat function. They are at risk of being laid-off, so they put their heads down and suck it up and come to work. Note the words “forced” and “unnecessarily.” We may have different opinions about whether it is wise for those who wish to return to in person teaching or work as staff members to do so this semester as cases rise across the country, but certainly no one should be forced to if they can do their work just as well – or better – remotely. In addition, you claiming grocery store workers going back to work is not something to be proud of. They can have other students resume on campus for Spring semester. Remote instruction is not simply a matter of posting a lecture online—there are research-based methods for effective online teaching. It is completely unnecessary for them to be on campus, yet they are not being told they should work from home in the fall for the safety of all. How is this all going to be handled. Now is not the time, these are unprecedented times that calls for unprecedented measures. BU is currently saying all professors have to be in class at all times, while teaching to in-class and remote students. I work in a grocery store. 'Learn from Anywhere’: Boston University will allow students to choose in-person or online learning for fall semester; Boston College plans to … During the time it took an asymptomatic infected person to have dinner with friends, they infected half of the people sitting at their table and 75 percent of the people at a downwind table. If BU professors cannot accept this new reality, how can they teach their students to survive and thrive in this new world? Commenting anonymously because I fear the PhD students wrath and I don’t enjoy their position of privilege. ), This scenario is not merely hypothetical. However, the argument that online is as good as in person Is a foolish one. Fall 2020 classes begin This is a past event. Boston University closed its campus on March 22. There will a a quarantine required for students arriving from outside of New England, NY and NJ. In the latter case, the entirety of humanity is in danger. Let’s also not forget about false-negatives—or the cases the test misses. Education and training are essential services. Teachers will best serve the students by preparing the best online version of their course. Thank you for this piece. Your ethical argument seems only to apply to people with PhDs or who are on a path to obtain a PhD. Thank you for this article, and shame on BU for not listening to the workers who keep the university functioning. China, the Emerging Superpower: A Model for Development? It’s also untrue that teachers aren’t team players, especially in facing our current challenges. Yes, that is a privilege that many other people are not afforded. I say this as I have some friends who was infected and was killed by the virus. Elinor Aspegren and Samuel Zwickel. We we will all be commuting in (on public transportation) and many of us will be bringing our children in with us, as well, because schools will be in session no more than 2 days a week. And with that major loss of tuition, even more staff will lose their jobs. Some sort of a package to sustain people should be forthcoming from our government. They have even set aside some on campus apartments to isolate people if needed. Yet they ask us to return? If the nation’s grocery store workers, doctors, and nurses can find a way to safely meet societies needs so can those of us who teach the next generation. 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