Not many unis have even started yet but this is where we are. In my view, students should have stayed at home with established friendship groups, with online blended lectures, then gone to campus in small groups for intensive (2-3-week) periods of practical/tutorial teaching.
I know that would not be financially viable for most universities, and it is not what was sold to students, but it would have been pedagogically sound and more Covid-secure.
In this way, you cut hall density to 10-20%. You have capacity to accommodate any students who need to self-isolate during or after their intensive training, before they return home.
This would all have to be combined with readily available on-campus testing. As it is, many unis have not been provided with testing of their own and students must use local city testing facilities - many of which are overwhelmed and accessible only on a drive-through basis.
All of this was predictable, some of it is the result of a sector struggling on its financial knees, and much of it is the result of govt not thinking through (or just not caring about) the issues.
As it is, some students are now getting a very poor experience, while the staff who have to look after them in halls, as well as academic staff in the universities, and members of the local communities they are embedded in, are all at hugely elevated risk.
[I should add that for Year 2 or 3 students, many of whom have transitioned to a more independent life, 'staying at home' could mean living in their house in the university town and sensibly following Covid guidelines]
[And another additional tweet in response to several comments - of course care leavers or those whose home situations are unsafe or unhappy should be accommodated on campus - with lower halls occupancy, that should be straightforward to do]
Share this Scrolly Tale with your friends.
A Scrolly Tale is a new way to read Twitter threads with a more visually immersive experience.
Discover more beautiful Scrolly Tales like this.