on this matter, the colleges are caught between a rock and a hard place
if they open campus, SOME people will get ill (if only from flu season or regular colds). The students are mostly of ages that CoV does no known serious harm (mostly asymptomatic, some get cold or flu like symptoms and it then goes away just fine). Faculty are older and thus more susceptible.
But, if you assemble several thousand people anywhere for anything, some will get sick a few days later.
And there are attorneys lined up to file large (or even class action) lawsuits against the colleges. With the smell of free $$$$ in the air, there will be lawsuits on behalf of students, on behalf of faculty, and on behalf of staff. Litigation (and attorney fees) everywhere. And thus far, Congress has refused to grant the colleges any legal immunity (yes, the lawyers’ lobbyists are damned good, effective!)
On the other hand, if the colleges stay shut down, some of them complain about the LACK of in-person instruction. They complain that internet (distance education) instruction is not as good. They demand refunds of their tuition (and yes, lawsuits are on the horizon).
SO now more and more colleges are announcing that they will stay closed at least until Fall 2021 (about a year from now). Why? Because the demands for fee refunds are more manageable, tolerable than having to defend against class action lawsuits alleging “you made me deathly sick by having to attend the real classes I voluntarily signed up for in the first place”
Also, faculty have some (limited) influence and some faculty unions have been advising their colleges that they will not cooperate (and may sue) if “forced to return to campus” — (their members include a number of over-60-agers that statistically are more vulnerable to the illness).
So, go figure!
I can’t believe how many students and parents did not choose to just go the community college route this year. I wonder how many regret it.
I was seriously expecting to be barraged with phone calls from our local community college begging me to teach a class. It didn’t happen.
Actually, come to think about it, I haven’t read or heard anything in local media about enrollment being up.
I wonder if that will change dramatically come spring semester.