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. Do not let this promise of masks let you feel safe either. In person, online classes or a mix: Colleges' fall 2020 coronavirus reopening plans, detailed. We are officially expected to work 20 hours for the university, but in reality that number is much higher. The pressure of “If it’s open, I need to be there” is real. Boston College joins a small list of higher education institutions who plan to hold in-person classes in the fall. We fight for social justice in our work as researchers and instructors. The process BU is standing up is a sound one and Boston and the state of Massachusetts are doing a fabulous job of keeping the curve flat. Unlike staff, if we are asked to take a leave of absence we do not qualify for unemployment. The University of Phoenix isn’t a substitute for the BU education people are paying for and you would be living in a fairy tale if you think the tuition would be adjusted for online classes. Indeed, if it covers even 50% of the population, it would be considered a big win. Well said!!! Probably the most tone deaf and inconsiderate and cruel thing I have read recently. They have to manage all sorts of risks in their field sites. How would (and could) BU protect people and the whole Boston area from large-scale infection because of commute (and even just unavoidable contact in the hallway)? You will be redirected to the University of Massachusetts' Registration Shopping Cart when you click on a link below. Boston University is in Massachusetts. Lets pay for teaching the way we do for most other work. I commend the BU administration for developing the LfA approach. will be sufficient)–, The part of LfA that simply allows for students to choose how to study and where to study from is excellent, as you point out. When the school has to close in the middle of the semester, the damage done to community health will be irreparable but the university admin only cares about PR. I cannot heal in the place where I was hurt. So far we have not been told that we will be provided with masks and plexiglass barriers. Everyone in the world have adjusted to strict health guidelines, except maybe those in some parts of the US. So maybe a hybrid mode is for the best. … Adjuncts, lecturers and support staff that is who. I paid for my doctorate as many are doing right now. Others have addressed the privileged position PHD students live in. But that doesn’t mean that LfA is the best solution overall. Teach 3 hours a week, take home $90 a week. BU has been thinking about this since the first day after the shutdown. As I said before, I’m not against the protests: people had the freedom to choose to risk their lives and protest and with that, probably, (hopefully not but logically speaking) spread the virus. Confirm your course dates below and on the Student Link. But, again, no mention is made of the financial consequences for an institution like BU when it goes fully online, consequences that would see a drastic spike in the number of layoffs as BU deviates from its mission and business model. No one can move around the classroom or even drink water, which would require removing one’s mask. The university plans … I have never seen 2 professors jointly teach a course. The learning experience this fall is going to be different no matter what we do. I, for one, will be gearing up in PPE and keeping my distance. ... 2020 Fall > UGRD > HUMCTR. So let’s stop wringing our hands about something we can’t change and start engaging on something we can. They will likely have a better time participating from home. If you are unhappy with your situation so much that you have to attack PhD students, change it. They feel invulnerable and you don’t even have a strict new COVID-19 contract with severe consequences if anyone does not wear a mask, social distance or parties in residences. If the premise is that only those “with difficulties” stay away from campus, then there is pressure on every student, every faculty member and every staff member to return to campus. This is a great idea, but is not what BU is proposing. I just wanted to thank the writer for this piece. At BU, Sarabeth Buckley (GRS’20), who just earned a PhD from the Department of Earth & Environment, recently measured carbon dioxide concentrations in College of Arts & Sciences classrooms and found that they can reach three to eight times the normal levels when class is in session, indicating poor ventilation. We were in lockdown for almost two months and then those protests engendered all we have accomplished! But I believe less than 50% and international students should attend in-person to help mitigate contagion. All other industries are adjusting to this new reality. The BU leadership must be complimented for creating the LfA module which is the need of the hour. international students or those who can’t live at home for other reasons, students with financial need), and at the very least it should be up to the individual instructor whether they want to teach online. A premature return to campus also puts the community surrounding BU at risk. Does anyone know what will determine who gets decisions in the first wave or is it completely random . 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. Adjuncts make about 7500 per class at bu, considerably less elsewhere. People of privilege never like having their privilege pointed out to them, it shatters their illusion of being self made. Maybe they need to focus on the international students for now so they can be on campus that they don’t have to leave the US. Also, for someone with an underlying health condition, there is the American with Disabilities Act which provides avenues for reasonable accommodation. If your arguments are the main reasons behind the policies, then half of the university has been entirely ignored. Meanwhile, you want me to keep taking that loan and mortgage so you can play with your cat at home. I suspect you already know this and want to obscure the true issues at hand (this you? 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. To browse Boston University's wide selection of online programs and choose the one that's right for you, please visit the Programs page. IF YOU CAN PROTEST THEN YOU CAN ALSO GO TO SCHOOL! BU is proposing to create “family living groups” for 18,000 18-22 year-olds living in shared rooms and surviving on takeout while “maintaining social distancing”. Go talk to any manual laborer about your troubles, see what they think of them. And if we put our students back out there too soon it’s going to be making it worse. If some of my students choose to remain at home and learn remotely, they will of course be online and the students who do come to campus will be able to come in person slightly more often. We Want to Hear from You. Students can find additional information in the Undergraduate Student Guide and Graduate & Professional Student Guide. Monday, August 31, 2020 Event Type. We did it in the Spring as an emergency measure, but the University coming out to announce its LfA plan as the semester wrapped up demonstrates their understanding students refuse to be suckered into spending $50k for an education that doesn’t even come close to what they are paying for. Without US, BU is NOTHING! Each have their own reasoning. This is why this article is irrational and fearmongering. Boston University (BU) is a private research university in Boston, Massachusetts.The university is nonsectarian but maintains its historical affiliation with the United Methodist Church. I’m most sorry that our president isn’t stepping up to the plate and helping the citizenry at this time. And please don’t take any solace in the university asking anyone who can successfully do their jobs from home while students are on campus to do so. Getty. But I fear we will have to get everyone in Boston to follow procedures made by us to actually get this efficiently working. Boston University is among a growing number of universities making plans to … By the way, the idea that anyone who can do their work well remotely can be “permanently eliminated” to offset lost revenue is an astonishing sentiment in today’s economy. Thank you for this piece. Communication has been clear, prompt and transparent. Given these limitations, we will be risking the lives of all students and all staff without resolving any of the issues with online learning you list. Emily Chua (GRS’22) TwitterFacebook. I too, never turned my camera on because I was in bed, like I said, for every class. Online classes are not the same, but you can only get out of them what you put into them. Please think on these things, yes life needs to move on but as safely as possible. BU is not doing all it can to keep its community safe. It’s also untrue that teachers aren’t team players, especially in facing our current challenges. Northwood University Wins Fall 2020 Rocket League Championships Podcast Feed More From CheckpointXP On Campus Over the course of the season, Northwood University and Akron University were the best two College Rocket League teams in the country. Virtually no faculty member, including the writer of this article, is arguing that online learning is a sufficient alternative to what until this past spring was the normal classroom and campus experience. But until we have a vaccine or cure for COVID-19, that day cannot come. But knowing that other people in the world are worse off (and there always will be people who are worse off) does not mean that we should stop trying to make conditions better for ourselves and others. Can Biden Learn Anything from Trump about How Presidents Use Social Media? And real hybrid education with synchronous and asynchronous interaction is vastly different than the Spring 2020 emergency remote instruction. But again, we cannot forget that we are in the midst of a once-in-a-century pandemic—no part of living is ideal during this time. How is this all going to be handled. Other scientists have documented how the virus spreads in confined spaces. Since May, the views of the Online-or-Bust community have been replete across the opinion pages. Many corporations have adopted the concept of split operations, where for example 50% of employees will work from home while 50% will work from the office. Boston University (BU) ... #2 Submitted by We Vote Joe 2020 on April 25, 2020 - 5:54am . Fall 2020 Update But if so, it is reopening under very different circumstances than the rest of the university. 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. BU has bent over backwards to give students as many options as possible, but it is not doing the same for Faculty. It’s cruel to force people to risk their lives. Doesn’t it add a pressure to students to put their health at risk? From atop the ivory tower, it’s hard to see the little people. It does feel like allowing large groups of undergraduates return to campus neglects the potential public health impacts on the healthcare system, immunocompromised, and elderly who live and work in Boston. The School will be seeing patients with emergent, urgent and elective conditions, although it will be prioritizing those patients with the most urgent needs. Resuming offline teaching and research also means forcing people to commute. Now is not the time, these are unprecedented times that calls for unprecedented measures. The on-campus experience is going to be radically different, likely stressful for both students and faculty. They are putting their own lives in danger because they need to pay rent or pay for their family to eat. This group is for students who have been admitted to the Boston University Questrom School of Business Online MBA Program for the Fall 2020 entry term. BU administration made a rushed decision not backed by sound scientific data. Faculty and graduate teaching fellows are faced with a tougher choice: Without a valid medical reason, they must teach in person or take a leave of absence. Please note: For many Spring 2021 online courses, the start date is not the same as the University’s start date for courses scheduled on-campus. That is how we can teach our students to thrive in this new post-pandemic world. Masks and plexiglass barriers reduce risks of exposure to a viral load great enough to cause an infection effectively; especially when these measures are combined with increased social distancing. Can they guarantee there won’t be any protest in a large number in future? Why isn’t he stepping up to the plate, admitting there’s a problem and taking action on behalf of the citizens of the United States in a time of crisis? I am appalled at the administration’s continued encouragement of students to return to campus. And forget partner work or group discussions. Yes, the university is a space of privilege, and it can and must do much more to wield its privilege to the benefit of the entire community. 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. Please don’t let BU go fully online. I trust BU 100% and I’m sure that the fall will be successful. That compensation is akin to a $120k a year job. More than bankers. This, despite business / management / leadership professors teaching about the benefits of teamwork. 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. The professor, whether they are in person or online, is doing their best to give you an education. People getting paid a salary which would be the envy of literally billions of people to get a free world class education, while being protected by a system of testing and contact tracing, that is better than most frontline workers have , are going to battle for more privileges. Like I said, the students who depend on hands on training and the faculty who teach them have no choice but to return to work serving the greater good. People do still die. There are also problems in terms of where to eat and stay hydrated safely on campus, the problem of safe bathroom use (and the safety of nearby classrooms and faculty offices), and the problem of where students are supposed to go between classes if they don’t live on campus, among many other problems. Most of us cannot have families because we cannot afford to, and those of us who do often struggle to make ends meet. I wonder if the “new” campus experience will be worth full tuition and the risk of contracting coronavirus.I wondered what college would really look like under pandemic concerns. We live in a country where the Covid-19 situation is much better controlled compared to the US. I’m still paying tuition; presumably BU can use that tuition to pay faculty/administration, regardless of where they work. Boston University closed its campus on March 22. I do not know if you are. It’s just going to get worse here until there’s a full remote option. Academic work is important, but we are able to do this because we are alive and healthy. In my Department, classes last 2 hours and 45 minutes… In full ‘protective’ mode…, I am far from convinced that this is effective teaching… And – I am over 65 years old, so I am in the CDC ‘high risk’ category…. 1% of 5,000 is 50 (not 500 that was in the article ). If BU professors cannot accept this new reality, how can they teach their students to survive and thrive in this new world? I have been suffering from depression and anxiety my whole life. For example, in Washington, D.C., George Washington University announced July 27 that it would reverse its plans and conduct all instruction online in the fall. Despite some professors best efforts (or what the university tirelessly regurgitates), the learning experience is not the same; it is degraded and inferior compared to in-person classes. 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? Same kid we have to take a loan and a mortgage for to may your salaries. I study at night for “my own” sometimes even research papers, do not expect to be paid for that. Long story short, online learning is a farcical impersonation of what an authentic college and classroom experience should be. Emily Chua (GRS’22) The entire point of social distancing has been to minimize the risk to those who cannot do their work remotely by asking those who can to stay home. 'Learn from Anywhere’: Boston University will allow students to choose in-person or online learning for fall semester; Boston College plans to … Where I come from, mental health care is inaccessible, as people there do not believe in mental health. Some students who are accepted to Harvard, MIT and BU may actually choose BU this Fall. Registration for Fall 2020 is closed. 18 December, 2020 at 8:58 AM. I am not going to get into what is right and what is wrong. Except, no one will pay me $30 an hour. Next semester, when you inevitability have to spend some time taking online classes, try to turn on your camera and engage with the class. Classes begin for the fall 2020 semester. www.bu.edu. You will be redirected to the University of Massachusetts' Registration Shopping Cart when you click on a link below. Take a look at our Boston-Campus graduate programs and online program applications and deadlines for BU Wheelock College of Education & Human Development. Instead of fighting for the right to teach from anywhere, as teachers have been doing for the past month, this summer would be better spent properly developing courses for online delivery. When everyone comes back there will be an outbreak definitely. July 9, 2020. Visit Back2BU for the latest updates and information on BU's response to COVID-19. False positives are highly unlikely. There are plenty of undocumented workers and lower-wage workers who have gone several months without pay and are behind on rent. Thank you Catherine for providing the “facts” to combat the fear mongering and speculation presented in this article. Because she does not have your privilege and position. They are switching and transferring room assignments based on this as they can’t imagine not having guests. Fall 2020 classes begin This is a past event. This is about a real issue, that is, BU’s plan to reopen. As a parent of an international student, i am concerned about the 14hour flight to Boston from where we reside.. even if the airlines take all possible measures. In my experience, I spend 3hrs a week teaching a class, 3hrs a week preparing the class, 3hrs or more (depending on class size) grading per week, 3hrs a week (or more again, depending on class size) doing administrative tasks and answering students emails- that’s 12 hours of a work week. If classes are fully online, interactions will be far more natural without the barriers of physical distancing and masks and atmosphere of fear. It is criminal to pay ‘brick and mortar’ fees when we are online. But I hope members of BU who decide to go back to the school stay safe and well and be sensible as I will not want to see campus close again just like back in March. BU is essentially a private ‘profit generating’ business, even if all profits are re-invested. But whatever happens, there will ALWAYS be students who are accessing the course online, and thus there will be all the problems you mentioned. Because we don’t have a contract, the university can decide how much they will pay us or whether they can employ us at any time. Additionally many students live in abusive households, struggle with mental health, and have learning disabilities which make online learning impossible. You are not a victim, you ARE the establishment. Given the socially-distanced conditions we’d be working under, mostly- or all-remote instruction in those cases would allow for more productive small group/peer-to-peer work than LfA. Boston University was one of the first institutions to announce that in the “unlikely event” its students couldn't return to campus, in-person instruction would resume in 2021. 3) If international students are forced to return to their countries, they will be in a serious danger: many countries are still struggling to control the virus. Boston University has already canceled all "in-person summer activities" on its primary campus. Newsflash, PhD students are not the downtrodden class, you are the privileged elites. Are his parents allowed to visit him? 6) What are the differences between “in-person” and “remote” classes? 1. Listen to your concerned staff with families and elders. > Consider also the implications of false-positive results—if you test positive but aren’t actually sick. Yet they ask us to return? Policies include the option of both online and in-person courses for undergraduates, which will incorporate social distancing. So I created such a place, and imagined this new world, a world on a campus called “Corona College”. It saddens me that essential workers in our community feel so alienated from university instructors. It consists of Students and professors! 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. Can be done equally well online two years, with a PhD doesn ’ t mistake, both from hands-on. Care living facilities, where residents had compromised health degree too ( EST ) and can only accept written! My camera on because I was in the office needing to be of. Down and suck it up and come to the COVID-19 pandemic began in March, University... … visit Back2BU for the University of utmost importance results, not PhD students wrath and I m! Professional student Guide April 25, 2020 - 9:17 PM AMHERST, Mass something! This because we are expecting a second wave board whenever we fight for the latest updates and information BU. Am extremely concerned when most universities open again in September needing to be radically different, stressful... 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