University visits

[Magic Mouse]

My DD now lives at home (although she has moved in with her boyfriend for lockdown) and commutes to uni, although it was only a couple of hours a week until Christmas.

They’ve been told everything is on-line now until at least 1st February.

She’s really worried as her teaching placement should be starting soon. They’ve heard rumours that even this could be on-line. It’s hard enough for experienced teachers to teach remotely but how on earth could a student do that! She’s so sad as she loves being in schools and her last placement was cut short due to the first lockdown. She’s also gutted as she was lined up for a paid teaching assistant post one day a week but that’s also been cancelled now.

It’s such a worry for all our students.

[DisneyDaffodil]

Originally Posted by Nimbus

DD was due to return on the 17th Jan with term starting on the 18th. She received an email from the Uni yesterday afternoon saying that she should return to uni as planned (she's doing BioVeterinary Science so this is classed as one of the subjects where students can return to uni). DD was somewhat concerned by this because she thought the only other person in her flat was going to be the one person she doesn't get on very well with - although since then a couple of others have said they might be going back. After the news on Monday I think DD had wanted to simply stay at home even if this meant missing out on a few "face-to-face" lectures/tutorials - and not being able to say hello to the cows and sheep.

I had naively thought things would be 'better' and more stable this year but that's clearly not going to be the case. It's a stressful enough time for these young adults as it is - moving away from home, living with new people, doing something different - without all the added stress with the virus.

Take care everyone.

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I think we had all hoped things would have improved this year, at least by after Christmas. Sadly, it’s worse not better. I can understand your daughter’s concerns about whether to return or not. Halls are always such a mix and there’s always some housemates that don’t gel. I do hope that isn’t the only one who returns with your DD

Is her uni definitely going to offer face to face for her course? Maybe she could check this first as if it’s going to be online only she may prefer to still stay at home. As Mary said above, her DD is studying veterinary but her uni isn’t providing any face to face until later in the term

[DisneyDaffodil]

Originally Posted by Magic Mouse

My DD now lives at home (although she has moved in with her boyfriend for lockdown) and commutes to uni, although it was only a couple of hours a week until Christmas.

They’ve been told everything is on-line now until at least 1st February.

She’s really worried as her teaching placement should be starting soon. They’ve heard rumours that even this could be on-line. It’s hard enough for experienced teachers to teach remotely but how on earth could a student do that! She’s so sad as she loves being in schools and her last placement was cut short due to the first lockdown. She’s also gutted as she was lined up for a paid teaching assistant post one day a week but that’s also been cancelled now.

It’s such a worry for all our students.

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That’s so sad that your DD won’t be able to take up the paid TA post, it’s so useful for her work experience and her finances. Georgia really wants to find some conservation volunteering work but she’s tried a few places and gets the same reply, Covid rules means they can’t take on new volunteers at the moment 😔

I do hope your DD can return to schools in person not just remotely. My son teaches in Vietnam and taught for 6 months remotely earlier this year, he really didn’t enjoy it, so I can understand how frustrating it must be for your DD 😔

[Nimbus]

Originally Posted by DisneyDaffodil

Is her uni definitely going to offer face to face for her course? Maybe she could check this first as if it’s going to be online only she may prefer to still stay at home. As Mary said above, her DD is studying veterinary but her uni isn’t providing any face to face until later in the term

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Hmm, I don't know.

The course had some face-to-face and hands-on stuff before Christmas (a lot less that there normally should be and somewhat restricted) and there's nothing in the current restrictions that says these can't continue. So there shouldn't be any reason why there won't be the odd face-to-face tutorial or bit of lab work. Also, there's no point in the uni telling them to come back if *everything* is going to be online. I assume they are asking them to be onsite for a reason - DD said that the email said that they should return, not that they may return - especially considering the government has said only to travel if there is a real need to do so.

But I don't actually know what they plan to do. I shall have to ask DD if she knows. The email was sent less than 24 hours after the lockdown was announced and I suspect the uni itself wasn't sure what they were planning to do.

ETA: I have checked the email that was sent and it does say that they plan to "continue to offer a blended teaching programme" including face to face practicals and tutorials as well as online lectures and tutorials.

[DisneyDaffodil]

Originally Posted by Nimbus

Hmm, I don't know.

The course had some face-to-face and hands-on stuff before Christmas (a lot less that there normally should be and somewhat restricted) and there's nothing in the current restrictions that says these can't continue. So there shouldn't be any reason why there won't be the odd face-to-face tutorial or bit of lab work. Also, there's no point in the uni telling them to come back if *everything* is going to be online. I assume they are asking them to be onsite for a reason - DD said that the email said that they should return, not that they may return - especially considering the government has said only to travel if there is a real need to do so.

But I don't actually know what they plan to do. I shall have to ask DD if she knows. The email was sent less than 24 hours after the lockdown was announced and I suspect the uni itself wasn't sure what they were planning to do.

ETA: I have checked the email that was sent and it does say that they plan to "continue to offer a blended teaching programme" including face to face practicals and tutorials as well as online lectures and tutorials.

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That does sound promising, I really hope that she can get at least some practical work in. It’s not anywhere near as much as they should be getting, but the small amounts of lab time Georgia has had up to now has helped her understand the lecture content a lot more so it’s been vital for her.

[Ked]

Kate is staying home as her lectures are all online until February, she won’t go back to Cardiff until lockdown is lifted. Her rent is also due this week, what a waste of money!

[DisneyDaffodil]

Originally Posted by Ked

Kate is staying home as her lectures are all online until February, she won’t go back to Cardiff until lockdown is lifted. Her rent is also due this week, what a waste of money!

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It’s really sad how much they’ve spent on rent for houses they’re being told they should not return to. It’s not just the money either, it’s sad that they are missing out on the social part of uni life. Georgia has only socialised within her household (and one other person, her new boyfriend 😀 ) since September and now she’s home until at least mid February so won’t be able to see them until after then either 😔

[Melbatb]

Sorry to hear how all our young students’ lives are being so affected 😟

I have just booked O a one way flight back to HK. He has booked his three week quarantine (strict - he won’t be allowed out of his room for these three weeks). I now just need to book his appointment for his PCR test for 72h before his flight. He is hoping he will get vaccinated in the next couple of months whilst out there too.

He isn’t looking forward to the quarantine but once that is done he is hoping for some normality! Fingers crossed!

[ChoppyGirl]

My daughter Beth is in her first year doing veterinary medicine, and like Mary's daughter is doing less practical work than she should be.

She returned Sunday before the announcement but is allowed to stay due to the course she is taking. She is in a similar situation to Nimbus' daughter where there is only 1 other person in her block (6 sharing a kitchen) who she is not really friends with and never sees so the uni have allowed her to form a bubble with someone from another flat for her mental health. She has exams starting next week and says she finds it easier to concentrate at uni

[DisneyDaffodil]

Originally Posted by Melbatb

Sorry to hear how all our young students’ lives are being so affected 😟

I have just booked O a one way flight back to HK. He has booked his three week quarantine (strict - he won’t be allowed out of his room for these three weeks). I now just need to book his appointment for his PCR test for 72h before his flight. He is hoping he will get vaccinated in the next couple of months whilst out there too.

He isn’t looking forward to the quarantine but once that is done he is hoping for some normality! Fingers crossed!

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I’m so very pleased that O managed to spend the Christmas period with you, it must be so difficult to organise his visits with all the red tape involved.

3 weeks quarantine doesn’t sound fun, I’m guessing he will have plenty of coursework to keep him occupied though. How will he manage for food? Does the university help him with the arrangements for food at all? Or will it be room service and takeaway deliveries?