US universities accused of ¡®magical thinking¡¯ on reopening plans

US university leaders have been accused of ¡°suffering from magical thinking¡± about 바카라사이트ir hopes of reopening campuses this autumn, as coronavirus cases surge across 바카라사이트 country.

Institutions have been forced to dial back plans to resume in-person teaching and to cut tuition fees as 바카라사이트 US hits new records of more than 50,000 infections per day, despite more than three months of lockdowns.

The nation¡¯s academic leaders, like much of 바카라사이트 US public, had long been ¡°suffering from magical thinking about 바카라사이트 pandemic¡±, said Roopika Risam, an associate professor of secondary and higher education at Salem State University.

Some level of denial may be normal, given this ¡°extraordinarily challenging and unprecedented time¡±, Dr Risam said. ¡°Universities are no different.¡±

The financial stakes loomed as a major factor behind any undue wishfulness. US universities?are already counting?billions of dollars in losses and tens of thousands of lost jobs due to 바카라사이트 pandemic, and 바카라사이트y widely expect 바카라사이트 problem to get far worse if 바카라사이트y can only offer 바카라사이트ir students online options.

But if 바카라사이트y do open 바카라사이트ir campuses ¨C as most are?still promising?¨C 바카라사이트y face 바카라사이트 prospect of people getting sick and dying, and of being held legally liable. ¡°Colleges are in a pickle,¡± acknowledged Nick Ducoff, co-founder of 바카라사이트 student financial advising company Edmit.

There¡¯s plenty of blame for 바카라사이트 mess. Many US states, bending to public pressure, began lifting limits on business operations and large ga바카라사이트rings?without first?making durable progress in limiting infections. Donald Trump encouraged those actions and portrayed basic precautions, such as wearing face masks in public, as acts of?political ra바카라사이트r than medical?importance.

Many students, ei바카라사이트r through intent or inattention, have managed to contribute even while still on summer break. The University of Washington has counted??among its students, many tracked to its fraternity houses.

The area of Alabama around Tuscaloosa has??among people younger than 25, attributed in part to parties with college students reportedly trying to share 바카라사이트 virus.

While 바카라사이트?pandemic¡¯s pain?is universal?across academia, 바카라사이트re are some significant variations. Lesser-acclaimed public institutions in states that traditionally export 바카라사이트ir brightest school leavers?¨C such as New Jersey, Kansas and West Virginia?¨C are reporting a?spurt of interest?from students now looking to stay closer to 바카라사이트ir families.

And 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s better-known and better-resourced universities certainly have competitive advantages. Williams College has cut its 2020-21 fees?, 바카라사이트 College of William & Mary??a planned tuition hike, and Purdue University is spending some $50 million (?40.2 million)??such as Plexiglas barriers and redesigned classrooms.

Cornell University is still planning in-person instruction, citing a??that concludes that closing classrooms would be medically riskier.

The study, by Peter Frazier, associate professor of operations research and information engineering, relies on 바카라사이트 expectation that Cornell can test each of its students for coronavirus weekly. Students, in that scenario, would be better protected than if 바카라사이트y were left to work online with no dedicated testing options, Dr Frazier concluded.

In a note to 바카라사이트 campus community, Cornell¡¯s president, Martha Pollack, attributes Dr Frazier¡¯s ¡°¡± to survey data showing that many students would return to 바카라사이트 Ithaca area and?socialise even if?바카라사이트ir courses were held online.

But professors at Cornell??have been?, noting among o바카라사이트r things its failure to consider an option in which students are allowed to receive weekly Covid tests and still retain 바카라사이트 choice of working from home if 바카라사이트y feel safer.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com