As the fall quarter gets underway, usually the campuses are hustling with student activity and the welcoming of Freshman. However, this year, the dorms remain empty and the libraries silent. Many colleges across the country and beyond remain closed amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Educational settings all around the world have been working hard to draw up plans to reopen. It’s of paramount importance for the future of our workforce that this is achieved sooner rather than later.
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A Step Backwards for California Colleges
The state has been experiencing a rollercoaster of cluster cases over recent months. As a result, the safety of students and faculty members returning to campus is a hot topic of debate.
Since the mandatory lockdown orders began in March, most California colleges have had to adopt a remote learning system. Thankfully, this swift response has prevented students from falling behind in their studies. However, UCLA was planning to reopen its doors partially. The initial plan was to allow 5,000 students to return to their dorms, offering 8% of face to face classes.
Public health concerns have put a halt to these plans. Now UCLA, UC Riverside, and UC Irvine will continue to work online for the remainder of the quarter.
Essential Worker Studies to Open
There are some exceptions to this rule. A small number of in-person courses will open to train students that are preparing for essential worker positions. These include:
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Emergency services
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Healthcare
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Medicine
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Social work
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The sciences
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Engineering
The skills needed to join these workforces can’t be taught remotely. Therefore, to ensure the stability of the future, a limited amount of students will resume study, on campus, with teachers.
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Strict Measure for Health and Safety
The health precautions for these students and the staff involved aren’t being taken lightly. UC Riverside has declared that only around 900 out of 4,200 will return. Additionally, they must provide a negative COVID-19 test two weeks before arriving on campus.
Further testing will then happen regularly. Students will also have to follow social distancing rules to limit the chance of the virus spreading. For those heading to college, it’s the perfect time to utilize home delivery services. Look for promo codes to keep you safe indoors and on top of spending.
Dorms layouts will also receive a makeover so that students are residing in single bedrooms. College officials state there’s no pressure on those who feel like it’s too much of a risk to come back.
UC Irvine is also taking this approach but with much larger numbers and different rules. Seven thousand students will receive a warm welcome (at a distance) who need the housing. However, classes will be remotely taught only. The students will have 30 minutes to move their belongings in with the help of their parents. They will then undergo mandatory testing weekly for the foreseeable future.
By allowing half the number of students onto the grounds of UC Irvine, 400 isolation rooms are available if necessary.
To Conclude
Educational settings have had to make and adapt plans to resume normalcy continually. It’s an increasing challenge as the movement of the virus is unpredictable. However, our understanding of COVID-19 and our knowledge of effective ways to manage it are increasing.
California state is the current leader in US cases. The active number in Orange County is creeping up to 54,000 at the time of writing this. Therefore, you must put your health first before making any decisions.
Rest assured, if you do decide to go back to or begin college, every measure possible to protect your health is being put in place. College coordinators are following the current health guidelines closely.
