U.S. colleges brace for a devastating summer and fall

[Demovictory9]

https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/U-S-colleges-brace-for-a-devastating-summer-and-15212506.php

For many U.S. colleges, the worst may still be ahead.

The upheaval in higher education has been unprecedented already, with campuses closed for months, graduation ceremonies scrapped and entrance exams canceled. Administrators across the nation increasingly fear their schools may not reopen for the fall semester. In the meantime, many have canceled summer programs, sports camps and on-campus weddings - all of which would be lucrative most years. The double whammy of losing summer and fall income would hurt all schools, and it could be fatal to those that were already struggling.

"The hit is huge," said Larry Ladd, a consultant with the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges. "They will have less financial cushion because that summer revenue is no longer is there."

College finances are under siege on many fronts. Endowment values have fallen with markets. Fundraising is a steep challenge now. New and returning students may have increased need for financial aid, because many families have lost income in the Covid-19 downturn. Some colleges even fear they won't be able to fill their freshman class for fall 2020 as students may decide to wait a year instead of starting online, which would strangle tuition revenue.

High school counselors are advising students that planning ahead even as far as September will be difficult.

"I would tell kids: Number one, the likelihood of having face-to-face classes in September is pretty darn small," said Scott White, a retired guidance director for more than 20 years at Montclair High School in New Jersey. Referring to covid-19's risk to older people, he said: "You're not going to get 65-year-old college professors going in."

https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/U-S-colleges-brace-for-a-devastating-summer-and-15212506.php

[a la izquierda]

1. My university is discussing blended options

To allow for social distancing in classrooms and to account for students who may not want to be physically present on campus.

Meantime, I’ll be remotely attending law classes at a university in the U.K. so I can transition out of the academy eventually. Fall semester is going to be weird for sure.

[MissB]

2. I'll have one starting grad school and one starting his senior year of undergrad

The oldest graduates this week with his undergrad in engineering. He’s headed straight for grad school (fully funded plus he get an NSF grad fellowship). He’s planning on being physically in the same city as the university regardless of whether he will be attending class. Luckily his research will be virtual. The last few months have been unfortunate for any college senior, but they’re all dealing with as much of a changed world as we are. He’s fortunate in that he has no undergrad debt and no need to go get a job through the summer.

Youngest will stay in the same city as his university all summer and next year. We pay his rent and that won’t change. He just secured a summer job this week. His undergrad costs (other than rent) are covered by scholarship so he’s fine through next spring. Not sure what the job market will be when he graduates but at least he will leave debt free. I don’t think he will go for grad school but who knows.

[Demovictory9]

3. they are very fortunate to be debt free, definitely