Members
Professor Shorna Allred (Natural Resources) is the Faculty Senate’s representative.
Comments and suggestions can be posted below. Totally anonymous unless you share your identity in the posting itself.
Charge
The committee should begin by identifying and formulating recommendations about the criteria to be used in making the determination about how and when to re-activate the campus for teaching (see, for example, the guidelines being developed at state, local, and national levels).
They should next identify a range of options for re-activating the campus for teaching this fall, e.g.,
- full re-activation in late August;
- delaying re-activation by one or two months;
- phased re-activation with students arriving in waves;
- re-activation only for a subset of students (e.g., seniors and/or graduate and professional students, with other undergraduates online until the spring);
- and so on. Note that there are variations within each of these to consider, for example, if we had a delayed start, would we get rid of the winter break and run classes through January? Or are there other academic calendar changes that should be considered (e.g. shortened semester with minimal breaks to avoid/prevent travel
The committee should then use the identified criteria and options to frame answers to the questions below, as well as any other questions that they determine are significant. They should make recommendations to the president, noting both the advantages and disadvantages of each option, not later than June 15. They should also provide intermediate updates to the cabinet every other week.
Questions to be addressed by the subcommittees.
Federal Guidelines for reopening.
You talk about Cornell as part of a community – what about the community at large, currently at low risk but not if 20,000 students return from every corner of the US. Have you asked them how they feel about their hospitals and medical facilities being rather quickly overwhelmed?
I just want to further encourage the committees to favor plans that opt for allowing students back on campus. It wasn’t until quarantine where I realized that my home environment is damaging my mental health and I am constantly placed in toxic, abusive scenarios.
I, like other students, am very lucky to have found communities on campus that are actual homes to me, and completing my last year of studies online would seriously put me and others at risk. A leave of absence is not an available option for me.
Thank you for all the work and consideration you have given to our campus.
When will there be an announcement on the status of this? As a student, I would like to know what the committee submitted on June 15th. Lots of people have used June 15th as an anchor date to start making big decisions, such as will I come back to campus or not? Will I sign this sublease agreement or not? etc. It would be great if Cornell were transparent and share what was presented.
As an incoming graduate student in the “at risk” category, I think we should consider opening in some facet of usual, in person operation, but all classes should offer the option (not mandatory) for online lectures AND online office hours AND online study groups for students who are at risk while still maintaining the option for in person learning for those not at risk. I think that cleaning of libraries should happen at least 3x/day with sanitizing wipes, and that there should be a rule about cleaning your space after you sit there, with sanitizing wipes. These wipes should be more common place than tissue paper.
Also, for the students who are at high risk, like myself, and going into a research-oriented graduate program, I think that the option to take all classes on-line and forgo in person research until this covid situation subsides should be available, on a case-by-case basis. I am unsure if I personally am comfortable going back, although I very much want to, and the option to watch all of my lectures online and complete my classes requirement early for the degree would be helpful. I.E. push back the in-person research section of a graduate degree, and take more classes online at the start, and then stop taking classes earlier, while still maintaining the normal timeline of continuation with the degree (ex. A exam and awarding the masters after 2 years) I do emphasize that this should merely be offered as an option and on a case-by-case basis.
I also think that if a new solution (outside of the norm with accelerated schedules or different learning styles) is implemented, it should be done as a pass/fail option because of the changes to learning style, teaching adjustments, and so forth, are stressful as is. I think that in general, faculty, administration, etc. should error on the side of over-accommodation because there will be students at risk.
To start, I feel that on campus instruction is much more beneficial than online instruction and would like to see our time on campus maximized. This semester I watched the quality of instruction drop in all of my classes once we moved online. So, if classes are forced online, professors need to be held accountable. Additionally, many students have off campus housing. Most of these students will not be reimbursed for time in which classes are online. For me, staying in Ithaca provides a better learning environment and would make me feel safer. So, it would be extremely beneficial to have an open library to work even if classes are online. An amazing part of Cornell is the resources offered to us, so maximizing available resources (if a transition online is needed) is key.
Students will not pay for Option 0 (on-line) unless the tuition fee is drastically reduced. I am not sure how the University will stay solvent.
We need to maximize time on campus and minimize or eliminate virtual learning. Virtual learning was not as effective, and is not what we expect from a Cornell education.
A new option is starting the Fall semester early and end on or before Nov. 24. Numerous colleges are planning on operating with this plan. An early start allows students to be on campus and enrich their learning in ways that being at home during the online portion of the current options simply cannot. This option allows us to be on campus and finish the semester before a potential second wave of Covid-19 which is expected late fall / early winter. Cornell being an elite institution has a duty to provide the best educational opportunities and on-line simply doesn’t work.
Above all else, I think the university should give people choices.
If professors want to teach online, have a graduate student present in the classroom to run the technology and invite students to attend in person, leading to easier discussions than on Zoom. If students would prefer to attend remotely — whether from their parents’ home or an apartment off campus — allow that option. And those who want to be on campus should be able to do so, perhaps with required testing once every week or two assuming tests are available.
If there is a spike of COVID-19 in late fall, prepare everybody for being remote in the December-February time frame but I do not see any reason to plan for that definitely — just have it out there as a contingency that everyone knows could be coming and make a call somewhere around November 1st.
I second this idea. I think the most equitable solution is to let students and faculty decide what’s best for them — whether they want to learn or teach online or in person. I appreciate and applaud the work these committees are doing. I just hope the final plan is flexible with regard to whether students and faculty feel most comfortable working from home or on campus.
I think as much in-person time as possible is idea.
As a teaching assistant I am also quite strongly opposed to any requirement to wear a mask while interacting with students – masks should be a personal choice.
The fear mongering displayed in some of these comments astounds me. Each and every one of us faces some risk every day of our lives, and each and every one of us will die eventually. If some small percentage of us die due to the virus, that is just part of life. We should accept it and make the most of the situation.
Regarding options on: https://theuniversityfaculty.cornell.edu/covid-19-information-for-instructors/the-re-opening-committees/caledar-options-for-2020-21/
I would prefer as much in person time as possible. As a potential teaching assistant, I am also strongly opposed to any requirement to wear a mask while teaching or interacting with students. Masks should be a personal choice.
The fear to this virus that some of these comments display amazes me. We face risks everyday of our lives, and every single one of us will die eventually. It is part of life and it is best to just accept it.
I would say for Spring 2021, opening on-line and then go back to school in March is just ridiculous.
Option 6:
Option 1 (Opening in person in August and send kids home right before thanksgiving to finish at home) but regular opening in January for spring 2021
For concerned professors and students, offer them an online option.
I would like to suggest a variant of Option 5 of the re-activation options:
Start Fall in Mid Sep
Hold 2 Fall sessions with distinct course
enrollment
• Fall Session 1 : 10 weeks In person instruction Students take majority of their
targeted FALL credit hours (preferably courses that require access to lab, studio
etc
• 2 week break between the 2 sessions to provide for Travel / Quarantine / Set up for new courses
• Fall Session 2 : 5 6 weeks Online only Students take the remaining credit hours (courses that can be done online without serious compromises ); Extend Fall Session 2 into the typical Winter schedule (Cancel winter session)
Spring to start a week later and end a week later
• Spring Session 1 : 4 weeks Online
• Spring Session 2 : 11 12 Weeks In Person Instruction
Full Online option for AY 2020
21 for all courses to be offered to students (for those
whose assessment of risks or some other situation forces them to stay online).
No breaks within sessions; Reporting of Travel; Periodical testing for all residents; Cap on class sizes; Extended class hour window to split classes; All other actions to make health a priority and Compliance a must;
Benefits:
A delayed (Sep) start may help in a better assessment of risk by all stakeholders, reduced uncertainty in phased opening up, Ease of travel restrictions
A clean 2 week break between sessions (with distinct courses) would help
• Conclude Travel and associated quarantine time that may vary by State / Country
• Set up for Online instruction
Fall Session 2 or First part of Spring semester maybe re-formatted with in person instruction in case we are fortunate to have credible and practical options to combat the pandemic by early Nov. The base case plan to be Online only. The Hybrid option can potentially dovetail into a large plan of hybrid instruction delivery model in the long term by Cornell University (if that is an option).
I’m a rising sophomore in HumEc. Being accepted and attending Cornell has been the greatest thrill in my life. I was accepted at other top schools but chose Cornell because I felt it was the best fit for me, not just because of the majors offered or the reputation but because of how I felt when I was on campus. Cornell makes a point of marketing that experience to prospective students and that there is no substitute to being there to collaborate with fellow students, to have use of the world class facilities, to interact with the professors outside of class and have access to opportunities only provided by live attendance. The pandemic struck the world and turned all our lives upside-down. While I was disappointed to have my freshman year cut short, I understood why it had to be done and that it was a temporary measure. I also understood that at the time little was known about who was really at risk and we had to simply lock down everything until we knew more about how we could mitigate the impact of the pandemic. My online experience overall was terrible and every one of my friends has said the same. Professors did not understand how to use the technology and many did not adapt to the situation. Again I understood that all this was rapidly thrown together with no plan and they did the best they could.
Now things have changed. We know much more about the at risk groups. We know the virus primarily causes severe illness and death in the older population. We know that 80% of the deaths and a majority of the hospitalizations have been in those over the age of 60. We know based on CDC numbers that the college age group has a .00032% chance of dying and that includes those with preexisting conditions. We know that mitigating actions like wearing masks, social distancing indoors, using soap and hand sanitizers severely lessens the chance of contracting the virus and being hospitalized for anyone below age 60 who is healthy. We now know that infection via surfaces is highly unlikely.
Ithaca had no first wave. The hospital was not overrun. It has doubled its bed space in preparation and never utilized it. Ithaca has almost no cases. The curve has been flattened. Testing is available now and will be ramped significantly over the next few months. Ithaca and Cornell are in a perfect position to return to at least some form of live instruction in the Fall. Mitigation actions, testing of all students returning and continued regular testing and contact tracing to quell any outbreak can and needs to be done. For faculty who feel they may be at higher risk they should have the option of providing online (but better implemented) lectures. Student need to be allowed to return to the Ithaca campus and regain at least some measure of the Cornell experience they were promised and are paying for. Forcing students to remain online only is unacceptable and has no basis in science. Staying online only reduces the Cornell experience to the be no better than any other online learning institution and in many respects worse. If I wanted to learn in front of a screen 8 hours a day I would have done that. Instead I would rather take a gap semester until Cornell can figure out a way to offer live instruction again.
There is no promise of a vaccine or treatment this term, next term or maybe ever. Is Cornell going to change to online only for years? With every passing semester online students are losing the experience they need to be competitive in the real world. If online-only continues next fall and next spring I have now lost over 35% of my college career.
I chose to attend Cornell for all the things I talked about when I started this post. Those things cannot be delivered online. I fully realize there will be compromises for the next term and I am willing to live with those compromises if Cornell can also compromise and deliver on what it promised. If top schools, many in hard hit urban areas such as Columbia and NYU, Boston College, Syracuse and even Ithaca College can make in person instruction happen why can’t Cornell?
As for the options presented. Delaying 4 weeks makes no sense at all. Ithaca College is already delaying their start. Cornell should take advantage of that and start either early or on time in order to not have both student populations come back to Ithaca at the same time. An earlier move in makes much more sense and would allow for more rigorous testing and for students and faculty to have more time to adapt to the new rules before classes begin. It would also allow students the ability to finish coursework by Thanksgiving and if needed return home for finals. If there is a real fear of a second wave during flu season in November, then this is the best approach. Any delay in starting pushes us closer to that potential second wave and would be essentially burning the candle at both ends. An earlier start can avoid all of that. Most student living off campus have leases that start August 1 or earlier so they would be fine with an early start. A delayed start endangers the entire term.
I completely agree with this comment. I would like to thank the committee for adding an early start option. I sincerely hope that this option is given strong consideration as it is the most smooth, feasible option.
Returning early to campus allows Cornell students to return to Ithaca 2 months before Ithaca College students, which is defiantly the safest option. If students are tested and quarantined upon arrival, the university will ensure that its population is virus-free by the time classes start. As long as students do not travel or bring visitors (the NYC busses are shut down ect.), we will be able to maintain this healthy population.
Please use science and known statistics when making this decision. The survival rate among individuals between 20-25 years old is 99.99%. From this statistic, it is clear that students are at a much higher risk of dying from accidents, cancer, heart disease and suicide. Going online in the fall would be anti-scientific. I understand that some faculty/ staff may feel at risk and uncomfortable teaching. To this, I propose that all employees have the option to work from home using zoom/online resources. Likewise, all international or immunocompromised students should have the option to take classes remotely. Before the pandemic, many of my classes recorded videos of their lectures and posted them to Canvas. This practice could be continued with a few added online resources to ensure equal access to education. For students on campus, tools like “thermometer guns” could be utilized in large group lectures/events. Students could be required to test frequently for symptoms, and masks could be required as well. Although not everyone will choose to return to campus, the majority of students will. It is incorrect to deprive students of this opportunity.
I would also like to suggest that plans for the spring are not decided at this time. It is much too soon to predict the state of the virus this far in advance.
My experience with online learning was awful, and many of my peers refuse to pay for another semester of virtual learning. For the future of higher education, it is Cornell’s duty to provide the majority of its population the opportunity to have an on-campus experience. Thank you for the opportunity to share my thoughts! I appreciate your hard work and dedication.