FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[jknezek]

We heard from an SJU/CSB faculty member that they are preparing for students on campus, with "condensed" classes - students would take one class at a time for 4 weeks, then rotate to another, then another, etc. FWIW.

It's interesting how many innovative ideas are coming out of this. I wonder if any will end up sticking as better options than the traditional college experience. It's nice to see higher education, usually a bastion of "because we've always done it this way", loosening up and working through the challenge.

[art76]

We heard from an SJU/CSB faculty member that they are preparing for students on campus, with "condensed" classes - students would take one class at a time for 4 weeks, then rotate to another, then another, etc. FWIW.

Intriguing idea - wonder how they'll post grades throughout the semester? And, if they don't wait until the end of the term to do so, how might that affect eligibility for a student "on the bubble" GPA wise? 

[faunch]

We heard from an SJU/CSB faculty member that they are preparing for students on campus, with "condensed" classes - students would take one class at a time for 4 weeks, then rotate to another, then another, etc. FWIW.

I believe Cornell College in Mount Vernon, IA has ran classes in similar way dating back to the late 70's.
https://cornellcollege.edu/one-course-at-a-time/index.shtml?_ga=2.191041827.86913796.1590511252-1167243795.1590511252&_ga=2.191041827.86913796.1590511252-1167243795.1590511252

[formerd3db]

We heard from an SJU/CSB faculty member that they are preparing for students on campus, with "condensed" classes - students would take one class at a time for 4 weeks, then rotate to another, then another, etc. FWIW.

Intriguing idea - wonder how they'll post grades throughout the semester? And, if they don't wait until the end of the term to do so, how might that affect eligibility for a student "on the bubble" GPA wise?

I've heard that some schools will be using a "Pass/Fail"  sysyem, at least initially. Yet, as you bring up, how that integrates into a GPA calculation, I do not know. I can try and ask one of my prof contacts at our college.

[OzJohnnie]

I doubt the college experience will change.  Or at least the top tier experience.  Humans are social animals.  Also, this bug is hardly abnormal as far as bugs go.  If it weren't novel then it would be like any other of the unexceptional flu-like illnesses, and in another one or two flu seasons it will be.  If we roll over for a simple common virus the I reckon that would be a real tragedy of the human spirit.

Sometimes I think all this "new normal" talk forgets that the Matrix was a bad thing.

[jamtod]

I doubt the college experience will change.  Or at least the top tier experience.  Humans are social animals.  Also, this bug is hardly abnormal as far as bugs go.  If it weren't novel then it would be like any other of the unexceptional flu-like illnesses, and in another one or two flu seasons it will be.  If we roll over for a simple common virus the I reckon that would be a real tragedy of the human spirit.

Sometimes I think all this "new normal" talk forgets that the Matrix was a bad thing.

I guess I don't equate adapting to changing circumstances or learning that there could be better ways to do the things we've always done (driven by necessity at one point, but later not) is anything like "rolling over." We can remain social animals and the ways in which we are social have certainly changed throughout history, often in response to much lesser drivers than this.

[SagatagSam]

I came across an article from Forbes where they rate the financial fitness of every private school in the country (for which they could obtain data). The data is a few years old (2017), but I imagine is has to be reliable for the sake of conversation. It made me think about how this pandemic may change the landscape of colleges across the country. Some have already closed, others will soon close. I worry for a few schools in the MIAC if they end up being collateral COVID-19 damage.

Here's how the schools in Minnesota fared:

MIAC

Augsburg College                                    2.10    C
Bethel University                                    1.85    C
Carleton College                                    4.37    A+
College of Saint Benedict                    2.54    B
Concordia College at Moorhead            2.82    B
Gustavus Adolphus College                    2.43    B-
Hamline University                                    1.59    C
Macalester College                                    4.11    A
Saint Johns University                            3.49    A
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota    2.27    C+
St Catherine University                            2.49    B-
St Olaf College                                    3.71    A
University of St Thomas                           3.22    B+

UMAC

Crown College                                    1.42    C-
The College of Saint Scholastica            2.23    C
Martin Luther College                            3.19    B
Northwestern College                            3.25    B+
North Central College                            2.56    B

MacMurray College, which recently announced it would close at the end of the 2020 school year, did not provide any data, so there is no real good point of reference. St. Joseph's College in Indiana did provide data (1.77, C) and it closed its doors in 2017.

Here's the site if you want to check the methodology for yourselves: https://www.forbes.com/sites/schifrin/2017/08/02/2017-college-financial-grades-how-fit-is-your-school/#31f931d7d68d

[OzJohnnie]

Good find, Sam. Perhaps those ratings add some perspective on BU and SMU declaring open for business this fall. I’ve got my fingers crossed for them that it comes off financially.  I wonder what those ratings will like like in a year’s time. It won’t be pretty, I bet.

In other news, the NFL declares open for business. Full stadiums, full steam ahead. Yeah, this is accurate, I’m sure.

https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/redskins/nfls-troy-vincent-were-planning-have-full-stadiums-until-medical-community-tells-us

The headline is more inflammatory than the quote:

“We also know that we have to plan for half stadiums. Three-quarters. So we're planning for all of these different scenarios. But first and foremost, we're making every effort, working with the medical community, if we can have those stadiums with all people until they tell us otherwise when that time comes, that's our plan. That's our plan of action."

[HSCTiger74]

In other news, the NFL declares open for business. Full stadiums, full steam ahead. Yeah, this is accurate, I'm sure.

https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/redskins/nfls-troy-vincent-were-planning-have-full-stadiums-until-medical-community-tells-us

The headline is more inflammatory than the quote:

"We also know that we have to plan for half stadiums. Three-quarters. So we're planning for all of these different scenarios. But first and foremost, we're making every effort, working with the medical community, if we can have those stadiums with all people until they tell us otherwise when that time comes, that's our plan. That's our plan of action."

  Yeah, we'll see how that all plays out. I renewed my tickets a while ago because I didn't want to risk losing them, but the last I heard things were still up in the air. My wife say that if they do play I'm welcome to go and sit around with 70K other people, I just can't come home after.

[Robert Zimmerman]

We heard from an SJU/CSB faculty member that they are preparing for students on campus, with "condensed" classes - students would take one class at a time for 4 weeks, then rotate to another, then another, etc. FWIW.

I loved J-Term!!! I don't know if my liver could handle four in a row.

[Robert Zimmerman]

Also, the SJU President just sent an email stating the CSB/SJU would be opening as scheduled in the fall.

[OzJohnnie]

Also, the SJU President just sent an email stating the CSB/SJU would be opening as scheduled in the fall.

Woohoo!  Or should I say, "Hut hut!"

[OzJohnnie]

Yeah, we'll see how that all plays out. I renewed my tickets a while ago because I didn't want to risk losing them, but the last I heard things were still up in the air. My wife say that if they do play I'm welcome to go and sit around with 70K other people, I just can't come home after.

Is that a promise or a threat?  So much material to work with.  I'd be sleeping on the couch for a week.

[Robert Zimmerman]

Also, the SJU President just sent an email stating the CSB/SJU would be opening as scheduled in the fall.

Woohoo!  Or should I say, "Hut hut!"

I should add, "subject to federal and state health and safety guidelines."

[OzJohnnie]

Also, the SJU President just sent an email stating the CSB/SJU would be opening as scheduled in the fall.

Woohoo!  Or should I say, "Hut hut!"

I should add, "subject to federal and state health and safety guidelines."

Right you are, Bob.  Here's the announcement:

https://www.csbsju.edu/covid-19/campus-communications/052620-fall-update

"Today, we are formally announcing that Saint Ben's and Saint John's plan to return to our on-campus community in the fall with the first day of classes as planned on August 31, 2020, subject to federal and state health and safety guidelines.

We are planning to open campus for the 2020-21 academic year as scheduled because we need to be together. We learn many things in community at Saint Ben's and Saint John's, including things about ourselves. Under the inspiration of our Catholic beliefs and guidance of our Benedictine values, we become good women and good men.

In preparation for fall 2020, we are creating a detailed protocol to protect each member of our community. The centerpieces of the protocol are testing, tracing and, as needed, separating. We have identified places for isolation and quarantine if necessary. We are putting in place rules for physical distancing and building access, and we are following exacting standards of cleanliness in residence halls, common spaces, dining facilities, and bathrooms. Medical professionals on each campus are informing good decision-making. And consistent with our values, our students, faculty and staff will join in a contract of personal responsibility."

So some interesting bits in there.  It looks like they'll set up some sick rooms for anyone who gets the bug to sweat it out.  People will also need to sign a "I promise to be clean" declaration.  Good luck with those hygiene rules in Flynntown...