Wow, why can’t they give it until summer before demanding in person?
I was scheduled to teach in-person last semester (without my input) and despite my objections and a running 20% positivity rate in our area, was told it was required. I talked my department head into okaying the first week as virtual only and then just kept it that way. Had a pretty great semester too. The rate never went down much lower than 8% on our campus. They did very little random testing.
I’m just a grad student without any kids yet, so I could afford to worst case lose my position— but I worry about those who are pressured into in the classroom for no real reason apart from some admin feeling students want that experience.
> for no real reason apart from some admin feeling students want that experience
International students are a significant revenue stream, and a certain percentage face to face is a requirement of their ability to attend. Certain grants, visas, and accreditation and ranking criteria also measure by hours professors are available to students.
It's all part of an implied contract of reputability. Follow the rules, even if they are meaningless or counterproductive, because that is what's asked of the institution so it can be considered an institution.
No one knew how long the pandemic would last or how severe it would be. Do they need better continuity planning and accommodations for remote learning? Evidence points to yes. Do they have to balance that against a century or more of institutional history and practice? Also yes. Higher ed isn't like SV. It exists to react slowly and preserve rigorously proven methods, even in the face of tumultuous change.
It's probably some adjunct teaching, while the tenured faculty sit at home and fill out grant applications.
My buddy is in this position. The university forces him to show up and deliver an in-person lecture for the undergrads. After a few weeks the students figured out that the lectures are streamed anyway, so it's easier to just watch it at home and there's a lot of lecturing to an empty room.
The grad students still show up to seminars though.
