Gettysburg College will Open for a Residential Fall 2020 Semester
(Photo Allyson Frantz/The Gettysburgian)
By Gauri Mangala, Managing Editor
Gettysburg College has launched a “Better Together” section of the website announcing its intention to return to campus for the Fall 2020 semester in a residential setting. Here are some key takeaways:
First day of classes will be August 17.
In an attempt to eliminate the need for students leaving and returning to campus for Reading Days and Thanksgiving Break, the on-campus semester will end on November 24 and students will complete final exams remotely.
Tuition will increase by 3.75 percent.
In order to sustain itself during this time, Gettysburg College’s total comprehensive fee has increased to $72,460. At least 50 percent of the funds the college has received from the CARES Act will be available for students that are Title IV eligible to offset tuition costs. At least $828,017 is available for emergency relief grants.
Masks and social distancing will be required.
Announcements are yet to be made about larger gatherings, but members of the community will be required to uphold the Centers for Disease Control’s recommendations. Adjustments will be made to residence halls to reduce density.
There will be extensive COVID-19 precautions.
The college has partnered with a higher-education consulting firm, Keeling & Associates, to develop community health guidelines for students and employees. Before returning, community members will be required to complete a COVID-19 educational program.
The college has established a Scenario Planning Steering Committee.
Consisting of the four working groups, the committee will work to develop plans in order to adapt to the ongoing pandemic. Currently, there is a campus-wide notification plan in place in the case of a member of the community contracting COVID-19.
June 25, 2020
Can students complete semester online?
If yes, cost?
June 28, 2020
So, the new President (and others) has decided to raise the cost of 3.75% which is considerably above (as usual) the cost of living rather than to lay off a score of professors teaching useless, unemployable subjects. Oh, and all the students will be required to wear masks as if students do anything they are told to do. Many parents will decide that the “Gettysburg Experience” ain’t the same in 2020 and will rationally decide to have junior take it s “gap” year particularly when the Covid-19 infection rates rise. Alumni contributions are falling off a cliff, the number of qualified students are dwindling, and if the new President can read a balance sheet, the must needed cuts are inevitable.
June 28, 2020
So, the new President and his cohorts have decided to raise prices 3.75%, way above the cost of living, as usual. Better to do that than lay off a few professors who teach useless, unemployable subject matters. And, the “Gettysburg Experience” will now include wearing masks. And, exactly how is that being enforced–by bringing back Nicky Nightstick? If I were a parent, I would tell junior he’s taking a “gap” year–he won’t miss much and if he gets a job he will learn how those making $15/hour live. That’s a lot cheaper than sending junior overseas to learn how they live. Alumni donations are in steep decline, “gap” students are here, and the pool of fools who pay $74,000/year are declining. Not a pretty picture for Gettysburg College.