Spring Break, Trikinis & Conspiracy Theories: Eduvation Insider, May 22

To round out your week, we confirm your worst suspicions: Yes, you can fool half of the people with COVID19 conspiracy theories, and they ALL think they’re too smart for that. Yes, spring break partiers brought the virus back from Florida beaches and infected their communities. And yes, we’re all wearing softy pants and won’t go back to business formal anytime soon!

A new survey finds that 6% of students are considering deferral, and 32% will transfer elsewhere if their school goes online this fall. If they can’t find an open campus, perhaps they’ll consider Kaplan’s “Boost Year” bridging program. 

And among yesterday’s campus announcements, Brock details its virtual convocation, Seneca its operational details for fall, SFU will open “curbside pickup” at its library next month, and two institutions formerly in the “F2F” column (Laurentian and SaskPolytech) have now clarified that they will be offering blended courses this Fall.  

Sigh…

Dunning-Kruger and COVID19

Many of us in higher ed underestimate the gullibility of the general public – and so do they! A recent Carleton survey of 2,000 Canadians (May 5-8) found that 46% believed at least one of four COVID19 conspiracy theories, particularly those who spent more time on social media. In all cases, the youngest cohort (age 18-29) was most misguided: 30% believed COVID19 was engineered in a Chinese lab, 18% that it is a 5G coverup, 31% that hydroxychloroquine is an effective treatment, and 20% that rinsing your nose with saline solution provides protection against the virus. Yet overall, 57% were confident they could distinguish misinformation from fact. Carleton

Spring Break Souvenirs

A preliminary study tracking the cellphones of millions of US college students has found that college spring breaks drove higher local COVID19 case growth, particularly when students travelled by air, to New York or to Florida. The case growth peaked 2 weeks after students returned to campus, and mortality rates 2-3 weeks after that. (The implication is that institutions can help control the pandemic by cancelling student break weeks, as several have announced for fall. In Canada, Quebec’s spring break occurred before travel advisories were in place, and that province now has more than half the country’s cases.) SSRN

Student Perspectives

Online Haters Gonna Hate

A new US survey of 12,145 high school, college and grad students has found once again that 32% would transfer elsewhere if their school continued online learning this fall, and 25% if the start of term were delayed or online learning were augmented with some F2F experiences. Students expressed concern about internet access and having adequate structure online, and emphasized the importance of campus housing and social events. 79% felt tuition should be lower for online courses. Only 6% said they were considering deferral. Niche

“Boost Year” instead of Gap Year?

Kaplan has launched a 13-week online career and college readiness program they call “Boost.” For $3,995 US, students spend 20 hours a week in 3 phases: Discovering their strengths and interests with a 1:1 advisor, Exploring career pathways through interviews with industry experts and WIL experiences, and Planning their college majors and entry-level jobs. Students network in a small cohort, and Kaplan is partnering with universities to provide a custom cohort to students deferring admission to their programs, with the option to earn college credit.  Forbes  |  Kaplan

Campus Updates

Bow Valley College announced yesterday that its Fall semester will be offered “online and through remote delivery” but that they are “exploring the possibility to offer some labs in-person while maintaining social distancing and sanitizing protocols.” Support services will be virtual, including health and wellness, advising, and library services. BVC

Brock has offered some details about its Virtual Convocation, which launches Jun 19. The web portal will customize videos and content based on a student’s faculty and degree. In addition to a “social media celebration toolkit,” grads will receive their parchment, alumni pin, convocation program and a bag of confetti by mail. Brock

Laurentian announced yesterday that, while it still anticipates “an eventual return to campus in the coming months… the exact modalities for course delivery are currently being finalized.” Like other universities, it will use “remote learning and online mechanisms during the transition.” Laurentian

OCAD announced yesterday that its fall term will be “offered through remote delivery in all programs.” Canadian and international students are guaranteed that they can complete their requirements remotely, although “at the same time, the University is preparing for some in-person learning opportunities, which could include smaller studio workshops or classes.” OCAD

Saskatchewan Polytechnic has announced “a two-pronged approach to education delivery this fall. A combination of online/distance instruction and limited in-person learning experiences where needed.” Program-specific information is still to come. SaskPolytech

Seneca took a while to mention the Fall term at all, but it is one of Canada’s first institutions to provide detailed information about ancillary and support functions. Its fall term will be “a mix of online program and course delivery with some on-campus activities for programs that have significant in-person components.” Winter and Summer students will be given priority to complete their in-person requirements. “What can stay online will remain online,” including most services. Athletics, varsity and intramural sports remain suspended until further notice. Residences will be open, and libraries and computing commons will reopen when permitted. Seneca

SFU will begin to offer “curbside pickup” of physical resources from its library beginning in June. SFU

York plans to open its residences in stages for fall, limiting it to half-capacity in single-occupancy rooms. It has therefore suspended its first-year housing guarantee. York

TGIF

Facemasks, Athleisure & Trikinis

The pandemic has already upended fashion and cosmetics retailers and manufacturers, and may permanently change dress codes and clothing choices. (Watch out for the “trikini” on beaches this summer.) After most recessions, wardrobes become more casual. After months in “athleisure” clothing, people will likely choose “more elevated, breezy and comfy clothes, or fashionable loungewear mixed with more structured garments.” Oversize garments will be a trend (especially for those who gained the so-called “COVID 19”). And face masks may well stick around as an expression of personal style. CTV

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Ken Steele is Canada's leading higher ed futurist and strategic consultant, through his company Eduvation. He delivers virtual presentations and facilitates virtual retreats or workshops centred on emerging trends, enrolment management, pedagogical innovation, and strategic planning. ken@eduvation.ca