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Should colleges and universities open in person for the Fall 2020 semester? Should colleges and universities open in person for the Fall 2020 semester?
Yes – Students should be allowed back on campus for in-person classes Yes – Students should be allowed back on campus for in-person classes
No – Students should do the semester online and not come back to campus No – Students should do the semester online and not come back to campus
Depends - On outside data Depends - On outside data
Students learn better in person Students learn better in person
Colleges depend on the room and board charge Colleges depend on the room and board charge
Innovation and science depends on schools Innovation and science depends on schools
Local and national economies depend on schools Local and national economies depend on schools
Some students depend on campus housing and facilities Some students depend on campus housing and facilities
Some students depend on the structure of in-person classes Some students depend on the structure of in-person classes
It's impossible to plan ahead in such uncertain times It's impossible to plan ahead in such uncertain times
Reopening college campuses is too dangerous Reopening college campuses is too dangerous
On campus and in-person classes will only lead to outbreaks On campus and in-person classes will only lead to outbreaks
Students will congregate and spread disease Students will congregate and spread disease
Whether universities should open depends on community transmission Whether universities should open depends on community transmission
Whether universities should open depends on testing capacity Whether universities should open depends on testing capacity
Whether universities should open depends on student locations Whether universities should open depends on student locations
Whether universities should open depends on staff health concerns Whether universities should open depends on staff health concerns
Whether universities should open depends on student health concerns Whether universities should open depends on student health concerns
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Should colleges and universities open in person for the Fall 2020 semester?
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Yes – Students should be allowed back on campus for in-person classes

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Colleges depend on the room and board charge

All colleges are already struggling financially due Covid-19. Colleges still have high campus operation and maintenance fees usually covered by room and board charges. Campuses that remain online will have to pay these bills from their own reserves.
Christina Paxson
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The Argument

Running a college/university campus is an expensive operation. Many expenses go unrecognized, such as employing campus workers like safety officers, janitors, administrators, etc, and maintaining campus facilities.[1]These are fixed expenses that mostly get paid for by student tuition and fees. If students don't return to campus, the universities will have to use their endowments – which is like a college's savings account – to pay these expenses. Colleges depend on a steady and predictable flow of money from students every year to run their operations. Out of state and international students are especially important because they pay more and will likely be the ones least likely to return. In addition, colleges make a lot of money from athletics and conferences held on the campus. [2] The consequence of fewer students returning to campus is that the cost may have to be absorbed by the college itself, causing them to run into a deficit. Endowments supply scholarships and other financial assistance programs, and so if the college is faced with a more expensive operation there will be less money available to help students who are struggling financially. Another result of these financial issues is that many colleges are having to layoff professors in order to cut expenses.[3] In addition, campuses that do reopen will face even higher running costs as they roll out expansive testing programs which aim to test students up to three times a week.[3] Colleges have also had to renovate various campus spaces to comply with COVID safety guidelines, and are stocking up on expensive protective equipment.[3] Altogether, running a campus is an expensive operation and without student room and board fees, colleges are going to struggle to stay financially afloat.

Counter arguments

Colleges should not be opening for in-person classes in order to stabilise their balance sheets. An article by Mikhalevich and Powell from Inside Higher Ed writes that "we believe the intention to return to in-person instruction is motivated by a misreading of the scientific probabilities, as well as a flawed balancing of interests that improperly weights economic harms and optimal teaching environments over systematic health impacts on the university community."[4] Experts warn that universities in areas with high rates of Covid-19 are making the conscious decision to place the institution's financial needs above the needs of their students.[5]

Proponents

Premises

[P1] Room and board fees pay for more than just the room and food. [P2] Colleges depend on room and board fees to pay other bills. [P3] The loss of revenue from students remaining remote creates a budget deficit. [P4] Colleges need students living on campus to stay financially sound.

Rejecting the premises

References

  1. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2020/04/06/colleges-announce-room-and-board-refund-plans-students-are-asking-more
  2. https://www.npr.org/2020/04/20/833254570/college-brace-for-financial-trouble-and-a-big-question-will-they-reopen-in-fall
  3. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/16/us/coronavirus-college-faculty-layoffs.html?searchResultPosition=32
  4. https://www.insidehighered.com/views/2020/05/21/rush-reopen-colleges-fall-ignores-harsh-scientific-and-ethical-realities-opinion
  5. https://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/aug/01/uk-universities-putting-finances-above-student-safety-expert-warns
This page was last edited on Thursday, 3 Sep 2020 at 22:54 UTC

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