President Gempesaw Discusses Implications of Covid Virus to SJU
- Thread starter paultzman
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beast of the east
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I'm pleased to see SJU is on the ball and putting together a task force to help plan a possible return to campus, and what all the permutations may be in terms of resolving it.
One bit of caution to Dr. Gempeshaw's remarks:
Just a short while ago, affordable technology simply did not exist to virtually connect large numbers of people through an internet meeting that included video, audio and text. I attended a wedding celebration that was postponed till the fall until the bride and groom decided go go ahead with exchanging vows on the original date and a small group of friends present. By using just a laptop and a wireless connection, over 100 people and 65 zoom connections were able to witness the events, and even wish them well via audio. It didn't compare to being there, but it was pretty amazing.
While it may be creative to have accepted students day via a zoom connection, let me share by comparison the one accepted students day my family attended:
1) As we drove up to the school, more than 100 present students lined the perimeter fence of the parking lot, which was adorned with balloons and streamers of the school colors, and screamed and cheered each car that drove by with a prospective student and their parents.
2) A presentation was waiting in the basketball arena, where the president spoke, student leaders spoke, and acapella and bands performed. The president spoke to my kid immediately after about weighing his options.
3) The campus was like an amusement park of sorts. All campus groups had tables explaining things you could get involved in. There was food and beverages, a cookout, tours of campus,
3) One very cool thing is they had a popup with the school logos on the back drop the way they do at a press conference. There was an emcee who invited prospective students to come to the mic and announce their decision, the way a sports recruit might, and it was blasted over the speakers. "Hi my name is Mike Smith, and I'm from Fairfiled Connection, and I want everyone to know I've decided to attend (school name)" Wild cheering from current students follow..
4) Throughout the day, prospective students can get a vibe from the school, which can help decide for them if they really can see themselves there. (My kid was negative on the school before that day, then accepted when they offered him admission, only to go somewhere else. Another friends kid who was even more negative than my kid, slowly had his opinion reshaped that day, went there and loved the place)
The trap for SJU and other schools is for those less technically proficient especially to be enamored with how good technology works, and not realize that as explained above, you cannot possibly get a fraction of an in person experience.
The same goes for distance learning. A student struggling with calculus can't go to he professor or a grad assistant's office for some help. HE can't easily ask a classmate to help him understand a difficult concept, or even discuss subject matter.
And then of course, there is the social aspect of university life. The great friends made at school that will become lifelong buddies or even a spouse. The way roommates learn to depend on each other, whether it be to borrow a tie, or a few bucks, or any number of things that help students who come in as kids exit as adults.
One things I learned while an employee of St. John's many years ago is that the university is as much of a business as any for profit endeavor, and you cannot just press pause in situations like this. While there is significant government assistant, some universities will be crippled by this, and some will even fail.
One thing I do have more faith in is the business acumen of Dr. Gempeshaw as opposed to a priest trying to lead us out of this.
One bit of caution to Dr. Gempeshaw's remarks:
Just a short while ago, affordable technology simply did not exist to virtually connect large numbers of people through an internet meeting that included video, audio and text. I attended a wedding celebration that was postponed till the fall until the bride and groom decided go go ahead with exchanging vows on the original date and a small group of friends present. By using just a laptop and a wireless connection, over 100 people and 65 zoom connections were able to witness the events, and even wish them well via audio. It didn't compare to being there, but it was pretty amazing.
While it may be creative to have accepted students day via a zoom connection, let me share by comparison the one accepted students day my family attended:
1) As we drove up to the school, more than 100 present students lined the perimeter fence of the parking lot, which was adorned with balloons and streamers of the school colors, and screamed and cheered each car that drove by with a prospective student and their parents.
2) A presentation was waiting in the basketball arena, where the president spoke, student leaders spoke, and acapella and bands performed. The president spoke to my kid immediately after about weighing his options.
3) The campus was like an amusement park of sorts. All campus groups had tables explaining things you could get involved in. There was food and beverages, a cookout, tours of campus,
3) One very cool thing is they had a popup with the school logos on the back drop the way they do at a press conference. There was an emcee who invited prospective students to come to the mic and announce their decision, the way a sports recruit might, and it was blasted over the speakers. "Hi my name is Mike Smith, and I'm from Fairfiled Connection, and I want everyone to know I've decided to attend (school name)" Wild cheering from current students follow..
4) Throughout the day, prospective students can get a vibe from the school, which can help decide for them if they really can see themselves there. (My kid was negative on the school before that day, then accepted when they offered him admission, only to go somewhere else. Another friends kid who was even more negative than my kid, slowly had his opinion reshaped that day, went there and loved the place)
The trap for SJU and other schools is for those less technically proficient especially to be enamored with how good technology works, and not realize that as explained above, you cannot possibly get a fraction of an in person experience.
The same goes for distance learning. A student struggling with calculus can't go to he professor or a grad assistant's office for some help. HE can't easily ask a classmate to help him understand a difficult concept, or even discuss subject matter.
And then of course, there is the social aspect of university life. The great friends made at school that will become lifelong buddies or even a spouse. The way roommates learn to depend on each other, whether it be to borrow a tie, or a few bucks, or any number of things that help students who come in as kids exit as adults.
One things I learned while an employee of St. John's many years ago is that the university is as much of a business as any for profit endeavor, and you cannot just press pause in situations like this. While there is significant government assistant, some universities will be crippled by this, and some will even fail.
One thing I do have more faith in is the business acumen of Dr. Gempeshaw as opposed to a priest trying to lead us out of this.
Thanks for sharing.
Tough challenges on so many areas. Not easy.
Surprised Gempeshaw declined a video interview. Probably wanted to see questions and prepare all questions in advance.
Also was not aware students still have their belongings in dorms. That must really stink if they were only able to take travel size bag etc.
Tough challenges on so many areas. Not easy.
Surprised Gempeshaw declined a video interview. Probably wanted to see questions and prepare all questions in advance.
Also was not aware students still have their belongings in dorms. That must really stink if they were only able to take travel size bag etc.
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[quote="L J S A" post=386817]I'm actually really paranoid St. John's will cease to exist if this drags on as long as some are saying. Are people going to pay $40,000+ to attend Zoom classes? I think lots of schools are in serious, serious danger of going under.[/quote]
That is why I wrote in another post that community colleges and local 4 year state schools will benefit from this. Stay Close to home and at a fraction of the cost.
Children from wealthy families who are not great students will also benefit as they will be moved up to take the spots of kids who reevaluate the cost of learning at a private school with perhaps remote classes , less campus life, no football games etc.
That is why I wrote in another post that community colleges and local 4 year state schools will benefit from this. Stay Close to home and at a fraction of the cost.
Children from wealthy families who are not great students will also benefit as they will be moved up to take the spots of kids who reevaluate the cost of learning at a private school with perhaps remote classes , less campus life, no football games etc.
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[quote="redmannorth" post=386819][quote="L J S A" post=386817]I'm actually really paranoid St. John's will cease to exist if this drags on as long as some are saying. Are people going to pay $40,000+ to attend Zoom classes? I think lots of schools are in serious, serious danger of going under.[/quote]
That is why I wrote in another post that community colleges and local 4 year state schools will benefit from this. Stay Close to home and at a fraction of the cost.
Children from wealthy families who are not great students will also benefit as they will be moved up to take the spots of kids who reevaluate the cost of learning at a private school with perhaps remote classes , less campus life, no football games etc.[/quote]
Safety, not cost, will be the major driving factor for all Fall students. State and City schools in New York will be hard pressed to open on time with the unimpressive performance of both Governor Cuomo and Bill DumbBlasio which has made New York the world's epicenter of Covid. I was not impressed with Gampsesaw before the pandemic and unlike others I don't think he is the most competent college president in leading the school into this new normal. One would think that within the next 3 months St. John's would have funded a regular testing and quarantine system before students are allowed back to school.
The greatest threat is to non resident students who commute and could endanger others. Kids 18-22 are at a very low risk of complications and could quickly develop herd immunity. I could even see the semester delayed to late September but there is no way New York city or the local colleges, let alone the economy, can survive closures past September. As for sports, in the Big East the only sport that counts is basketball and that can easily be delayed by a month into late November.
That is why I wrote in another post that community colleges and local 4 year state schools will benefit from this. Stay Close to home and at a fraction of the cost.
Children from wealthy families who are not great students will also benefit as they will be moved up to take the spots of kids who reevaluate the cost of learning at a private school with perhaps remote classes , less campus life, no football games etc.[/quote]
Safety, not cost, will be the major driving factor for all Fall students. State and City schools in New York will be hard pressed to open on time with the unimpressive performance of both Governor Cuomo and Bill DumbBlasio which has made New York the world's epicenter of Covid. I was not impressed with Gampsesaw before the pandemic and unlike others I don't think he is the most competent college president in leading the school into this new normal. One would think that within the next 3 months St. John's would have funded a regular testing and quarantine system before students are allowed back to school.
The greatest threat is to non resident students who commute and could endanger others. Kids 18-22 are at a very low risk of complications and could quickly develop herd immunity. I could even see the semester delayed to late September but there is no way New York city or the local colleges, let alone the economy, can survive closures past September. As for sports, in the Big East the only sport that counts is basketball and that can easily be delayed by a month into late November.
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