darkvelvetrain
Online education will become more and more common with each passing decade, but there are some requirements that are just easier to do in person. Most liberal arts programs through the doctoral level and likely most undergraduate degrees could likely be completed online, sure, with portable laboratories as some of the better ranked online programs are doing. But at some point you need a fully equipped lab for a degree based in laboratory research. I teach statistics and economics, and frankly, I do not think students need to be physically present to learn the material.
fcas80
I don't think they need to be permanently shuttered. But for the moment I don't see how a conventional 30 person classroom will accommodate 30 students all six feet apart, let alone the chaos of staircases, cafeterias, dorms, etc. Let's wait awhile until we have vaccines and a tiny incidence rate.
Anonymous
That seems to be the plan
Amaretta
It's not as effective a method of teaching. Students can't take advantage of labs and libraries. They can't get to know their professors or classmates (and, yes, we learn from them, too). They aren't removed from the distractions or responsibilities of family (preparing meals, responding to children or spouses, etc.), so it's harder to focus on studying or online instruction. Some colleges which are dependent on student tuition, room & board are close to bankruptcy and will probably close if they can't get students back on campus this fall, but those are poorer quality schools anyway.
ocularnervosa
It's gonna be kind of hard teaching doctors how to do an operation or engineers how to build a bridge without hands on labs.