Back to College from the 1st of October? Here’s How Students can Prep.

Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister Dr CN Ashwath Narayan on Wednesday announced that all college classes will commence from October 2020 and students are expected to attend classes in person. Even though the Central government has not decided any particular date for reopening of schools and colleges across the country, the Karnataka government on Wednesday decided to reopen colleges across the state from October 1. He announced that the academic year for various degree courses will commence from September 1 with online classes, while the offline classes for students will be started from October. The Deputy Chief Minister wrote on Twitter that the department is awaiting detailed guidelines from the central government regarding the resumption of offline classes as well as the few degree exams to be conducted in September. Therefore, the government has decided to get the ball rolling on all academic activities online from next month. Meanwhile, Karnataka State Law University has come under sharp criticism by the student community and even former CM Siddaramaiah for deciding to hold examinations for all semesters. The government had asked educational institutes that came under its purview to hold exams only for final semester students. As per sources, the university is following the dates decided by the law department and Bar, and does not come under purview of the state government.

Karnataka Government: Important points

• All colleges will start in October and students are expected to attend classes in person.
• The academic year for various degree courses will commence from September 1, 2020, with online classes.
• Offline classes will be conducted starting in October.
• Department is awaiting guidelines from the central government on conducting offline classes as well as the few degree exams to be conducted in September.
• All colleges will start in October and students are expected to attend classes in person with
• Preparations underway for this as per protocols/ guidelines on safety
• Final year examinations will be scheduled for all the undergraduate, diploma and engineering students once the academic year starts.

However, the state education department said it is waiting for the guidelines from the Central government on conducting offline classes. Ahead of the reopening of colleges, the state government said the preparations related to covid-19 safety measures are underway as per the available guidelines.

“There was a year, when final-year students from a public university in the state were promoted under unusual circumstances. That batch of students failed to make a mark in the industry. Therefore, not conducting exams may not be advisable, instead, we can postpone the term to June. Complete classes, conduct exams and then start the new session in October-November,” said TA Shiware, chairman, ANGC.

WHAT SHOULD STUDENTS DO? 
Many high school seniors had already applied to college before they became homebound and were expecting to hear about acceptances. Under the best of circumstances, the time before May 1, National College Decision Day, is stressful. Instead of waiting for a reply, parents/guardians can reach out to the schools/universities students have applied to. Many colleges have extended their deadlines until June 1, so there is more time than you might realize. Parents/guardians of students who have not yet heard from colleges should reach out to those they are waiting to hear from and ask about acceptances while keeping in mind that time has likely been added to the process.

Students who have been accepted to multiple colleges,typically students who have the means visit campuses of the colleges they are considering. Checking out classes, talking to current students, etc., can be invaluable to the decision-making process. While students will miss the opportunity to tour a campus in person, they can still get a sense of the colleges they are considering via virtual campus tours.In short, there are ways for prospective students to get a sense of the colleges they are considering. They need to take action, and parent/guardians/educators can encourage their students to be proactive and learn more about the schools they are considering.

A recent web-based survey showed a significant increase in college students’ mental health utilization over a 10-year period with the most common location at the college counseling center. Therefore, it’s critical for colleges and communities to have mental health treatments and supports available to meet the growing demands of students, including interventions. Online we should advise students to learn about community resources for possible long-term therapy and medications, colleges and universities should also consider developing or enhancing collaborative relationships with community-based organizations to help students access appropriate levels of care.  As students get settled into a new routine, mental health providers should ensure that students and their families can make a plan for regular communication that fits everyone’s needs, giving the student independence and taking into account their location. This will allow parents to check in on students’ mental well-being throughout the semester. While more research is needed about the impact of COVID-19 on mental health, especially for emerging adults, we know that college students will need additional support from their families, peers and providers, as well as resources from their college or university in support of their mental health as they head back to school amid this pandemic.