scholarly journals Willingness to Pay Tuition and Risk-Taking Proclivities Among Students During the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Fundamental Conundrum for Universities

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zafar Zafari ◽  
Lee Goldman ◽  
Katia Kovrizhkin ◽  
Peter Muennig
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
New York City ◽  
Willingness To Pay ◽  
Risk Taking ◽  
Standard Gamble ◽  
Risk Tolerance ◽  
Columbia University ◽  
Online Classes ◽  
Survey Tool ◽  
The University

Abstract Background. As universities around the world decide whether to remain open or to close their campuses because of the COVID-19 pandemic, they often are doing so without objective information on the preferences and risk tolerance of their students. In this study, we aim to quantify students’: 1) risk tolerance for in-person instruction; 2) willingness to pay for in-person instruction versus online-only instruction; and 3) risk-tolerance for social activities held off campus.Methods. We developed an automated survey tool that administered a “standard gamble” exercise grounded in game theory to 46 Columbia University public health graduate students who were knowledgeable about COVID-19 and who had experience with both online and offline coursework. Students were asked to trade between the risk of becoming infected with COVID-19 and: 1) attending classes in-person versus online and 2) attending parties in the greater New York City area. We also assessed their willingness to pay for online only tuition and plans to travel off campus.Results. On average, students were willing to accept a 23% (standard error [SE]: 4%) risk of infection on campus over the semester in exchange for the opportunity to attend classes in-person. Students were willing-to-pay only 48% (SE: 3%) of typical in-person tuition were courses held exclusively online, and no students were willing to pay full price for online-only instruction. Students planned to leave campus an average of 3.6 times per week (SE: 0.54), and 15% of the students would be willing to attend a party in the community surrounding the university even if the prevalence of circulating COVID-19 were high.Conclusions. Students with a strong knowledge of COVID-19 transmission and risks are an enigma: they are willing to pay only around 50% for online classes but likely to engage in activities that present significant barriers to holding in-person classes. This enigma underscores the conundrum facing universities.Trial registration: NA.

scholarly journals Willingness to pay tuition and risk-taking proclivities among students: A fundamental conundrum for universities

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zafar Zafari ◽  
Lee Goldman ◽  
Katia Korvizhkin ◽  
Peter Muennig
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Willingness To Pay ◽  
Risk Tolerance ◽  
Columbia University ◽  
Online Classes ◽  
Risk Of Infection ◽  
Survey Tool ◽  
Social Events ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
The University

Importance. As universities around the world decide whether to remain open or to close their campuses because of the COVID-19 pandemic, they often are doing so without objective information on the preferences and risk tolerance of their students. Objectives. To quantify: 1) risk tolerance for in-person instruction; 2) willingness to pay for in-person instruction versus online-only instruction; and 3) risk-tolerance for social activities held off campus among knowledgable students. Design, Setting, and Participants. We developed an automated survey tool that administered a standard gamble exercise grounded in game theory to 46 Columbia University public health graduate students who were knowledgeable about COVID-19 and who had experience with both online and offline coursework. Students were asked to trade between the risk of becoming infected with COVID-19 and: 1) attending classes in-person versus online and 2) attending parties in the greater New York City area. We also assessed their willingness to pay for online only tuition, and plans to travel off campus. Main Outcome Measures. The decision point in iterative trade-offs between risk of infection with COVID-19 and a desired goal (taking classes in-person or attending social events). Results. On average, students were willing to accept a 23% (standard error [SE]: 4%) risk of infection on campus over the semester in exchange for the opportunity to attend classes in-person. Students were willing-to-pay only 48% (SE: 3%) of typical in-person tuition were courses held exclusively online, and no students were willing to pay full price for online-only instruction. Students planned to leave campus an average of 3.6 times per week (SE: 0.54), and 15% of the students would be willing to attend a party in the community surrounding the university even if the prevalence of circulating COVID-19 were high. Conclusions and Relevance. Students with a strong knowledge of COVID-19 transmission and risks are an enigma: they are willing to pay only around 50% for online classes but likely to engage in activities that present significant barriers to holding in-person classes. This enigma underscores the conundrum facing universities.

scholarly journals Atmospheric Oscillations and Related Synoptic Patterns *

1954 ◽  
Vol 35 (7) ◽  
pp. 301-309 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Donn ◽  
Richard Rommer ◽  
Frank Press ◽  
Maurice Ewing
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
New York City ◽  
York City ◽  
Weather Data ◽  
Columbia University ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Cold Fronts ◽  
Squall Lines ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Local Weather

Records from sensitive microbarovariographs installed at Palisades, N. Y., Columbia University in New York City, U. S. Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, L. I. have been studied in connection with synoptic and local weather data. A number of interesting pressure events have been noted in connection with the passage of certain synoptic situations, These include pressure pump lines, squall lines, cold fronts and thunderstorms. Low level turbulence or convection associated with certain air masses at certain times is well-recorded by short-period pressure variations. Conclusions regarding the origin of squall lines are drawn from the empirical evidence given.

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