The COVID-19 outbreak has high school seniors rethinking their college path and college students grappling with the effects of the pandemic

College in the age of COVID


The COVID-19 outbreak has high school seniors rethinking their college path and college students grappling with the effects of the pandemic

There’s no debating the immense disruption COVID-19 brought to campuses across the globe.

And now, while students are on summer break, higher-ed leaders are scrambling to produce reopening plans that abide by health and safety regulations while, at the same time, prioritizing student learning and their academic success.

COVID has undoubtedly impacted life for students, faculty, and staff in colleges and universities.

Related content: Student retention is a top priority for higher-ed leaders

Here’s a look at some of the changes:

According to a new infographic, the COVID-19 outbreak has 1 in 6 high school seniors rethinking their plans to attend full-time college in the fall.

Liberty University reopened its campus, and dozens of students subsequently fell ill. Some students claimed the university was profiting from the COVID-19 pandemic by keeping its campus and campus services open to retain students’ fees.

The infographic outlines how, despite Congress allocating almost $350 million in coronavirus relief to colleges with “significant unmet needs,” only 20 institutions received the majority of those funds.

U.S. universities could lose 25 percent of their international students.

The mental impact of quarantines and stay-at-home orders are lasting. Quarantining could lead to symptoms aligning with PTSD and depression. Younger adults have experienced a tenfold increase in serious mental distress.

Many campuses are announcing intentions to start the fall 2020 semester online, but with that comes continued lack of physical interaction and a loss of “normal” social experiences and activities.

Decreases in face-to-face interaction also mean missed opportunities to network and gain valuable internships or relevant work experience to help students start their careers upon graduation.

Many experts are predicting an increase in hybrid learning models–the integration of both in-person and online learning. Tools such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, and Slack could be even more critical in these scenarios.

The COVID crisis has, however, put the spotlight on new instructional models and more tech-forward approaches to teaching. Some teaching methods were based on outdated technology or approaches, and faculty have come up with innovative ways to reach their students. For instance, in China, 120 million students now access learning materials through live TV.

When it comes to reopening, the American College Health Association says universities can anticipate changes for at least the next 12-18 months, and status quo will depend upon widespread testing and continuing isolation of those exposed to the virus.

A return to in-person activities will be gradual, and will be based on public health conditions and each institution’s ability to meet guidelines.

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Laura Ascione

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