Education

Bolstering Academic Support & Student Employment During COVID-19


None of us were prepared to handle the immense amount of change necessitated by the COVID-19 outbreak over the past couple of weeks. We were thrown into a situation unlike any we’ve seen in recent years, and we’ve just been figuring it out, adapting, and learning as we progress. One particular industry that has felt the full impact of COVID-19 is higher education.

Colleges and universities across the United States have been scrambling to push classes online in order to finish their semesters and continue serving their students after being forced to close their classroom doors. Naturally, this virtualization of classes comes with a wide range of complications, from teaching faculty how to use new technology to figure out what to do for students who can’t return home during this time. Amidst all this change, it’s important to consider the detrimental effect this type of harsh transition could have on student success, along with mental health, particularly those in the highest-risk cohort.

Understanding the Impact of COVID-19 on Student Success 

It’s important to understand that the negative impacts of COVID-19 on student success extend far beyond the classroom. While we often think of college students as the traditional 18 to 22-year-old’s who focus on school full-time and can simply return to their parents’ house while their campus is closed, data shows us that this description only fits a third of the overall population. In reality, almost half of college students are financially independent and half of those students have financial dependents of their own.

College students are included in the millions of workers across the country who have been displaced by the economic impacts of the COVID-19 response. In fact, 75% of all college students are juggling school with work, parenting, or both. These students depend on the income from their part-time jobs to pay rent, buy food, and take care of their children. Since many of these jobs are in service-based industries, they cannot simply shift to working from home during this time. Furthermore, if their kids cannot go to school, they could be left without childcare. 

In recognizing these facts, and understanding that students who are juggling these responsibilities are far more likely to drop out under normal circumstances than their counterparts, we can’t help but worry about the devastating impact COVID-19 will have on millions of students’ educational futures. Luckily, certain colleges and universities are setting a great example by putting the success of their students above all else. Let’s take a look at what this means in the context of academic support, social engagement, and financial capability.

Focusing on the Nexus of Student Success During This Time

A recent NASPA Report defined the Nexus of Student Success as the intersection of academic enrichment, social engagement, and financial capability. In a time where all three of these factors of student success are compromised, colleges and universities are finding new ways to maintain academic support services, encourage social engagement between students, and scale student employment opportunities to improve financial capability. 

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) decided to lean on one of their existing tutoring partners to better serve students during this difficult time. FAMU Vice President for Student Affairs, Dr. William “Bill” Hudson Jr. said, “It’s been exciting to see first-hand the value this is bringing to our students. Not only is this proving to be an efficient model for supplementing our academic support services, but it’s also been a great way to scale the meaningful employment opportunities that help our students develop the skills they’ll need to be successful after graduation. During a time when many students are no longer able to work other jobs, this has been especially impactful.”

Schools that are virtualizing and scaling peer support programs also need to strongly consider facilitating and fostering engagement between students. At a time where many students feel very disconnected from their ordinary college life due to “social distancing”, it is important to ensure that these opportunities for social connectivity are encouraged even if they must be virtual in nature (for now). The benefit of these academically-rooted social learning interactions, in particular, is that they allow students to forge new connections and build meaningful relationships that may enhance their development of soft skills.

As a result, several schools have been making use of technology to scale support and save student jobs. Many have even taken the initiative to create new jobs by bringing on additional tutors on a flexible 1099 basis, leveraging a sharing economy model. The beauty of this option to supplement existing tutors with independent contractors is that it allows for increased coverage without the increased overhead that comes with hiring more staffed tutors. Furthermore, this gig-style work is also a great fit for student workers as it helps to prepare them for the gig economy.

One school currently working to increase its supply of tutors is the University of Akron. Susan Hanlon, Dean of the College of Business Administration at the University of Akron, is particularly excited about the benefits this will bring to students who have been displaced from other jobs, explaining that “many students have lost their jobs as wait staff in restaurants and bars, as well as other areas, due to the COVID-19 crisis. This is one way we can help them replace lost earnings by creating their own job. It is a chance for students to see what it’s like to be an entrepreneur in a low-risk environment. What a great career and life lesson this could turn out to be for them!”

Figuring Out Where We Should Go From Here

One thing that this COVID-19 outbreak has shown us in the higher ed community is that we need to be able to shift online at the drop of a hat. Any services that are offered in-person will need to be mirrored online so that they are accessible and scalable for students. As we navigate this difficult time, we can only hope that we come out the other side collectively stronger and better equipped to effectively serve students regardless of the circumstances. Having learned more about what companies like Knack are doing with augmenting and reimagining the virtual student experience, I take comfort that this unforeseen and swift change operationally may not necessarily constitute an existential crisis for higher education. As new technologies are adopted to deal with current issues, we may find ways to make services more accessible, systems more streamlined, and processes more efficient, pursuant to providing a student-centered cultured.

While none of us were prepared for COVID-19 in many respects, we will certainly be better prepared for anything the future holds as a result of the amazing work being done by so many amazing educators to serve students during this time. Keep in mind that we’re all in this together and we’re all doing our best to make sure that student success remains top of mind. 

 



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