Student experiences during the pandemic pivot

The spring 2020 term was unmistakably shaped by forces outside of the control of higher education leaders. The [Coronavirus Disease 2019] COVID-19 pandemic caused colleges and universities across the country - and the world - to quickly pivot in an emergency fashion to online teaching, learning, and research while grappling with a host of complex issues in serving students, supporting faculty and staff, and ensuring their financial viability. Thousands of institutions and millions of students were impacted in the United States alone. In response to these challenges, [the authors] rapidly developed a student survey and deployed it in partnership with 21 colleges and universities across the US. The survey explored students' curricular needs, safety and well-being, and intentions for returning in the fall. It also looked at the efficacy of institutional communications and support. The results reflect strengths and gaps in institutional services, pinpoint opportunity areas for improvements in the delivery of instruction, and, in many cases, amplify student needs that existed prior to the pandemic.

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