With the rule book well and truly ripped up, families are scrambling to figure out what impact COVID-19 is going to have on college education. Students across the US are studying remotely, from home, and starting to wonder when they will be allowed back on campus. Dorm rooms remain locked, many with students’ possessions still inside. Sports events canceled, graduations deferred, study-abroad students brought home - all unthinkable just a few short months ago.

Looking ahead, colleges are already curtailing summer activities, with on-campus events and classes canceled or moving online. Further disruptions are anticipated during the next academic year. The next six months will be a time of huge adjustment for colleges and their students alike.

When will students be allowed back on campus?

No-one knows yet. Colleges are shut until they are safe to reopen.

Opinions differ, however, on what safe to open might mean in practice. It could refer to proven precautionary measures, such as increased testing, contact tracing and enforceable social distancing policies. A comprehensive public health apparatus needs to be in place alongside on-campus modifications to ensure safety.

With states being effected by the pandemic at different times and with different intensity, it is likely that decisions to reopen will vary.

What’s going to happen in the fall semester?

While colleges are hoping for in-person classes, they are preparing for more bouts of online teaching. Colleges are well aware that courses needing labs or specialist equipment are particularly impacted by the shift to remote learning and solutions for keeping courses running are being explored. Many colleges hope to announce their decisions in June. The main options are:

1. Allow students to return to campus as expected, but prepare for bouts of self-isolation and online teaching.

2. Delay semester start dates in the hopes of mitigating the amount of online teaching needed.

3. Switch to remote learning for the fall semester and plan for campuses to reopen in January 2021.

Colleges certainly won’t make the decision to teach remotely lightly. As much as students long to return to campus, colleges are feeling the financial pinch and want it even more.

How are colleges coping?

“Having already suffered major financial losses in its Academic Division and UVA Health, the University expects more revenue shortfalls from all of its funding sources, including tuition, state funding, clinical care, research grants, endowment returns and philanthropy.” - UVA Today

The University of Virginia is not alone in adopting new policies, such as hiring and salary freezes, in response to the reduction of college revenue streams. Difficult decisions lie ahead with program and staffing cuts in review. All colleges are going to be hit hard, but wealthier, larger colleges are more likely to survive the economic depression in better shape. Smaller colleges and those whose student body has a higher percentage of low-income students are likely to suffer the most.

Many colleges are relying on money allocated to higher education from the stimulus package. Weighting has been given to colleges with a large number of low income Pell Grant recipients, such as Arizona State University. The money is to help mitigate the cost of handling the crisis and provide emergency grants to students to help pay for living and transport costs. Rolling out the money is taking longer than hoped, however, and there is confusion about the specifics on how colleges are allowed to use it.

The financial impact on colleges is going to reverberate in the industry for a number of years. Investment in capital projects will be curtailed and it will become harder for colleges to justify high tuition costs if more classes are held remotely. Given their financial instability, universities are currently not agreeing to a reduction in tuition costs. However, some, like the University System of Georgia (USG) which includes all of Georgia’s 26 public colleges and universities, have announced tuition freezes for the next academic year.

There is good news among the uncertainty. Inspiring work is being conducted at many universities. While most parts of campus are closed, essential work on COVID-19 research is developing apace. From accelerated testing to face masks, universities are using their resources and creativity to forward the cause of limiting and eliminating this virus.

How are students affected?

There has been a surge in students requesting emergency financial aid from colleges to help them return home, pay rent and deal with the unexpected costs of remote learning. George Mason University estimates it has spent over $1,000,000 to help struggling students so far. Many students are also appealing their financial aid packages given the drastic changes in their family’s economic circumstances. A free tool, SwiftStudent, is available to help guide students through the appeal process.

Many international students could not get back to their home countries. Those that did return home are wondering when they will be able to return to college life. International students are concerned about the impact to their Visa status from taking online courses and withdrawing from ones unable to be completed. Colleges are advising effected students to contact their administrative offices for guidance.

Studying at home is an adjustment for everyone, especially for those whose home environment makes remote working extra difficult. For students with accommodations, the switch to remote learning hasn’t always gone smoothly. While some Disability Services are proactively helping students and professors understand how accommodations will be implemented in an online setting, other students are not so lucky. Colleges have responded to the problem of unequal work environments in different ways. Georgia Tech continues with letter grades while UVA has opted for Pass/Fail for all courses. UC Berkeley’s default option is Pass/Fail but students may elect to a letter grade instead. Not everyone is happy with their college’s grading policies and they will certainly be under review in preparation for future online studying.

Recognizing the emotional toll everyone is under, most college counseling services are working remotely. Some, like the University of Chicago, offer virtual sessions along with crisis line services. Students suffering from depression or anxiety are encouraged to get in contact. Their message is: do not suffer alone.

Will students return in the fall?

Given both the economic and health toll, some students will be unable or unwilling, considering the level of uncertainty, to return to university life in the fall. Colleges are assuming that attendance rates will be down from previous years. Out-of-state and international student numbers in particular will likely drop. More students will decide to study closer to home for both the safety net it provides and as the more economical option.

For those that do return, they will need to be flexible during these unprecedented times. Campus life may be different from previous years, but there will new and cutting edge research opportunities to explore. Students will find camaraderie from living through these events together. Even if start dates are delayed and some remote learning required, college life will slowly but surely open up again.

Admission Pathways is here to offer advice and guidance through these difficult times. Free consults are available.