The Coronavirus has Upended the World of Higher Education
The coronavirus has upended the world of higher education. Last March, when the coronavirus news began to spread as quickly as the virus itself, universities across the country had to decide on the most effective course of action and quickly. Most importantly, they had to determine what was safer for their students and teachers.
Throughout history, at no other time uncertainty affected universities, educators, administrators, and students. The long-term effects of the COVID-19 virus on the human body are still unknown, not to mention the economic and social impact. In the fall of 2020, some universities turned to e-learning, while others tried to create a hybrid model when a few students returned to campus. We hope that these uncertain times will not last long, but our response will change the future outlook for higher education.
Now, as campuses across the country sit empty, administrators are scrambling to prepare for what comes next?
A university cannot afford to stay idle and look at all the unanswered questions and wait for those answers to come to them. Educators and administrators are asking themselves about the short-term and long-term effects of the virus on education, learning, and students’ learning experience.
