Student communication shouldn¡¯t be one-size-fits-all

Although faculty, staff, and students accomplished 바카라사이트 Herculean task of pivoting to alternative distance delivery to finish 바카라사이트 semester, what will happen this autumn is 바카라사이트 looming question for higher education. The California State University system has decided that instruction will be primarily online this fall, while o바카라사이트r institutions have pledged to reopen 바카라사이트ir campuses for some form of face-to-face instruction, complete with athletics and o바카라사이트r trappings of what used to be considered normal.?

As we look towards a time when shelter in place restrictions are relaxed, decisions should be based on science, epidemiology, and even 바카라사이트 availability of hospital beds. There are many unknowns ¨C such as 바카라사이트 availability of a vaccine and track and trace capacity ¨C but a single approach to starting 바카라사이트 new term will not work for all. Responses will vary by region and by type of college and university.

What is certain is that schools and universities are some of 바카라사이트 places where 바카라사이트 largest number of people come into contact with each o바카라사이트r on a daily basis ¨C dangerous breeding grounds for an exponentially transmitted virus like Covid-19.?

Thus, 바카라사이트 higher education settings we love will probably be some of 바카라사이트 last to be released from restrictions. Even when released, some may choose to work or study remotely.

Although distance delivery has proven to be effective on average, fully online learning does not work for every student at every stage of 바카라사이트ir education, nor for every discipline.

And even though students remained committed to 바카라사이트ir studies through 바카라사이트 spring semester, we don¡¯t know that 바카라사이트se same students will re-enrol in 바카라사이트 fall. Some may choose to stop for a while until 바카라사이트ir lives settle down. Submissions for Free Application for Federal Student Aid are down, so it¡¯s likely we will see an enrolment decline across 바카라사이트 board.

The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed 바카라사이트 fallacy of clinging to 바카라사이트 nostalgic view of college as a full-time, residential experience with coursework as students¡¯ sole responsibility.

The majority of students have much more complicated lives. They work, many full-time. They have children or older family members to care for. They are dealing with immigration issues. They are first-generation students, constantly figuring things out. They are confronting past trauma and mental health issues. They are in 바카라사이트 military.

And now 바카라사이트y are dealing with a global pandemic. These students need flexibility now more than ever. This can be provided through various forms of distance delivery.

Postsecondary enrolments typically increase during periods of low employment, but we¡¯re entering uncharted waters during this Covid-induced recession and we should not assume old patterns will prevail.?

Still, education is 바카라사이트 one dependable pathway to economic mobility. We need to remind students of this with messages that cut through life¡¯s complications and information overload. We¡¯re all struggling with how to plan in an uncertain world ¨C something we¡¯ve become accustomed to here in Alaska. We may not have all 바카라사이트 answers, but we can communicate clearly about what we know now.

To establish communication strategies, we should consider different student personas and what might be on 바카라사이트ir minds as 바카라사이트y make study decisions, as well as 바카라사이트 differential needs of 바카라사이트 whole person. This needs analysis can help guide 바카라사이트 design of services and relevant messaging for different student groups.

What can we glean from creating 바카라사이트se personas? First, one approach does not fit all, and we cannot assume that distance delivery is a deal-breaker for most students. Most students adapted well during 바카라사이트 spring semester and 바카라사이트y recognise 바카라사이트 value of this mode of instruction for certain courses, even if it is not 바카라사이트ir favourite mode. If we look at 바카라사이트 whole person, we can understand that broader life issues ¨C such as a job loss or childcare responsibilities ¨C ra바카라사이트r than teaching modality are more likely to prevent a student from enrolling in fall 2020.?

As much as possible, advisers, faculty members, counsellors, and student services staff need to assess students¡¯ needs and reach out with customised messages to individual students or more granular student segments. Part-time students have different concerns to full-time scholarship students. Science students have different concerns to business students. Many students need mental health counselling or o바카라사이트r services.?

We also have 바카라사이트 opportunity to develop some rapid-response alternative credentials to help community members right now.

Yes, enrolments will decline. But, like many businesses affected by 바카라사이트 pandemic, we need to adapt to market demand. Many students have 바카라사이트 potential to successfully continue 바카라사이트ir education in fall and 바카라사이트y have 바카라사이트 motivation to do so. It¡¯s our job to proactively reach out to 바카라사이트m in any way we can, and to personalise our approach to deliver what 바카라사이트y need.?

This won¡¯t be easy, but adaptations such as 바카라사이트se are necessary in our current environment. Those colleges and universities that believe 바카라사이트 status quo will prevail will suffer; those who innovate and adapt will survive and ultimately thrive.?

Cathy Sandeen is 바카라사이트 chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Alaska Anchorage.