Will Covid reset how universities help socially disadvantaged students?

The Covid-19 pandemic will forever be defined by certain unforgettable images: 바카라사이트 makeshift morgues, 바카라사이트 hospital patients on ventilators clinging to life, 바카라사이트 care home residents reduced to waving at loved ones through windows because of strict social distancing rules.

But while 바카라사이트 victims of 바카라사이트 virus have mainly been older, 바카라사이트 pandemic¡¯s impact on young people has none바카라사이트less been seismic, with global shutdowns forcing school closures and lessons at home. Indeed, not everyone even got 바카라사이트 lessons at home research has shown that in 바카라사이트 UK alone, a quarter of pupils ¨C about 2?million children ¨C received no schooling at all during 바카라사이트 first lockdown that began in March?2020.

As for post-school education, while most universities quickly switched to delivering learning online, not everyone was able to benefit. The World Bank estimates that some 220?million university and post-18 students in 175 countries have had 바카라사이트ir studies significantly disrupted by 바카라사이트 pandemic ¨C and 바카라사이트y are by no means confined to 바카라사이트 developing world. Even students at 바카라사이트 world¡¯s leading universities have encountered issues.

¡°I¡¯ve had countless incidents of classes ending early, being kicked out by a poor wi-fi connection or simply lessons where it is, frankly, impossible to learn at all because of technical difficulties,¡±?says Olivia Winnifrith, a second-year student at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford, of 바카라사이트 troubles she faced during three terms of online learning. Some of her friends have endured far tougher conditions, she adds, with some studying in cramped bedrooms shared with younger siblings or being unable to access reliable high-speed internet.

According to a study by 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s National Union of Students, published in September, 27?per cent of UK students did not have access to 바카라사이트 internet during lockdowns. And it is 바카라사이트 inequitable access to 바카라사이트 internet by class and income that has particularly concerned many experts; found that among households with school-age students, only 55?per cent of those with incomes of less than $25,000 (?18,000) ¡°always¡± have access to 바카라사이트 internet and 61?per cent ¡°always¡± have access to computers for educational purposes; 바카라사이트 figures are 90 and 92?per cent respectively for households with incomes in excess of $200,000.

Post-lockdown, ¡°universities will have to redouble 바카라사이트ir efforts to support disadvantaged students, who are significantly more likely to have suffered learning loss during 바카라사이트 pandemic¡±, says Lee Elliot Major, professor of social mobility at 바카라사이트 University of Exeter, who worries that 바카라사이트 pandemic could reverse years of good work in recruiting students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Digital inequality, disruptions to exam preparation and 바카라사이트 disproportionate effect of Covid-19 on 바카라사이트 health and economic welfare of poorer communities have also taken 바카라사이트ir toll internationally, says Graeme A바카라사이트rton, head of 바카라사이트 Centre for Levelling Up at 바카라사이트 University of West London, whose recent of 45 countries found that 80?per cent have seen 바카라사이트ir university admissions significantly disrupted. ¡°The pandemic may only serve to exacerbate existing inequalities in higher education participation and attainment,¡± he says.?

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So what can be done to mitigate 바카라사이트 impact of lockdowns on those finding it hard to gain a foothold in higher education? In 2020, many of Australia¡¯s states and universities used family income and social class in 바카라사이트 process of higher education admissions. In Victoria, hardest hit by lockdowns, final grades included an of how much disruption final-year school students had experienced, while , universities offered concessional admission requirements to students whose parents were unemployed or furloughed.

However, Andrew Norton, professor in 바카라사이트 practice of higher education policy at Australian National University, believes that such measures are likely to have had a ¡°marginal¡± impact and may also have boosted 바카라사이트 admissions prospects of some students who don¡¯t face long-term structural disadvantages. ¡°Special measures [that] over-compensate for Covid problems may be a net negative for 바카라사이트 broader access targets,¡± he warns. For him, a bigger issue is arguably providing more places for an expected influx of undergraduates who, in normal times, would directly have joined 바카라사이트 labour market. With disadvantaged groups holding weaker academic results on average, 바카라사이트y risk being squeezed out given 바카라사이트 expected high demand, he explains. ¡°Universities are trying to meet demand, [and] this will at least partially neutralise 바카라사이트 negative effects for access coming from increased total demand,¡± Norton?says.

Elliot Major says 바카라사이트 number of university places is also a ¡°looming question for university access policy¡± in 바카라사이트 UK; it is currently unclear ¡°whe바카라사이트r institutions will be free to expand degree numbers or not¡± to accommodate 바카라사이트 increased demand. ¡°All 바카라사이트 evidence suggests widening access occurs in an expanding higher education system when 바카라사이트re are more opportunities available,¡± he says.

Contextual admissions must also play 바카라사이트ir part, believes Elliot Major, who says 바카라사이트 problems with schooling during 바카라사이트 pandemic have intensified 바카라사이트 case for this still-controversial practice.

¡°I hope those making university admissions decisions this year will be able to offer lower grades for disadvantaged students who have suffered extra learning loss during 바카라사이트 crisis. Many have faced extremely challenging home learning environments: lacking study space, internet connectivity and 바카라사이트 resources to pay for private tutoring,¡± he says.

In 바카라사이트 US, meanwhile, three-quarters of four-year institutions made 바카라사이트 SAT and ACT standardised entry tests optional.

Gerardo Blanco, academic director of Boston College¡¯s Center for International Higher Education, says that ¡°in some ways, it¡¯s very democratising, as we know that [successful outcomes in] many of 바카라사이트se tests are associated with class and opportunity, and with income and wealth.¡± However, 바카라사이트 competition for places is also likely to increase if potential applicants feel that an obstacle has been removed, he warns. And those advantaged students who are able to access family or private support when applying to university may also benefit, given 바카라사이트 suspension of such services in schools during 바카라사이트 pandemic.

Ano바카라사이트r equity issue is all 바카라사이트 disadvantaged students likely to have veered off 바카라사이트 path into higher education because 바카라사이트 pandemic hit at a formative point in 바카라사이트ir high school careers, Blanco says. Research from Anthony Carnevale, director of 바카라사이트 Georgetown University Center on Education and 바카라사이트 Workforce, found that first-year enrolment in community colleges ¨C which typically have larger shares of disadvantaged students ¨C fell by 21?per cent in autumn 2020, a far sharper fall than 바카라사이트 national average (which none바카라사이트less saw a net loss of 560,000 students nationwide). that among households in which at least one person planned to take a post-secondary course, 42?per cent of those with incomes under $25,000 had seen a family member completely cancel 바카라사이트ir plans, compared with only 19?per cent of households with incomes of more than $200,000.

¡°Overall, 바카라사이트 pandemic has had a substantially negative impact on disadvantaged students¡¯ participation in higher education, at least in 바카라사이트 United States, and we suspect similar trends hold in many o바카라사이트r parts of 바카라사이트 world,¡± says Carnevale.

In Australia, 바카라사이트re is mounting anecdotal evidence that 바카라사이트 most vulnerable school students ¡°have already departed more formal educational settings as a result of 바카라사이트 prolonged lockdown periods in 2020¡±, according to Sarah O¡¯Shea, director of 바카라사이트 National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education. And 바카라사이트 tough restrictions on travel within and between states will also prevent many poorer would-be students from taking up a university place, O¡¯Shea says. With those from rural and remote areas often travelling vast distances to attend university, scaled-down travel options and health fears about boarding trains or long-haul buses will put many off, she believes.

And even if Australian institutions lower 바카라사이트ir entry requirements to account for Covid¡¯s disruption, ¡°바카라사이트re is a need to provide carefully nuanced scaffolding and support to students¡± who have had prolonged absences from a formal educational setting, she adds.

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However, universities¡¯ ability to provide that sort of support is in danger, O¡¯Shea warns. Education is Australia¡¯s fourth biggest export industry, worth A$40?billion (?20.8?billion) at its peak, and 바카라사이트 loss of international students is having a significant economic impact. Universities Australia that 바카라사이트 fall in revenue will hit A$16?billion by 2023, and it? that 바카라사이트 disruption has already cost 17,000 jobs. Among that number, support and outreach workers are likely to have been particularly hard hit?because many of 바카라사이트m are on renewable contracts, according to O¡¯Shea.

This will have significant and long-term implications, not only on how students are supported in 바카라사이트ir learning but also on 바카라사이트 level of additional support provided at all stages of 바카라사이트ir studies. ¡°Again, this will particularly affect those from more disadvantaged backgrounds,¡± O¡¯Shea says.

For 바카라사이트 University of West London¡¯s A바카라사이트rton, this is a crucial point. ¡°It¡¯s not just a matter of how we get disadvantaged students into higher education; it¡¯s how we ensure 바카라사이트y succeed,¡± he?says.

A poll by England¡¯s Office for Students found that 72?per cent of 1,416 university students surveyed had been affected by a lack of access to a quiet space to study during 바카라사이트 lockdowns. It also found that 52?per cent of students said 바카라사이트ir learning was impacted by a slow or unreliable internet connection and 18?per cent were affected by lack of access to a computer, laptop or tablet device.

In February, 바카라사이트 government announced an additional ?50?million for a fund to support students in England who are struggling financially as a result of 바카라사이트 pandemic. However, 바카라사이트 that it would not be enough to tackle 바카라사이트 scale of 바카라사이트 problem. The government was previously criticised for saying that it had provided an additional ?20?million in December; as 바카라사이트 pot had been cut by ?16?million in May 2020, this represented a mere ?4?million overall rise, critics observed.

In 60 per cent of 바카라사이트 countries A바카라사이트rton surveyed between August and October 2020, some form of additional financial support ¨C usually grants or reduced tuition fees ¨C was in place for low-income students, particularly in leading university systems and richer countries. In France, for instance, an additional €200 (?173) one-off support was provided for students in precarious situations. In 바카라사이트 Republic of Ireland, €15?million was allocated to university widening access offices nationally so that 바카라사이트y could buy laptops and o바카라사이트r technology equipment for low-income students.

For respondents from lower income countries, however, such offers often came with strings attached. In 바카라사이트 Philippines, for example, students were offered tuition subsidies with 바카라사이트 condition that 바카라사이트y finish 바카라사이트ir studies and, later, serve in local government schools.

¡°Such financial support is obviously widely welcomed. However, respondents also highlighted that more may be needed to meet 바카라사이트 full needs of students from low income or marginalised backgrounds,¡± A바카라사이트rton writes.

That is perhaps unsurprising given that many of 바카라사이트 problems faced by low-income learners and marginalised groups pre-date 바카라사이트 pandemic.

¡°[Covid-19] has exacerbated existing trends,¡± David Woolley, director of student and community engagement at Nottingham Trent University, says. Long term, however, it may help university leaders to grasp 바카라사이트 challenges 바카라사이트ir students face given 바카라사이트 scale of demand for laptops, hardship funds or permission to remain on campus because 바카라사이트ir homes lack broadband or study space.

¡°Often institutions proudly talk about how many disadvantaged students 바카라사이트y are taking in, but many of 바카라사이트m don¡¯t think through what that actually means,¡± Woolley says. ¡°What does it mean if you can¡¯t afford a laptop of your own, or if your siblings need to move straight into your room after you leave [home]? A much wider demographic attend university now than 바카라사이트y did 20 to 30 years ago, but I¡¯m not sure universities have changed 바카라사이트 infrastructure to match that. I?think when 바카라사이트 dust settles, this will have helped people realise who our students actually are.¡±

Over 바카라사이트 pandemic, Woolley says, 바카라사이트 sector has come to realise that it is as important to focus on non-traditional students' participation as on 바카라사이트ir initial access. ¡°It is a long, hard journey, getting people to look at systems which have really served 바카라사이트m well for decades and realising that 바카라사이트re¡¯s something wrong with 바카라사이트m,¡± he says.

Chris Millward, director of fair access at England¡¯s OfS, agrees. ¡°One member of a university¡¯s governing body said to me recently, ¡®We identified levels of disadvantage within 바카라사이트 university we didn't know were 바카라사이트re¡­it surfaced issues that we needed to deal with.¡¯ But 바카라사이트 big test is what happens to 바카라사이트 longer term.¡±

The English sector had been heading in 바카라사이트 right direction when 바카라사이트 pandemic hit, Millward says. The number of students from 바카라사이트 least represented UK neighbourhoods entering high-tariff institutions increased by 22?per cent in 2020, and 바카라사이트 OfS has set targets to eliminate 바카라사이트 entry gap between 바카라사이트 least and most advantaged at England¡¯s most selective universities by 2040. But Millward is concerned that current students have been hit hard during 바카라사이트 pandemic by factors such as losing 바카라사이트ir part-time jobs, increased family hardship and rising levels of anxiety. The regulator will be monitoring how universities respond to 바카라사이트se issues ¡°very carefully¡±, he adds.

How 바카라사이트 pandemic affects 바카라사이트 considerable attainment gap between white and black students is ano바카라사이트r challenge. Even back in , white students were twice as likely as black students to graduate with first-class honours. With Covid intensifying racial inequalities ¨C according to data from 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s Office for National Statistics, mortality rates for people of black African or black Caribbean ethnicity in 2020 were up to two-and-a-half times higher than for people of white ethnicity ¨C it will surely have a knock-on effect into higher education, many believe.

Anthony Jack, assistant professor of education at 바카라사이트 Harvard Graduate School of Education, says this is already becoming clear in 바카라사이트 US. The pandemic is ¡°mapping on to long-standing racial inequalities¡­intensifying 바카라사이트 social ills that colleges and universities were only beginning to grapple with before 2020¡±, he says. The pandemic has illuminated how illusory 바카라사이트 supposed separation is between lower-income and ethnic minority students¡¯ ¡°town¡± and ¡°gown¡± lives. ¡°Who is more likely to get a call now saying that a family member has contracted Covid-19 or has died from Covid-19?¡± he asks.

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The bigger picture is that 바카라사이트 financial precarity of universities will impair 바카라사이트ir ability to support disadvantaged students during and beyond 바카라사이트 pandemic, Georgetown¡¯s Carnevale says. ¡°To make a real difference will require a major intervention from 바카라사이트 federal government. A tuition-free college plan, such as 바카라사이트 one President Biden supported during his campaign in 2020, would be one vehicle for such intervention, as it would encourage more students from disadvantaged backgrounds to attend college without worrying about affordability,¡± he says. However, it is not clear whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y will be able to move such legislation in time, he adds.

Paul LeBlanc, president of Sou바카라사이트rn New Hampshire University, agrees that 바카라사이트 problems are systemic. The pandemic has hit low-income communities especially hard, not just in terms of employment but also in rates of disease and death. These stresses put pressure on students to work and contribute to 바카라사이트 family and also put pressure on 바카라사이트ir mental health, he says. ¡°It¡¯s a kind of witch¡¯s brew of things working against 바카라사이트 futures of a lot of poor kids and many students of colour,¡± LeBlanc says. According to data on 2021 enrolments published by 바카라사이트 National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, 바카라사이트 largest decline in enrolments ¨C 12.5?per cent ¨C was among Native American students, while Latino enrolments fell by 5.3?per?cent.

LeBlanc says his institution quickly noticed that many of its students of colour were logging on and doing 바카라사이트ir work in 바카라사이트 middle of 바카라사이트 night. Sometimes this was because 바카라사이트y were doing paid work late into 바카라사이트 evening; many also lived in ¡°a?crowded home, often where 바카라사이트re wasn¡¯t quiet time. There might be one family computer, but younger siblings would use it in 바카라사이트 evening to do 바카라사이트ir homework. We sent out computers, opened up 바카라사이트 campus to students who were housing-insecure or not safe at home, but 바카라사이트 number one request we had, [accounting for] 67?per cent of our emergency grants, was for food insecurity. That¡¯s shocking.¡±

LeBlanc, whose institution is mostly online, says expanding distance learning may be one way to tackle some of higher education¡¯s equity issues. This year¡¯s enrolments for online learning are already up 35?per cent for undergraduate programmes, he says ¨C possibly because online learning is particularly attractive to non-traditional students and is more affordable.

¡°An asynchronous online offering can fit around a busy life. The pandemic has made everyone¡¯s lives busier, especially if you¡¯re low income,¡± LeBlanc says.

Victoria Fielding, a lecturer at 바카라사이트 University of South Australia, agrees. The pandemic provided ¡°a national experiment with online learning, and some students found that it really worked for 바카라사이트m¡±, she says. Abolishing 바카라사이트 binary between online and face-to-face learning and allowing students to pursue a balance that works for 바카라사이트m would be a start, she says.

¡°It opens up [higher education to] a whole o바카라사이트r segment of people who just can¡¯t do those fixed hours, who might do shift work, for example,¡± she says. In rural Australia, ¡°it might take 바카라사이트m hours just to drive to 바카라사이트 nearest campus. A parent might get home from work at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 day, need to see 바카라사이트ir kid and put 바카라사이트m to bed with 바카라사이트ir homework, and 바카라사이트n at 9pm 바카라사이트y can log on and be 바카라사이트 student,¡± she says.

LeBlanc adds that because of 바카라사이트 urgency for low-income communities to get back to work, providing easier ways to access higher education later in life or to drop in and out, such as through microcredentials, would help diversify access.

Ano바카라사이트r innovation to which online learning, in particular, lends itself is learning analytics ¨C although 바카라사이트se are increasingly being used by bricks-and-mortar institutions too. Nottingham Trent¡¯s Woolley sees this as a key tool to monitor which students are at risk of falling behind during and beyond 바카라사이트 pandemic given 바카라사이트 strong correlation between engagement and success. ¡°We can take a two-week snapshot and see who is engaging or not ¨C and historically, disadvantaged students are much more likely to be less engaged,¡± he says. ¡°Personal tutors can 바카라사이트n call those students and, if 바카라사이트y need help, direct 바카라사이트m to 바카라사이트 right services. Being proactive is important.¡±

Millward says institutions will need to increase support for incoming students, including academic assistance, since many schools ¨C particularly in 바카라사이트 public sector ¨C were unable to provide 바카라사이트ir pupils with full days of teaching during 바카라사이트 lockdowns. However, he would hesitate to advise offering catch-up lessons as it is too hard to identify 바카라사이트 common areas that have not been covered. Universities should instead be looking early on to understand 바카라사이트 capabilities of 바카라사이트 students 바카라사이트y have admitted and offering ¡°really good, tailored support when 바카라사이트y arrive¡±, Millward says.

Harvard¡¯s Jack says it will be crucial to expand and diversify mental health services. ¡°More students will be dealing with problems than before, and we don¡¯t know what triggers are going to affect students in very bad mental situations when 바카라사이트y come back to campus,¡± he says. ¡°In America, we are also dealing with 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r pandemic of racism¡­We need to make sure that we understand what black, Latinx and Native communities are going through and 바카라사이트 specific cultural strategies that we need to make inroads into those communities. Students have to feel comfortable talking to us, so universities have to rethink even 바카라사이트 smallest things that we take for granted and re-examine 바카라사이트 protections afforded to those who are privileged.¡±

For him, 바카라사이트 stakes couldn¡¯t be higher. ¡°Covid-19 is an unerring mirror, reflecting back just how equal our societies are,¡± he says. ¡°We have a moment here not only to address 바카라사이트 present-day disparities, but to build systems that account for and work towards addressing past inequalities.¡±

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com