COVID-19 As a Catalyst for Change on Campus
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Embracing the new normal on campus: Many colleges and universities are pioneering new approaches to engaging college students, post pandemic.
COVID-19 As a Catalyst for Change on Campus
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Students are registering for classes, buying books, and packing their bags. Residential Assistants are feverishly working on bulletin boards and door decorations. Student Affairs staff are training student leaders, coordinating arrival logistics, and putting the finishing touches on their Welcome Week programs. The new academic year is upon us and many colleges are welcoming students to campus for the first time since Spring 2020.
In the last year and a half, campus professionals have been extremely innovative, finding new and unique ways to engage students through a computer screen or while social distancing. Student engagement looks and feels different, and that’s okay. But there’s an elephant in the room, one that will require creativity, flexibility, and thought leadership to address - What will student engagement look like in the next normal?
Moving forward does not mean going back to the “tried and true” methods of the past, but instead reviewing practices through a critical lens to ensure they are truly student-centered. Students have adapted and it’s important that engagement practices adapt with them.
In our partnership with professionals and students, we’ve heard many stories of quick pivots resulting in impactful and successful programs. As you approach this new academic year, we encourage you to reflect on your experiences and consider how these challenging circumstances can be a catalyst for change on your campus now and into the future.
Read on as we share some of our reflections and ideas for moving forward!
Building Community through Campus Programs
Before the pandemic, many campus traditions and programs were catered to residential students and offered primarily in-person. With the swift adjustment to virtual and hybrid programming, professionals and students found ways to bring these events to life online. Of course there is nothing like the energy or excitement of an in-person orientation or involvement fair, but don’t be so quick to ditch the virtual version. The world of higher education is changing and the virtual college experience is not going away.
Consider your campus traditions - How do you welcome your students and get them to identify as a member of your community? Maybe it’s the presidential address at convocation, a ceremonial walk through the college green, a trip to the bookstore for some swag, or spotting the unofficial campus mascot for the first time (squirrels seem to be the fan favorite).
These are important moments when students begin to identify as a member of your campus community. In this next normal, you won’t always have the opportunity to engage your online or nontraditional students in these physical experiences. It’s time to reinvent these traditions or perhaps create some new ones.
Speaking of nontraditional students, this important and growing population can encompass many different learners, including adults, veterans, part-time, commuters, and more. As a field, we’ve historically struggled to connect with and engage nontraditional students. There are success stories and best practices, but the question still remains - how do you foster a sense of community among a group of students who are coming to campus for class and leaving immediately after?
For many of these students, the adjustment to virtual learning has brought several benefits - flexible schedules, reduced costs, and no commute time. These benefits can translate into their student engagement experience as well.
It can be challenging for nontraditional students to feel like the typical campus programming is meant for them when the logistics are restrictive and don’t meet their needs or schedules. Eliminate barriers for these students by making virtual or hybrid programs part of the norm. This will allow you to expand your reach and create opportunities for nontraditional students to get connected and stay engaged on your campus.
Want to learn more about hosting programs virtually? Check out our tips for virtual orientation and virtual involvement fairs.
Improving Access to Campus Resources
At the beginning of the pandemic, an immediate need arose to convert traditionally in-person campus services to virtual or hybrid formats. This required changing some long-standing processes and staff functions on the fly. Walk-in advising became Zoom rooms, hard copy paperwork became online forms, and bulletin boards became posts on social media. This was a big change for many professionals, but something that students have been asking for.
The arrival of Gen Z students on college campuses created a new set of expectations for how technology is incorporated into learning. These students are tech savvy and see the possibilities of having the world, and their education, at their fingertips. They look for easy access to information and expect interactive experiences both in and outside of the classroom. Many campuses have found ways to successfully incorporate gamification to get this generation of students excited about learning and campus life.
During orientation or new student seminar courses, students are often overloaded with information. There’s a lot to cover in a short amount of time, but the reality is that students struggle to retain this content. We’ve all had the experience of a student sitting in our office after missing an important deadline, saying, “I didn’t know where to go for help”.
utilizing lessons learned from Covid-19 to reshape higher education and campus life (© 2021 Parks and recreation)
Providing this important information in accessible versions, such as online modules or video recordings, allows students the flexibility to break down and absorb content at their own pace. Many faculty members have taken this approach within their classrooms. This supplemental information does not need to replace in-person presentations or programs, but can become a standard addition to the student onboarding process.
It is important not to restrict students from accessing content or resources if they are not physically present. Students have benefited from the ease of online appointment scheduling and the ability to chat with staff from the comfort of their couch. This is not about making every aspect of the college experience convenient for students, but instead finding ways to eliminate structural barriers that stand in the way of students getting support, getting connected, and ultimately being successful.
Prioritizing Personal Connections
As we think about moving forward, we have to consider the personal impact that this pandemic has had. Students have shared stories of feeling isolated and we know that mental health has become a rising concern on college campuses. There might not be a simple solution for this, but the next wave of student engagement must prioritize building genuine personal connections into everyday practices. It’s always been important to provide that personal touch, but how can we take this to the next level?
Being proactive and identifying the warning signs of students who might be struggling is a great place to start. Utilizing data and technology to track and understand student trends can allow campus professionals to get students the personal and academic assistance they need when they need it (or even before).
Create the space for students to establish important connections and relationships early on with peers, student leaders, staff, faculty, and advisors. Putting a face to a name (or an email address) can make all the difference.
Get family members involved. They are invested in their student’s well-being and academic journey, and can be great allies in this process. Make sure family members are incorporated in your campus community and aware of services and programs that can assist their students.
Let’s put the human element at the forefront of our practice. Through this intentional shift, we can nurture grit and resilience among students. Interested in learning more about improving student resilience? Check out our suggestions here!
As our community works to reinvent student engagement, there will be successes as well as unanticipated challenges. We look forward to hearing about your experiences and collaborating with you to create positive and lasting change for the next normal and beyond.
About KATHRYN:
Before joining the CampusGroups team as a Campus Success Associate, I earned a Master’s Degree in Higher Education and worked full-time in the field supporting students through academic advising, orientation, and first-year experience programs. I am thrilled to be using my background in higher education and passion for student success to help campus communities connect, engage, and support students inside and outside of the classroom.
Are you a higher education leader guiding students on a pathway to success? Reach out to learn more about using CampusGroups to support your engagement goals. We’d love to hear from you!
New But Not: Supporting Sophomores in 2021
My sophomore year was hard. I had just been dumped by my boyfriend, which meant I needed to find a whole new friend group. I was transitioning into my role as an RA and trying to get more involved with organizations on campus. I felt pressured to declare a major and wasn’t sure what my career path would be.
But I had been on campus before. I knew my way to most of my classes and I knew which dining halls had the best food. I had already survived my first year in a residence hall and developed study techniques that didn’t require parental encouragement.