| Popis: |
The coronavirus pandemic has and likely will continue to wreak havoc on higher education. In the coming months and years, experts are predicting an increase in institutions facing financial shortfalls that will require drastic action, including furloughs, layoffs, mergers, and even campus closures. These events will undoubtedly affect faculty, staff, and students in myriad ways, but it is incumbent upon the regulatory triad to protect and support students who are then left holding the proverbial bag. Even before the pandemic, over the previous five years, an average of 20 campuses have closed each month, leaving around 500,000 students (mostly working adults, low-income students, and students of color) affected, according to an analysis by the Chronicle of Higher Education. As federal and state governments, in addition to accrediting bodies prepare to serve in this consumer protection role, it will be beneficial to know how students have weathered past campus closures (e.g., Were they able to continue their education elsewhere? Did they go on to earn a credential?). The current study explores these questions and additional outcomes descriptively to gain a better understanding of what occurs to students directly affected by a campus closure. |
