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Staffing Shortages at Universities Impacting Auxiliary Services
Institutions have been grappling with employee shortages since the beginning of the fall semester, but in recent weeks, schools are reaching out to faculty and staff to help fill gaps in auxiliary services. Michigan State University has requested that staff and faculty volunteer in dining facilities in an effort to serve students. In a normal year, Michigan State employs 4,000 students within its dining services, but this year they’ve only been able to fill 2,000 student positions. Iowa State University sought faculty and staff assistance in filling open positions during last Saturday’s home football game. Other institutions like Indiana University have allowed students to reduce meal plans in light of the long lines to access on-campus dining, and Vanderbilt University is providing students a credit to eat off campus following on-campus shortages. “Not only have dining halls and other operations been understaffed nationwide, but pain points in supply chains have presented unexpected delays and shortages in food production and delivery.”
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5.8 million: the number of college students were enrolled in exclusively distance education in fall 2020, nearly double the number of students whose courses were entirely remote the previous year.
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Huge Growth in Online Enrollment
National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements, or NC-SARA, a distance education oversight organization, released its annual report this week which details a sharp increase in online enrollments. The pandemic fueled growth in students enrolling in exclusively distance education (EDE) programs. “Nearly six in 10 surveyed institutions said they would continue some or all emergency remote learning offerings via distance education” after the pandemic ends. NC-SARA’s data is in line with recent information published by IPEDS.
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The Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice reported this week on a study conducted with Amarillo College using nudging to encourage students to visit the college’s Advocacy and Resource Center (ARC). Researchers found that the nudges doubled the number of students visiting ARC. In addition, connecting students to basic needs support services helped them to make academic progress. Staff found nudging, both via email and text, to be an affordable way to help students use critical campus resources.
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Applications to graduate school programs increased nearly 8% in fall 2020 and enrollment of first-time graduate students rose nearly 2% in the same period. In the last decade, applications have increased annually 2% making the 7.3% increase in 2020 stand out. First-time enrollment of underrepresented minorities grew as well. “First-time enrollment increased the most among Latinx students at 20.4%, followed by Black/African-American students at 16% and American Indian/Alaska Native students at 8.8%.” Travel restrictions and the pandemic contributed to a nearly 10% decrease in international graduate student enrollment.
“To see continued growth in first-time enrollment rates during a global pandemic shows confidence in the value of graduate education and the importance of increased flexibility in delivery methods." Suzanne Ortega, President of the Council of Graduate Schools
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This week the Chronicle of Higher Education examines a report written by two dozen offices for students with disabilities regarding assisting students impacted by long-term COVID. The report identifies two particular challenges facing disability services: the variety of long-haul symptoms students might possess and the lack of documentation disability offices typically need to provide services. Disability offices are quickly adapting, educating their staff about long-term COVID symptoms as well as preparing for an increase in students seeking accommodations as a result of their long-haul symptoms.
Looking to learn more? These upcoming webinars may be of interest:
How To Increase Engagement During Synchronous Online Sessions 10/27
Supporting The Mental Health Of LGBTQ+ Students: How The Pandemic Has Impacted Health & Wellness 11/4
October 22, 2021
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