Hard to believe this is our final Friday 5 of 2020.  It’s been such a joy to bring this to your inbox each week as we examine the news of the week in higher education.  We hope that this winter break allows you time to pause, to rest and to renew.  This article on self-care during the winter months has been especially helpful to me.  Our Friday 5 Live podcast recordings pair nicely with a good walk or a warm beverage! Take care, and we look forward to connecting again in the new year!

Inside Higher Education reports this week on the results of a Gallup/Lumina poll examining students’ experience this fall semester.  “Eighty-five percent of students whose curriculum was ‘completely’ in person said their education quality was ‘excellent’ or ‘very good,’ while 71 percent of those learning ‘completely’ online said the same.”  Thirty percent of students reported that they had considered discontinuing their education in the last six months.  Students cited COVID, emotional stress and the cost of attendance as the top reasons they would stop their education.  Half of the survey respondents indicated that COVID will likely or very likely hinder their ability to continue through college.

We’ve reported for weeks about the significant and troubling decline in community college enrollment.  Diverse Issues in Higher Education this week examines how institutions can address the drop in enrollment.  Researchers at the Center for Community College Student Engagement at the University of Texas at Austin recommend institutions clearly communicate with students, letting students know they are supported, as well as mitigating technology issues like access to Wifi and computers.