Evaluation of Higher Education Institutional Responses During COVID-19 on Student Sociocultural Factors

• In Event: Evaluation of Higher Education Institutional Responses During COVID-19 on Student Sociocultural Factors

Abstract

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, post-secondary institutions have made swift changes, one of which being the widespread transition to online learning. This transition can impact students of various backgrounds – including those from minoritized backgrounds. Indirect effects of these impacts include psychological and economic challenges to students, thus exacerbating systemic inequalities in our society. This study investigates the in-person to online instruction change and its association with student sociocultural factors during the Spring semester 2020 in a large Midwest university. The mixed-method study surveyed 592 students and interviewed 7 faculty and 4 teaching assistants from randomly selected courses across disciplines. Findings indicated differential levels of motivation, resilience, coping mechanisms, life satisfaction, self-esteem and college belonging across race, gender and disciplines.

Authors

• Ananya Tiwari, Texas A&M University

• Nidia Ruedas-Gracia, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign

• Rodney K. Hopson, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

• Bansari Upadhyay