First-Year College Students' Learning During the Pandemic: Academic Challenges, Concerns, and Sureness of Education Plans

• In Event: The Impact of the Pandemic on Student Success

Abstract

The rapid shift to online learning during the pandemic disrupted first-year college students’ learning experience. In this study, we examined the relationships between their academic challenges, concerns for academic success next year, sureness of education plans, and potential predictors (e.g., access to technology and the internet, learning resource gap, prior online learning experience), using multiple regressions and path analysis. We found that the lower level of perceived academic challenges and concerns they had, the surer they were about enrolling in the same institution next year. In addition, increasing access to technology and the internet, reducing learning resource gaps, and providing online learning experience could help to alleviate the academic challenges and concerns.

Authors

• Joyce Zhou-Yile Schnieders, ACT, Inc.

• Raeal Moore, Evaluation Data Solutions, LLC