02/01/21
In a recent survey focused on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on students in introductory-level courses this past fall, faculty reported increases in DFWI rates (the number of students who receive a D or F grade, withdraw or fail to complete a course) particularly at two-year institutions or those serving Pell-eligible students. The top student challenges identified by faculty were managing mental wellness; balancing school and family responsibilities; and ensuring reliable internet access. While it s been widely reported that the pandemic has caused a significant decline in enrollment of first time students, we now see faculty warning institutional leaders, policy-makers and the field broadly of increased course failure rates that will exacerbate the persistent equity gaps in degree completion, noted Kristen Fox, director at Tyton Partners and lead report author, in a statement.
College faculty members finished the fall semester feeling more confident in their online teaching and their institutions support for them, but they were also exhausted and deeply concerned about their students, especially those from groups that are historically disadvantaged in higher education.
Those are among the findings of a report released today, The Impact of 2020 on Introductory Faculty and Their Students. The study is the third in a series that Every Learner Everywhere, a network of college and technology groups focused on using digital learning to drive equitable access and success in higher education, and Tyton Partners, an investment, research and consulting firm that is part of the network, have released under the tagline Time for Class.