COVID-19 and Higher Ed: Weekly Update
April 27-May 1, 2020
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The latest developments regarding the impact of COVID-19 on New England's colleges and universities, students, and families.
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Updates from New England Institutions
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Check out NEBHE's COVID-19 updated dashboard for complete data
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- 204 HEIs have switched the spring semester to distance learning
- 108 HEIs have implemented flexible grading policies for the spring semester
- Commencement:
- Delayed: 111
- Cancelled: 12
- Going on as planned: 5
- Refunds:
- Pro-rated Room and Board: 95
- Credit for future semester: 8
- Credit/refund hybrid: 9
- Total Refund (Room, board, and tuition): 112
- 20 HEIs have announced fall 2020 plans
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Resource Spotlight
Supporting International Students During COVID-19
In AY 2018-19, international students accounted for
9.8% of total postsecondary enrollment
at New England's colleges and universities.
The U.S. Department of State
estimates that, during this period, these students added approximately
$4.3 billion
to the region's economy. Following recent travel restrictions and health advisories due to COVID-19, the
American Council on Education
forecasts
that
international student enrollment for the next academic year could drop by as much as 25% – which would translate to a staggering loss of roughly $1 billion to our region's economy.
Even a slight shift in the enrollment of foreign students – who typically pay full tuition – would dramatically impact nearly all higher education institutions in New England, from Ivy League schools to community colleges.
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No Lapse in Learning Campaign, Colorado Department of Higher Education.
The state of Colorado is asking individuals and businesses to donate new or used laptops and other technology so its most vulnerable students can continue to learn and complete their programs. While some institutions have used their emergency aid to provide technology to their neediest students, initiatives such as No Lapse in Learning help guarantee that all students can continue their studies, even if their institution is unable to provide that assistance to them.
Is your institution offering any assistance to international students during the COVID-19 pandemic? Let us know by emailing
policy@nebhe.org
.
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Distance Learning, Compliance, and New England SARA
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Most institutions are nearing the end of their traditional spring term and taking a collective sigh of relief with an end in sight to their current emergency instructional activities. We offer some resources and a brief reminder in consideration of final exams, projects, and grading:
Data and Promising Practices:
Having made the initial transition to remote teaching and learning, colleges and universities are working to maintain continuity of the entire educational process. Grading courses disrupted by the pandemic and proctoring exams taken remotely present special challenges.
READ
COVID-19 QuickPoll Results: Grading and Proctoring by EDUCAUSE
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Compliance Consideration of the Week:
A reminder about disclosing proctoring fees
- Federal regulations require institutions to disclose proctoring fees at the time of a student’s registration in a Distance education course. Enforcement of this requirement falls under an accrediting bodies’ purview.
- In the March 5, 2020 USED guidance, Accreditors were granted flexibility to “waive their distance education review requirements for institutions working to accommodate students whose enrollment is otherwise interrupted as a result of COVID-19."
- As a reminder, institutions should communicate their considerations and decisions related to accreditation standards and policies, including those which intersect with federal requirements, to its accrediting body. Click for NECHE's COVID-19 notice.
- USED also strongly recommends that institutions document, as contemporaneously as possible, any actions taken as a result of COVID-19.
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Questions?
rstachowiak@nebhe.org
617-533-9503
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For more, visit NEBHE's COVID-19 Resource Page
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