In this week’s Wednesday roundup:
Virtual commencement celebrations, admissions and enrollment considerations and reopening.
Stay tuned each Wednesday for our roundup on what trends we’re seeing across institutions, how individual schools are responding and what national policy changes are affecting higher ed in the times of COVID-19.
Week of
April 29-May 5
- Colleges continue releasing statements with intentions to reopen campuses in the fall. Princeton University announced it's waiting until July to decide whether to reopen campus.
- A National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) quick poll shows that about 20% of employers were revoking offers to interns for the summer compared to 4% that are revoking full-time job offers.
- College admissions offices are reporting many more inquiries about admissions deferrals from students and parents unsure if in-person classes and operations will resume this fall.
- Virtual commencements across the country begin. Many with plans for additional, in-person celebrations in the fall.
- Oprah Winfrey will address the class of 2020 on May 15 in Facebook’s #Graduation2020: Facebook and Instagram Celebrate the Class of 2020. And President Obama and Michelle Obama will each deliver individual commencement speeches and a joint message to graduates in YouTube’s “Dear Class of 2020” original special on Saturday, June 6. President Donald Trump, plans to give the 2020 commencement speech at an in-person ceremony for the US Military Academy at West Point on June 13.
- Faculty members are voicing concerns about the health and safety of face-to-face instruction if colleges open next fall.
- Concerns about summer and fall enrollment has some colleges tapping their waitlists.
- According to information from the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), more than 700 colleges and universities still have openings, financial aid and housing available for the fall 2020 semester.
