In this week's roundup:
Howard University’s spike in COVID cases prompts a pivot online, interest in three-year degrees is growing, and emotional stress takes a heavy toll on students.
April 14-20
- Howard University has moved all classes online following a spike in COVID-19 cases on campus and in the Washington, D.C., area. After classes end on April 22, final exams will also be held online.
- Ukrainian students enrolled in online classes at DePaul University find that their studies are the best way to take their mind off the war. More than 100 Ukrainian students have enrolled in 42 online courses at DePaul through a partnership with Ukrainian Catholic University.
- State-owned universities in Pennsylvania will extend a tuition freeze for the fourth consecutive year. Students at each of the 14 state-owned universities will pay the amount that’s been in place since the 2018-19 school year.
- Interest in three-year bachelor degrees is gaining momentum at institutions across the country as part of a program called “College in 3.” The renewed interest in such programs is partially due to the pandemic as students seek to earn their degrees faster.
- Four Massachusetts institutions will receive $120 million for science, technology, math and engineering programs. Governor Charlie Baker announced the spending will go towards modernizing facilities and increasing enrollment capacity.
- Boston University will lay off 175 staff members from the university’s COVID-19 testing site. BU is supporting re-employment efforts at the university.
- A new survey finds that more than three-quarters of undergraduate students have considered dropping out of college due to emotional stress. The amount has increased for both bachelor’s and associate degree students with the main source being the pandemic and financial concerns.
- Dollar General will introduce a no-cost program for employees to pursue a degree at Strayer University and Capella University. Eligible employees will also be able to allocate their tuition assistance to another institution.
- According to a new report, nearly two-thirds of student debt is held by women and Black women are more burdened by student debt. The research is an extension of the Jim Crow Debt report, which identified college debt as a racial and economic justice issue.
- Enrollment in agriculture and agriculture-related programs at two-year colleges increased by 41% in Fall 2021. Construction trades have seen the second largest increase.
