Note: This episode was recorded on 12/17/2020
*Please visit our YouTube Channel for the list of questions and links to the sources referenced below!
College Closures and Reopening
1. By the middle of March 2020 (when the COVID-19 pandemic rapidly loomed over the US), over 1,100 universities throughout the nation shut down all in-person operations and moved to online instruction [1]. The shutdowns occurred extremely quickly, often times with colleges leaving students and teachers alike without any information or support [2].
2. During the Autumn 2020 school semester, the vast majority of colleges are conducting “primarily online” and “hybrid” operations [3]. Many college campuses serve as a semi-permanent place of residence for students, especially sophomores and freshman. With the COVID-19 pandemic, student housing and food security has been markedly worsened [4], as many students have been essentially forced off campus due to closure. Many students indicate that they have trouble concentrating in class, are sleeping poorly, and worry about their academic performance due to factors related to COVID-19 [5].
COVID-19 Symptoms for Younger Populations
1. Compared to older populations or individuals with underlying health conditions, most college students are at a relatively lower risk of developing severe illness after contracting COVID-19 [6]. However, younger adults likely play a big role in community transmission, and can put at-risk populations in danger [7]. Anyone of any age category can develop mild to severe symptoms [8]. 2. The most common symptoms of COVID include fever, dry cough, and fatigue [9].
COVID-19 and College Internships
1. Half of the internship opportunities on Glassdoor were closed since COVID (as of mid-April). (suggesting they were cut, not that someone was hired). Similarly between May 2020 and May 2019, there was half as many internship hiring this year (suggesting that companies are doing less hiring). [10]. In the NACE poll (as or April), about 20% of polled businesses were revoking already made offers [14]. 2. According to a poll by NACE (National Association of Colleges and Employers) of the internships still occurring in polled companies, half (54.8%) were moving to virtual internship and 48.7% reduced the length of the internship [11].
References
1. National Conference of State Legislatures
2. Teachers College: Columbia University
3. The Chronicle of Higher Education
4. Georgetown University
5. JMIR Publications
6. Research Gate
7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
8. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
9. Mayo Clinic
10. Glassdoor: Economic research
11. National Association of Colleges and Employees
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