How Students at a University in Florida Experienced and Coped with COVID-Related Restrictions

Colleges and universities worldwide were forced to introduce COVID-related restrictions and to transition to mainly distance (online) teaching and learning for Academic Year 2020/2021. There were questions as to how students would cope with these massive changes and how many would develop mental and...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Educational research (Orem, Utah) Utah), 2022, Vol.33 (2), p.50
Main Authors: Reuter, Peter R, Forster, Bridget L, Kruger, Bethany J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Academic Achievement
College Students
Coping
COVID-19
Distance Education
Electronic Learning
Emergency Programs
Mental Health
Pandemics
Social Mobility
Student Attitudes
Student Experience
Teacher Student Relationship
Well Being
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Summary:Colleges and universities worldwide were forced to introduce COVID-related restrictions and to transition to mainly distance (online) teaching and learning for Academic Year 2020/2021. There were questions as to how students would cope with these massive changes and how many would develop mental and emotional health issues with an impact on their personal well-being and academic progress. The current research used two anonymous student surveys to shed light on how students at a university in Florida experienced living and studying under COVID restrictions. The results indicate that the approach chosen by our university was overall appreciated by students and may have helped most of them to cope well under unprecedented circumstances. Students gave the university an overall positive rating for how it handled the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and they were equally satisfied with the teaching overall and faculty's efforts to help them stay on track academically. Students also understood that the situation was unusual and very challenging for faculty and administration. However, respondents also felt that faculty and the institution in general were far less concerned with their mental and emotional well-being, and that not enough efforts had been made to proactively identify and connect with students who struggled with mental or emotional health issues. On a positive note, our study did not find an increase in depression and suicidal ideation. The results reported could be used to evaluate and improve mental health outreach at universities regardless of whether or not COVID-related restrictions will stay or be a thing of the past.
ISSN:2637-8965
2637-8965