School-level data about changes in college admission as a result of the coronavirus outbreak
National data on the impact of COVID-19 on campus career services and the employment landscape for graduating seniors
National survey results on impact of COVID-19 on transcript, credit, and test score issues
Results of survey on campus residence issues in the U.S. and abroad, including emergency housing, residence hall use for emergency alternative care, retrieval of student property, etc.
Commencement survey results from the Association of Collegiate Conference and Events Directors
Percentages of public and private colleges applying for “Main Street” loans
School-level data by country on status of operation at international study abroad partner institutions
Survey results on COVID-19 impact on international students and study abroad
Fiscal impact of COVID-19 on campus recreation budgets and staffing
Virtual Campus Tours: Video and 3D tours orient incoming students to campuses' physical spaces.
Donate Your Deposit:
Schools are contributing dollars from tuition deposits to community coronavirus relief.
Video Testimonials:
Department chairs and others are making the pitch for their majors from their homes.
Parent & Family Communities: Parents and families of incoming students are coming together on Facebook and elsewhere to share both excitement and concern about their kids' futures.
AMAs (Ask Me Anything): Admissions Offices are using the interactive Q&A format popular on Reddit to highlight the student experience, faculty expertise, and financial aid questions.
Social Media Feeds:
Colleges' social media feeds have become Admissions Office hubs, hosting icebreaker activities for new students, scavenger hunts, live orientations, daily videos made from home, and much more.
Student Liaisons/Ask a Student: Personal connections between current and admitted students provide real-world perspective on college choices.
Class Embeds: Professors are letting prospective students "sit in" on ongoing classes, easier than ever with virtual and remote learning.
Student & Faculty Panels: Live info sessions have gone virtual with video conferencing apps like Zoom, GoToMeeting, and other enterprise software.
Sharon Hansen, director of career and post-graduate development at Ursinus, says that graduating college seniors may feel like they have no agency over their job search, but she encourages seniors to remember that while they can’t control everything, there are certain tactics they can employ that can help.
- Focus on virtual engagement.
- Work on creating and refining your “digital brand.” Students who take time to fully create or update meaningful profiles on sites like Handshake and LinkedIn are more likely receive messages from potential employers.
- Proactively connect with potential employers, and keep in touch with them even if they aren’t able to hire now.
- Stay abreast of all the supports your college is providing. Ursinus sends out a weekly newsletter containing job opportunities and job hunting resources, is providing virtual interview coaching, and most importantly, is working hard to connect students with Ursinus alumni in a wide range of professions.
“We know that students are faced with a lot of uncertainty as they prepare to graduate this spring, but they’re also being proactive and creative in their approach to engaging with employers and taking advantage of new pathways to employment. More than ever, opportunity exists at their fingertips. They can create a digital profile that speaks louder than any resume on paper, and they are only a few keystrokes away from having a video chat about their career aspirations. The current health crisis isn’t driving students away from opportunity. In some ways, it’s bringing them closer to it.”
Sharon Hansen
Director of Career and Post-Graduate Development
Ursinus College
For further comment on any of the topics above, please contact Ed Moorhouse at emoorhouse@ursinus.edu (610-409-3535) or Luise Moskowitz at lmoskowitz@steegethomson.com (267-307-6617)