The academic shift online across colleges and universities was swift and often chaotic last spring. Sharra Hynes, associate vice president and dean of students at Baylor University, and Wil Del Pilar, vice president of higher education at The Education Trust, shared with Texas Tribune higher education reporter Kate McGee that the response, communication and support for students since then has varied from institution to institution. Often, the neediest students attend schools with the fewest resources, exacerbating existing inequities between student groups. Del Pilar encouraged the state and federal government to set aside more funding to assist those schools.

Both experts said they worry most about the students they don’t hear from who may be struggling silently during the pandemic. Hynes pointed out that low-income and first-generation college students who need extra support often don’t know what resources are available to them. Despite these resources, many low income students are opting to push off higher education, which is concerning because statistically it’s unlikely they will return to the classroom, the experts said. They believe the pandemic presents opportunities to create more flexibility for online and hybrid course options, which can increase access to higher education for low-income and non-traditional students. — Kate McGee

This session is supported by The University of Arizona.