Covid-19 prompted vaccine mandates in many universities but not in all. This could not only impact future enrollment but also make U.S. traditional transfer options more difficult than last year.
According to a National Student Clearinghouse Research Center June 2021 report (PDF), student mobility declined at all institution types, and in particular among Black and Latinx students. White, Black, Latinx, and Asian transfer students all fared better at public four-year colleges but worsened at community colleges compared to their pre-pandemic transfer trends, according to the report.
The Research Center works with higher education institutions, states, districts, high schools, and educational organizations to provide better information to practitioners and policymakers about student educational pathways.
Also according to the Research Center’s study, the pandemic is changing transfer pathways across higher education through summer 2022. “Transfer declined the most for traditional college-age students ages 18-24 and least for those 30 and older.
The data provided in the report intends to aid higher education leaders navigate the situation and be able to adapt and plan ahead in order to deliver the best possible educational opportunities for their students, and in particular to those in the most vulnerable student population group.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the vast majority of colleges and universities have operated online. In future enrollments, some students might maintain enrollment at the same institution while others might re-evaluate their options and consider a transfer to remain closer to home.
Other students might consider a transfer to a university or college that would have not been an option before the adoption of more virtual environments and an online learning alternative.
A nationally-representative survey of undergraduates conducted by New America and Third Way revealed that approximately nine percent of students decided to transfer schools for the academic year 2020-2021.
One in four of those students decided to transfer in order to be closer to home. Nearly 18 percent of the students said they were unlikely to re-enroll in their current institution in the fall 2021. Nearly a third of those students said they would transfer to another school.
The future of education is online
Another post-pandemic reason for student transfers is that the majority prefer to enroll in fully online courses even if their institution is hybrid.
Despite most institutions claiming that students want to be back in class on campus, that is not the case. According to a survey from New America and Third Way on Covid-19’s impact on college students, a large proportion of students will choose fully online.
“According to students, most colleges are leaning on the hybrid model where they will offer both in-person and fully online classes. While just one percent of college students report their institutions will offer in-person classes only, a majority (57 percent) are offering hybrid education, with the remainder (29 percent) moving fully online.”
It remains to be seen what a return to campus is going to look like this fall. In the meantime, higher education leaders must focus their attention in adopting a mostly online education format to attract those students who are willing to transfer to fully online education.
For more articles on Covid vaccine mandates in higher education see:
Universities' Vaccine Mandate Could Impact Future Enrollment