Earlier this month, the Center, ACAC, and Mawi Learning partnered with seven equity- and college-access-focused organizations for a #COVIDEquityChat chat on Twitter that centered around resources, supports, and addressing the needs of underserved populations through the ongoing pandemic.
Twitter chat participants said that it was important for organizations, school administrators and staff, and caring adults to continue student outreach efforts to help connect students to the resources they need. Students need action now more than ever, as the Center for First Generation Success called out in their tweet.
A1b: Continuing student outreach efforts that leverage existing relationships will allow us to center student voices as campuses plan for the fall. Students know what they want, https://t.co/fOekdGhH0G; it’s on us to empower them and help connect to resources. #COVIDEquityChat
— Center for First-generation Student Success (@FirstgenCenter) June 3, 2020
And, as Common App pointed out in their tweet, school counselors are more important, and working harder, than ever before, especially for students from underserved populations.
A1: Access to school counselors is critical for all students – underserved students in particular. With already overstretched workloads, counselors are working hard to adjust to the new circumstances, but they need our collective support. #COVIDEquityChat
— Common App (@CommonApp) June 3, 2020
One challenge for students, especially those who are facing the digital divide of either connectivity, reliable devices, or both, is online learning. Our chat participants had great suggestions for ways to offer offline learning options:
-get creative with low-tech learning options;
-provide packets and worksheets;
-offer 1:1 student/teacher phone calls to check in;
-create more flexibility for assignment completion;
-adjust graduation requirements; and
-provide 1:1 help via texting.
A2: Students are often sharing devices in the household as well, even with wireless access. Getting creative around low tech learning options (kits that can be sent in the mail, book swaps, etc.) can be a part of the solution. And 1-1 student/educator calls. #COVIDEquityChat https://t.co/TC22VcLeI2
— Jennifer Ingham, MSC (She/Her) (@Jen_Ingham) June 3, 2020
A2: As our partner @NASBE recommends, school districts & administrators should:
➡️ Create more flexibility for assignment completion
➡️ Adjust graduation requirements
➡️ Find opportunities for faculty engagement that aren’t online
https://t.co/DFsYb1ubIc #COVIDEquityChat https://t.co/l1hf1kMWC0— America’s Promise (@AmericasPromise) June 3, 2020
A3: #COVIDEquityChat
➡️Sharing resources on our site to help keep them on track & ready
➡️Creating video updates to help keep them informed
➡️Providing one on one help on our text line
➡️Sharing tips and ideas to stay sane— getschooled (@getschooled) June 3, 2020
With the potential loss of momentum around the college-going process over the spring into summer, colleges and universities will likely see an increase in summer melt – the phenomenon of prospective college students’ motivation to attend college “melting” away between the end of high school and beginning of college. Participants agreed that it’s critical to ensure that students stay motivated to keep moving forward in the process.
A3: It’s so important now to ensure students remain motivated and celebrated. We have to help them understand that a college education is still a critical investment in their future. #COVIDEquityChat https://t.co/kZB5PNp4jE
— Common App (@CommonApp) June 3, 2020
A3: As #FirstGen students transition, they must be met with a continuation of support in career guidance & skills training from mentors and faculty. Schools should also share help students complete required financial documents. #COVIDEquityChat @NCANetwork https://t.co/iaQOFDA7Ex
— America’s Promise (@AmericasPromise) June 3, 2020
When asked what organizations are doing to support and celebrate first-generation college-going students during the pandemic, chat participants had great ideas to encourage outreach of support, from mailing postcards with messages of “congratulations,” to phone calls and motivational social media posts.
A2: for some special items I used snail mail. Our graduates wrote a card to their senior self years ago so I sent that with their #firstgen program cords. Those things are special when you’re the first. #COVIDEquityChat pic.twitter.com/soAKTIjlwH
— Capria Berry (@berrycapria) June 3, 2020
We loved how @UTAustinSSI took the time to #CelebrateFirstGen by calling out their #FirstGen students individually on social media. This digital celebration can make all the difference. https://t.co/6yACbkEs4o #COVIDEquityChat
— ACT Equity (@ACTEquity) June 3, 2020
A3: The #CommonApp team was proud to virtually celebrate #CollegeSigningDay last month for students taking the next step in their educational journey. #COVIDEquityChat pic.twitter.com/1Q5pNp08w2
— Common App (@CommonApp) June 3, 2020
As the chat ended, participants focused on ways to ensure that our students, particularly those from underserved populations, aren’t lost to higher education opportunities because of the pandemic, making sure that they are supported both physically and emotionally.
Acknowledging our collective trauma, grief, confusion, fear are all critical to processing. HBR did a great article on this. It’s helpful for us to consider as we try to support and empower each other #Covidequitychat https://t.co/FZhsdKMImm https://t.co/FFsRzNPPsh
— Christina Gordon (@ChristinaGinDC) June 3, 2020
We can also support teachers by ensuring that they have effective strategies for ongoing communication and connection with their students. @AFTUnion’s @ShareMyLesson is a tool where educators can collaborate for this very purpose. https://t.co/82y4I0Eu0F @ACT #COVIDEquityChat
— ACT Equity (@ACTEquity) June 3, 2020
1) Give them a space to discuss what they are facing
2) Address Black students facing multiple issues directly
3) Call out issues
4) Make clear public statements and follow up
5) Communicate those concerns and directions for empathy to faculty and staff#COVIDEquityChat https://t.co/gZyk24Gvkw— UNCF (@UNCF) June 3, 2020
And, as America’s Promise pointed out in their tweet, we need to support young people who are getting creative in supporting their communities.
A6: Many young people like Kayleigh are finding creative ways to respond to the needs in their communities that have resulted from #COVID19. Supporting students with these projects is one critical way #CaringAdults can help right now. #StateOfYoungPeople #COVIDEquityChat https://t.co/P9W002DqWm pic.twitter.com/c941VrjsP9
— America’s Promise (@AmericasPromise) June 3, 2020
We’re exceedingly grateful for our partners in this chat, because of the incredible insights and knowledge they brought to the conversation:
American College Application Campaign
American Consortium for Equity in Education (ACE-ED)
Center for First-Gen Student Success
Check out our Twitter moment for the chat highlights.