National Decision Day, or May 1, has come and gone this year and many colleges and universities are still open for business and working with prospective students for the fall term. In the past, May 1 was a time when high school seniors declare which college they’ll be attending in the fall. However, this year, many high school seniors are considering all of their options due to the economic impact of COVID-19, including gap years and other institutions.
For many institutions, May 1 lost its luster before this year, however, due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the colleges that typically follow the May 1 schedule have also postponed their reply deadlines to June 1 to accommodate economic challenges families are currently facing. According to the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), almost 750 colleges and universities still have openings, financial aid, and housing available to qualified freshmen and/or transfer students for the fall 2020 semester.
While institutions continue to recruit and enroll students, institutions are also considering the next steps in preparation for the fall. Last week, Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos held a call with 14 college and university leaders to discuss the best ways to get students back to campuses in the fall. Currently, the vast majority of institutions say they are planning for an in-person fall semester. A survey administered by the Chronicle of Higher Education shows 64% of responding institutions plan to open in-person in the fall. Of the other 36%, 12% are still waiting to decide, 10% are considering a range of scenarios, 7% are planning to remain online for the term, and 6% are proposing a hybrid model. These decisions can have an affect on the decision that students make throughout the summer. However, nothing is set in stone, decisions still depend on the status of the pandemic as we move through the summer months.
Normally, an institution offering a program via distance education must be accredited for distance education by an agency that has distance education in the scope of its recognition by the Secretary. In the most recent guidance from the Department of Education (ED), ED expanded the broad approval for the use of distance education to include periods that begin on or between March 5, 2020, and December 31, 2020.
While institutions continue to evaluate options and eventually make a final decision, enrollment and other student-centered offices across the country will continue to engage with incoming and current students to ease concerns and build a community.
Sources:
NASFAA: Decision Day Still Looming as Viral Outbreak Delays College Admissions Process
NACAC: NACAC’s College Openings Update
Here’s what Fauci said about college students returning to campus in the fall
The Chronicle: Here’s a List of Colleges’ Plans for Reopening in the Fall
InsideHigherEd: The Evolving Fall Picture
InsideHigherEd: Coronavirus News Roundup for May 15