Brigid Harrington Writes “Pandemic-Caused Shift to Remote Learning Has Led to Novel Civil Rights Issues” for the New England Board of Higher Education

By Cesira Newcomb  •  March 9, 2022

What many people initially expected would be a two-week shutdown turned into a years-long ordeal. Online learning became the default approach through the spring of 2021. Prolonged isolation, difficulties adjusting to online operations and increased anxiety about interacting with others took a huge toll on students. At the same time, social justice movements such as Black Lives Matter and #metoo occupied the national consciousness.

The student body was stuck at home, separated from in-person mental health resources and peer connections that higher education institutions typically offer. Psychological well-being among college students dropped during the spring of 2020, compared with the previous spring, according to a survey conducted by the Healthy Minds Network and the American College Health Association. Added stress and increased depression damaged academic performance, the survey found.

Continue reading the full article “Pandemic-Caused Shift to Remote Learning Has Led to Novel Civil Rights Issues” on the New England Board of Higher Education website.