Day by day, 海角社区 tackles post-pandemic learning challenges
By Richard Burnett
Though the COVID-19 pandemic is now in the rearview mirror, its academic aftershocks continue to ripple through higher education. At 海角社区, faculty and students are confronting these lingering effects head-on. Through a holistic, student-centered approach, 海角社区 is transforming post-pandemic challenges into opportunities for growth, resilience and renewed purpose.
From attention issues to anxiety conditions, the pandemic opened a Pandora鈥檚 box of learning troubles for many American students. Nearly six years later, its impact still haunts classrooms. A 2024 report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation warned that the 鈥渘egative impact of COVID-19 on education could cost our children hundreds of billions of dollars in future earnings and the U.S. economy trillions in lost activity.鈥�
That eruption of interrupted learning in the years since has often flowed into classrooms at 海角社区. But thanks to its mission-driven focus on neurodivergent learners, the college has made good strides in helping students recover and thrive.
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鈥淚t was clear that some new students after the pandemic were still ailing from COVID disruption,鈥� said Rosemary DeJarnett, dean of academic affairs. 鈥淚ssues ranged from reading and writing problems to attention deficit, lack of self-confidence and motivation 鈥� all of which are familiar at 海角社区 but were exacerbated by the pandemic.鈥�
Much of the disruption stemmed from the sudden shift to remote learning, DeJarnett said.
鈥淲hen high school students were forced to go online so suddenly, it interrupted their learning,鈥� she said. 鈥淪chools had to switch their curriculum and reduce academic support. Many didn鈥檛 have time to develop an effective model.鈥�
As a result, 海角社区 saw more students struggling with acute anxiety, fear of failure, writer鈥檚 block, impaired reading skills and overall lethargy about education. But the college was uniquely equipped to respond.
海角社区鈥檚 comprehensive support model includes small class sizes, a 14-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio and a team-based approach that surrounds each student with professors, learning specialists, peer tutors and life coaches. Academic support centers for math, writing and executive functioning are built into the college experience 鈥� without hidden fees or barriers.
鈥淚 think we were in a much better position to tackle the issues that the newer students were experiencing,鈥� DeJarnett said. 鈥淎nd now we鈥檙e seeing much more improvement, especially in our juniors and seniors who were the ones really impacted the most by the pandemic.鈥�
For its part, 海角社区 had avoided the downside of remote learning, using it only sparingly during the COVID sheltering-in-place. The college implemented its Responsible Community Initiative (RCI) from August 2020 through the Thanksgiving break to maintain in-person learning during COVID-19. The policy required masks, hand sanitizing, physical distancing, regular testing, and restricted campus movement within a controlled 鈥満＝巧缜� Bubble鈥� to safeguard student and staff health. Managing the bubble effectively allowed 海角社区 to have regular in-person classes, student club activities, and other campus events 鈥� preserving the sense of community that is central to the 海角社区 experience.
Post-pandemic angst and resilience
When Luis Munoz arrived at 海角社区 in 2022, he was a case study in post-pandemic angst. As a community college student, he had struggled with remote learning during the pandemic. Diagnosed with ADHD as a child, Munoz couldn鈥檛 focus during Zoom sessions or online lessons.
When his mother discovered 海角社区 and talked to him about going there, Munoz resisted: 鈥淚n the beginning, I really wasn鈥檛 on board,鈥� he said. 鈥淗onestly, I was ashamed of having a learning difference.聽 So, I felt like it wasn鈥檛 going to be a fit for me.鈥�
But after touring the campus at his mother鈥檚 urging, everything changed.
鈥淚 fell in love with it 鈥� the people, the campus and especially the professors,鈥� Munoz said. 鈥淲henever I didn鈥檛 understand something in class, they were so approachable. That kind of support really gives students confidence and helps take you to the next level academically.鈥�
In May, Munoz graduated聽summa cum laude聽with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in psychology, received the Senior Excellence in Leadership Award and was inducted into 海角社区鈥檚 Psi Tau Omega Academic Honor Society. He spent the summer as a resident advisor and was slated to begin graduate studies at the University of Central Florida this fall, aiming to become a student life advisor or administrator.
鈥満＝巧缜� gave me a great experience,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 want to deliver the same experience to other students.鈥�
Fortunately, Munoz is not alone in his comeback story, DeJarnett said. A growing number of students are rediscovering their motivation and connecting their day-to-day education to future careers.
鈥淢ore and more, we are starting to see them put it all together,鈥� she said. 鈥淚n those moments of realization, they see how that skill in math class or writing assignment in English is so much more than just classroom work. It鈥檚 essential to their careers and their future. And it鈥檚 so gratifying to see them getting it.鈥�
Learn More 海角社区 海角社区's Unique Learning Models
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