Higher Ed COVID-19 Insights

Tuesday Huron COVID-19 Insights Findings Update October 6, 2020

Huron produces regular Findings Updates summarizing relevant trends and headlines related to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on higher education.

Latest Trends and Headlines

Trend Category Trend Summary Today’s Headlines

Universities continue to ▪ Florida State University's President John Thrasher and First Lady Jean announce, revise, and Thrasher have tested positive for COVID-19. Re-Opening execute plans for fall ▪ An NPR study found many colleges and universities, including those that Operations instruction, residence life, are currently in hot spots, are not aggressively testing their student and athletics. populations. ▪ SUNY Cortland will pause its in-person classes and activities for two weeks beginning on October 7 as more than 100 students have tested positive for COVID-19. ▪ More than 100 students at Sacred Heart University have been suspended for violating coronavirus safety protocols. ▪ Texas colleges are reporting testing participation rates far below their goals. ▪ 5 colleges and universities have announced plans to expand in-person classes mid-semester.

The pandemic has ▪ The University of Tennessee plans to hold in-person graduation created unprecedented ceremonies in November. challenges for students, Student Impact & ▪ Parents of students at the University of Mississippi have expressed and in turn, enrollment Enrollments concern that students are not receiving adequate instruction whether in- risks for many institutions. person or remote.

Universities continue to ▪ The newest rounds of budget cuts in higher education are increasingly use spending freezes, impacting personnel. layoffs, and other means Financial ▪ The University System of New Hampshire faces a $70 million deficit amid to address funding gaps Impact COVID-19 fiscal impacts. created by the pandemic. ▪ According to Law.com, trends show judges refusing to dismiss cases demanding COVID-19 refunds from universities.

▪ Sacred Heart University withdrew from a multi-institution acquisition agreement in which it would have joined with Goodwin University and the Paier College of Art to each take on several University of Bridgeport programs.

Universities continue to ▪ Binghamton University researchers have been focusing on efforts to ramp- ramp-up research up research activities by reviewing 220 study applications and personnel Research activities, including requests to return to campus. activities directly related Operations ▪ A team at the University of Cincinnati have shown that a lipid, sphingosine, to COVID-19 research. known to eliminate respiratory infections, may be able to interfere with the COVID-19 virus infection process in human cells.

Confidential © 2020 Huron Consulting Group Inc. and affiliates. Use and distribution prohibited except through written agreement with Huron. Trademarks used in this document are registered or unregistered trademarks of Huron or its licensors

Huron COVID-19 Insights Findings Update – October 6, 2020

The pandemic’s ▪ With little internet access and disproportionate impacts from COVID-19, economic and social tribal colleges have had to redesign everything. impact could accelerate Potential ▪ Faculty confidence in online learning has grown moving into the Fall term. Transformation transformational change to Higher Ed in higher education.

Universities continue to ▪ No updates for today’s newsletter. address emerging trends Other Emerging while operating through Trends the pandemic.

Today’s Article Summaries

A. Re-Opening Operations

▪ Florida State University President John Thrasher and First Lady Jean Thrasher have tested positive for COVID- 19 o President Thrasher learned of his positive result on the afternoon of October 6 after taking a PCR test earlier in the day. o Mrs. Thrasher learned of her positive diagnosis late on October 5 after a recent stay in the hospital and a local rehabilitation facility for an unrelated condition. o President and Mrs. Thrasher are isolating at home and monitoring their symptoms, both are currently feeling well, and the president is working from home. o FSU officials, in conjunction with public health authorities, are conducting contact tracing.

▪ Even In COVID-19 Hot Spots, Many Colleges Aren't Aggressively Testing Students o Of the colleges and universities that have chosen to hold classes in-person this fall, most are not conducting widespread testing of their student populations. o More than 2 out of 3 colleges with in-person classes either have no clear testing plan or are testing only students who are at risk. o Davidson College’s Crisis Initiative team highlights the fact that most schools in the data set are not testing students weekly, suggesting this data provides insights into how much institutions are struggling financially. o Additionally, the lack of clear guidance from the federal government on how to reopen campuses has also contributed to the wide disparity in testing approaches across institutions.

▪ Chancellor Malatras and President Bitterbaum Announce Pause Following Increase in COVID Cases o SUNY Cortland will pause its in-person classes and activities for two weeks, beginning on October 7, as more than 100 students have tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19), exceeding the threshold set by the New York Department of Health. o The institution will retest every student for the virus and implement its recently adopted plan for increased safety standards. o These safety guidelines will be reinforced by an updated disciplinary plan which include academic and housing suspension and potential dismissal.

Huron COVID-19 Insights Findings Update – October 6, 2020

▪ 100 Sacred Heart Students Suspended For Coronavirus Violations o Sacred Heart University has had issues with off-campus students failing to wear masks or socially distance when attending house parties or going to restaurants and bars. o A new saliva testing method developed by researchers at the Yale School of Public Health, will be used to provide testing to 50% of the undergraduate population this week. o A university official indicated that Sacred Heart is “one of the first education institutions to use this test — if not the very first”. o The institution has also installed 10 "scent tents" with floral arrangements outside various campus buildings to allow students to check their sense of smell (loss of smell and taste can be an early symptom of the coronavirus).

▪ Texas Colleges Offer Free Coronavirus Tests. Why Aren't More Students Getting Tested? o To date, none of the major public universities in Texas require testing — though some have left the door open. o Testing has not been widely mandated and instead is done on a voluntary basis, with some exceptions, including attending football games or participating in athletics. o David Paltiel, professor at the Yale School of Public Health, says that waiting for students and staff to volunteer for testing is flawed. o To boost participation, some schools are launching incentive programs, including raffle prizes for $50 gift cards. o Some students indicate that they do not want to be tested because they do not feel comfortable being in proximity with others who may potentially be infected.

▪ 5 Colleges and Universities Expand In-Person Classes o According to President Robert C. Robbins, the University of Arizona is planning to re-open more classrooms if COVID-19 rates continue to decline. o According to President Deborah F. Stanley, SUNY Oswego will begin resuming in-person classes this week. o James Madison University plans to resume in-person classes this week unless instructors have made alternate arrangements. o Brown University is allowing classes of 19 students or less to be held in-person. o Providence College is resuming in-person classes this week and may resume full in-person classes next week.

B. Student Impact & Enrollments

▪ The University of Tennessee Plans to Hold In-Person Graduation Ceremonies in November o The University of Tennessee at Knoxville recently announced it is planning to hold in-person graduation ceremonies in November, before Thanksgiving break. o The college is currently planning to host three ceremonies a day, over four days; each ceremony will be held with 200 students. o The ceremonies will be open to all spring, summer, and fall 2020 graduates. o Each student may bring a limited number of guests; masks and adherence to social distancing guidelines will be required. o UT is also planning to hold in-person ceremonies for spring 2021 graduates.

▪ Ole Miss students and parents upset with the way classes are being taught o A concerned parent of a student at Ole Miss, Dr. Patrick Tucker, has written a letter to Ole Miss Chancellor Dr. Glenn Boyce expressing frustration with the instruction that his son has received. o Students were promised a hybrid format (a mix of in-person and remote instruction) but are experiencing very limited interaction with faculty in either format and are largely being asked to learn on their own. o Thousands of additional parents have expressed similar concerns and have created a Facebook group dedicated to the issue. o Chancellor Boyce has indicated that he will work with university leaders to address the matter.

Huron COVID-19 Insights Findings Update – October 6, 2020

C. Financial Impact

▪ New Round of Budget Cuts Hitting Personnel o Fall has so far brought a flood of furlough and layoff announcements at colleges and universities large and small, private, and public. o Last month, employment in state government education dropped by 49,000 jobs and employment in private education fell by 69,000 jobs, according to employment data released last week by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. o Many colleges and universities trimmed auxiliary spending in the spring as they staved off programmatic and personnel cuts. o With all the fat and more already trimmed, colleges are left with one substantial line item: personnel. o Ken Rodgers, director at S&P Global Ratings, indicates that he believes “fiscal ’20 results may end up being to the good side. Everyone's telling us fiscal ’21 results are likely to be the year in which the whole brunt of the changes that are being made are going to affect these schools. And in some cases, at the end of fiscal ’22 as well.”

▪ N.H.'s State University System Faces $70M Deficit Amid COVID-19 Fiscal Impacts o Anticipating the shift in demographics and increased pressures on pricing, the University System of New Hampshire had already begun the process of reimaging cost structures with a goal of identifying approximately $70 million in savings; the introduction of the COVID-19 crisis heightened the need to accelerate the process. o The institution’s early retirement program has exceeded expectations, with over 300 individuals opting into the program. o Even with the success of the early retirement program, there will be additional need to realize permanent savings through cost-restructuring; this will include evaluating administrative costs, including areas like procurement. o Ultimately, given the labor-intensive nature of higher education, the institution will likely need to consider additional reductions in the workforce to meet it goals.

▪ Trend Shows Judges Refusing to Dismiss Cases Against Universities Demanding COVID-19 Refunds o Approximately 200 class actions hit the courts soon after campuses closed this spring, most asserting breach of contract and unjust enrichment on behalf of various classes of students seeking refunds for tuition, fees, and housing and meal costs. o Of these cases, judges have allowed more than a half-dozen cases allowing claims to proceed. o Judges in Michigan, Ohio, and Florida have allowed some of those claims to survive, despite assertions from the schools that students have not identified a contract or proven that, once in a virtual setting, they had breached it. o Judge James Moody of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, on September 16 in a case against Florida Southern College wrote, “this case is novel in the sense that there is no legal precedent involving a pandemic’s impact on a school’s promise to provide in-person learning when doing so would be unsafe and/or against government mandates.” o Moody was one of the first federal judges to rule on whether to allow such claims, but state court judges in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana rejected dismissal of cases against several schools, including the University of Michigan, the University of Toledo, Ohio State University and Kent State University. o Some judges have dismissed cases, however, such as those against Eastern Michigan University and Lake Superior State University in Michigan, although some of them cited procedural reasons. o In preparation for fall semester, many universities have changed their contracts to address COVID- 19’s potential impact, while others have sought legislative protections from liability.

Huron COVID-19 Insights Findings Update – October 6, 2020

▪ Sacred Heart Drops Out of Multi-Institution Acquisition Plan o Sacred Heart University withdrew from a multi-institution acquisition agreement in which it would have joined with Goodwin University and the Paier College of Art to each take on several University of Bridgeport programs, with leaders disagreeing about what drove the change. o The complex deal between different private universities in Connecticut, first announced at the end of June, focused on optimizing a shared infrastructure, including a common library and security services, and supported students taking different courses at their partner institutions. o Bridgeport leaders still expect a modified deal to move forward without Sacred Heart. o Goodwin University will absorb a set of programs Sacred Heart had been planning to take on, according to Bridgeport's president.

D. Research Re-Entry

▪ Binghamton Researchers Return to Work o Binghamton University, SUNY restricted non-essential research starting March 21, and then began to increase research activities in mid-May. o In September, the school reviewed 220 study applications and modification forms from nearly 150 faculty members. o Approximately 670 research personnel and students returned to their research spaces. o The Division of Research polled faculty and staff regarding the Return to Research process: - 58 percent described the process as easy or very easy - 97 percent believe they are meeting safety standards - 75 percent said they feel just as productive if they are working remotely

▪ University of Cincinnati Researchers Identify Potential COVID-19 Treatment o University of Cincinnati researchers have identified that a lipid, sphingosine, may be utilized to prevent COVID-19. o The UC team, working with German researchers, cultured human cells with the lipid and then infected those cells with COVID-19. o The findings indicate that sphingosine prevents at least some viral infection by interfering with the interaction of the virus with its receptor. o This interaction could be used to develop a nasal spray to prevent or treat SARS-CoV2 infections. o The team notes that more research is needed to further explore a potential treatment for COVID-19.

E. Potential Transformation to Higher Education

▪ Innovating and Adapting: Tribal Colleges in the Pandemic o Tribal colleges, which educate around 10 percent of all Native American and Alaska Native students who go to college, are typically under resourced compared to nontribal colleges. o Access to technology is one of the largest hurdles for tribal colleges, many of which are in rural areas. o To solve this problem, Diné College is trying to create micro-campuses across the reservation and in remote areas, so students will not have to travel as far to get internet access. o The micro-campuses will have computers, broadband access, and staff to ensure COVID-19 safety protocols are followed. o The college is also exploring ideas to add micro-campuses in places like strip malls that also have Laundromats and grocery stores. o Parents could come to do errands, and their children could go get tutoring from Diné students who are in teacher education programs.

Huron COVID-19 Insights Findings Update – October 6, 2020

▪ Faculty Confidence in Online Learning Grows o According to the "Time for Class COVID-19 Edition Part 2: Planning for a Fall Like No Other," study conducted by Every Learner Everywhere and Tyton Partners, the proportion of instructors who see online learning as effective has increased to 49%, up from 39% in May. o This suggests that professors feel better prepared to teach with technology this fall, and they generally credit their institutions for helping to prepare them. o Instructors' biggest objective this fall, was to increase engagement. o Among other changes they pursued was to provide more timely feedback and ensure accessibility for all students -- a recognition that students from low-income backgrounds were likelier than peers to lack access to good technology, broadband internet access and quiet places to study, among other necessities for digital learning. o 4 of 5 instructors said they had participated in professional development for digital learning to prepare for this fall. o More than half of instructors credited their institutions with providing sufficient training for the fall, compared to fewer than 2 in 5 who felt that way before COVID-19. o Even with these advances, many faculty members believe they have a long way to go in delivering technology-enabled learning that meets their students' needs.

F. Other Emerging Trends

▪ No updates for today’s newsletter.

Huron COVID-19 Insights Findings Update – October 6, 2020

Recent Huron Articles

Title Author Date

Re-Opening Operations

Data Privacy and Gen Z: A Formula for Voluntary Contact Tracing on Campus Merritt Neale, August 31, 2020 Matthew Tryniecki

Reducing Athletics Programs' Compliance Risks Marisa Zuskar August 17, 2020

COVID Focuses the Spotlight on Academic Programs: There Is Room For Optimism Mike Cogan August 5, 2020

Infographic: Classroom Optimization Lee Smith August 4, 2020

COVID-19 and Hurricane Katrina: Higher Education Parallels and Lessons Learned Christopher Byrne July 14, 2020 & Chris Powers

Aligning Faculty Effort to the New Normal Mike Cogan July 14, 2020

The Flexible Future: Actionable Scenario Planning for Higher Education Leaders Mark Finlan July 7, 2020

Student & Enrollment Impact

Pricing Today and Tomorrow Peter Stokes, September 16, 2020 Steve Hahn

Enrollment Success Includes an Integrated Transfer Student Strategy Kristine Dillon, September 4, 2020 Steve Hahn

Test Scores: Optional? Kristine Dillon, September 1, 2020 Steve Hahn, Ben Chrischilles

Fall Is Not Lost: Student Engagement Strategies to Improve 2020 Enrollments Steve Hahn August 10, 2020

The Post-Pandemic Evolution of Student Data Privacy Merritt Neale August 10, 2020 Matthew Tryniecki

Infographic: Tuition Pricing Strategies for the Fall Colin McWilliams August 26, 2020

3 Solutions For Improving The College Application Process Steve Hahn, Laura August 12, 2020 Zimmermann

Financial Impact

Strategic Higher Education M&A: Assessing Institutional Readiness Robert Spencer September 11, 2020

Thinking Different about Strategic Alliances in Higher Education Robert Spencer August 25, 2020

Major & Minor Cuts: Academic Program Eliminations in the Age of COVID-19 Jeremy Wolos July 31, 2020

Infographic: Impacts on Intercollegiate Athletics Jay Rowan July 24, 2020

Cut from the Team: Athletics Program Eliminations in the Age of COVID-19 Clare Conaty July 10, 2020

Avoiding the Path to Closure Jennifer Ramey July 9, 2020

Research Impact

Research Enterprise Impacts and Opportunities Huron Res. Team September 1, 2020

Getting Back to Work: Ramping Up Your Research Programs During a Pandemic Rick Rohrbach June 11, 2020

Huron COVID-19 Insights Findings Update – October 6, 2020

Potential Transformation to Higher Education

Why Cloud? Why Now? Disruption Puts Spotlight on Data and Systems Ted Simpson September 3, 2020

The Value Proposition of Joint Ventures in Employer-Supported Strategic Education Peter Stokes, August 7, 2020 – Creating Opportunities for Working Adults Jonathan Krasnov

Empowering Agile Decision Making in Higher Education Mark Finlan July 1, 2020

CONTACT INFORMATION

Mark Finlan Managing Director [email protected]

Jeff Leinbach Manager

[email protected]