Student Engagement a Growing Problem for Colleges Post-COVID, According to New Wiley Research
February 13 2023 - 8:00AM
Business Wire
Wiley’s State of the Student report suggests
financial and emotional stress are key drivers of student
disengagement
Student engagement is becoming a bigger problem for colleges and
universities post-COVID-19, with many students feeling unmotivated,
insecure and uncertain about their futures, according to new
research from Wiley (NYSE: WLY), a global leader in publishing,
research and education.
Wiley’s State of the Student 2023 report, based on a survey of
thousands of college students and instructors across the U.S.,
suggests financial and emotional stress are key causes of
disengagement, making it difficult for students to select a major,
maintain interest in their classes and even stay in school.
"Students are facing a wide range of financial and emotional
challenges in today's new normal,” said Matt Leavy, Wiley Executive
Vice President. “These challenges are leading to disengagement that
threatens their success and the outcomes and objectives of the
schools serving them. Students will need extra support to remain in
school, stay engaged and ultimately meet their academic and career
goals.”
Financial and Emotional Stress
According to the report, the main reasons students took a gap
year or dropped out of school were financial and emotional
insecurity.
The findings show a growing percentage of students are
struggling to pay for tuition and materials (51%, an increase of 7%
from a similar survey last year) and living expenses (43%, up 14%
from last year). And nearly half of undergraduates say they are
experiencing declining mental and emotional health.
As a result, more students are working while in school and
delaying their education to support themselves and their family and
take care of their emotional health challenges.
These struggles have also impacted students in other ways. The
majority (53%) acknowledge they find it challenging to retain all
their class material, and nearly half (48%) are concerned about
being able to keep up with their class work.
In addition, over the past year, students have grown more
uncertain about choosing their field of study, with two in ten
(21%) saying they are unsure about what major to declare, more than
double the percentage of last year.
The data point to engagement issues within the classroom as
well. Despite the return to in-person instruction, more than half
(55%) of undergraduates admit they’re likely to struggle with
staying engaged and interested in their classes, and two-thirds
(66%) of instructors identify keeping students engaged as a
challenge.
In terms of engaging course content, students are widely looking
for a career-connected educational experience that teaches them
real-world skills and experiences. They are focused on finding jobs
after graduation and want to know their education is preparing them
well for their future careers.
Recent Wiley research suggests a skills-based approach in the
college classroom might be well received by employers. The data
point to a rapidly widening skills gap in the U.S., with more and
more companies having a difficult time finding workers who have the
skills needed to fill their open jobs.
Recommendations
The report offers a number of recommendations for how
instructors and college administrators can help ease some of the
challenges students are experiencing and improve their engagement
both inside and outside of the classroom.
- Provide more financial and mental health assistance and/or take
steps to ensure students are aware of the financial and mental
health assistance currently available to them. Some colleges are
already making such efforts, with 10% saying they are offering more
financial aid, scholarships, and grants for students and 5% saying
they are lowering tuition.
- Check in on students earlier and more frequently, especially
those considered at risk, to offer support and relevant guidance.
Encouragingly, 31% of institutions report offering additional
academic counseling this year.
- Offer more projects that help students connect what they’re
learning to the real world, such as company-based projects,
simulations, scenarios, connections with real professionals and
realistic case studies with direct links to what students be doing
in their careers.
- Show students what careers and jobs they can pursue with
different degrees to reduce uncertainty around their future career
choices and help with motivation and engagement.
- Ensure that students understand the career possibilities and
positive impacts associated with the courses they take.
Methodology
The data in this report are based on surveys completed by 5,258
students and 2,452 college instructors in North America in August
2022. The vast majority (89%) of students were undergraduates with
the rest (11%) being graduate students who attend four-year public
universities (64%), four-year private schools (20%), two-year
public schools (13%), or vocational or technical institutions
(3%).
About Wiley
Wiley is one of the world’s largest publishers and a global
leader in scientific research and career-connected education.
Founded in 1807, Wiley enables discovery, powers education, and
shapes workforces. Through its industry-leading content, digital
platforms, and knowledge networks, the company delivers on its
timeless mission to unlock human potential. Visit us at Wiley.com.
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Ed Colby / edcolby@wiley.com
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