How the pandemic could transform higher ed

A person walking outside on campus.
A handful of students walk across the campus of St. John's University in central Minnesota on Oct. 1. Along with the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, the university made substantial changes in order to continue in-person learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kirsti Marohn | MPR News file

Normally, this is the weekend college students head home — to do laundry, hug their families and celebrate Thanksgiving — before returning to the dorms for finals.

Not this year. With COVID-19 cases soaring, many colleges and universities are changing their end-of-semester plans and telling students to stay home and prepare for virtual-only learning for the rest of the semester. Or, colleges that are allowing students back require students to test negative for the virus. 

But is that enough? Could more be done to keep COVID-19 at bay in the university setting? And what about the financial implications? Colleges are hurting and laying off faculty and staff.  Will the pandemic forever alter the way colleges operate?

Friday, MPR News host Kerri Miller tackled the pandemic’s legacy on higher education with two experts who are tracking it on campuses across America.

Guests:

To listen to the full conversation you can use the audio player above.

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