In the Zoom Where it Happens: From Overwhelmed to Overcome, Collegiate Students’ Experiences during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic forced the closure of college and university campuses across the United States and abroad to contain the spread of the virus. While those closures affected everyone, students who lived alone, off-campus were especially impacted, as their access to opportunities for colligate social interaction and engagement, as well as face to face instruction were eliminated. As a result, students living in isolation clung to their synchronous, online courses to overcome social-emotional challenges they experienced as a result of the pandemic. This study explored the impact of mandatory campus closures on college students’ social-emotional health and discovered that synchronous, online courses provided the unprecedented support for students. The results of this study underscore the need for social-emotional learning resources for college students and suggest strategies for faculty to consider adopting as part of their instructional routines.