The Financial Position of Graduate Students Amidst COVID-19
The rapid outbreak of COVID-19 can only be rivaled by the varied and growing responses of colleges and universities across the country — or, more appropriately, all over the world. Some institutions have committed to fully online instruction for the remainder of the Spring 2020 semester, such as Harvard University and the University of Washington. I am sure more will follow following the posting of this article. Others, such as Berea College, have shuttered their doors completely, ending the Spring semester prematurely and leaving students in a sort of limbo. In contrast, universities like Liberty University are forging their own path, continuing class as scheduled — forgoing the safety measures of social distancing. Some universities, extending or beginning their Spring breaks early, plan to offer their courses online for a couple of weeks, leaving many faculty scurrying to formulate a game plan for online instruction. We are mending a sinking boat with band-aids and duct tape because it is all we have on hand. Universities are scrambling to come up with more realistic long-term strategies while the temporary repairs threaten to flood the ship of higher education at every turn of the rudder.
Students return to their dorms only to pack everything up and move back home. Student-athletes looking forward to competing in their sports’ now canceled championship tournaments must end their season early — and perhaps even their college athletic careers. International students, in need of shelter and sustenance, have relatively few places to turn. The future of higher education will reflect this distressing historical moment for years to come.
I am writing this from my shared desk in the graduate school office at my university. The hallways are empty. Office doors are closed. Banter, laughter, and morning conversations over coffee are sparse. Staff members are keeping their distance. As a doctoral student of higher education, moments like these are real-life case studies. The opportunity for institutional research is ripe. Times of crisis test university administrations, institutional infrastructures, and disaster preparedness. A great learning opportunity is on the horizon. As a graduate student, uncertainty seems like par for the course. Yet, as we trudge our way through this pandemic health crisis, stock our shelves with rolls upon rolls of toilet paper, and self-quarantine ourselves for the fear of contracting or transmitting this worldwide coronavirus, there is another dilemma many graduate students woefully face: unemployment.
Across the country, part-time workers are at risk of losing wages. Retail chains like Walmart, Nike, Apple, and Trader Joe’s are cutting their operating hours to restock shelves, deep-clean public spaces, or even avoid public gatherings altogether. Starbucks has since limited its business to to-go orders, going as far as removing furniture from their lounges. Local businesses are losing thousands of dollars in sales due to the coronavirus, leaving them at risk of financial collapse if this outbreak persists. It is only a matter of days before these restaurants, mom and pop’s, and other local businesses simply cannot afford to staff locations that see limited to no revenue.
Graduate students are no different. These part-time workers are largely dependent upon their often meager stipends to survive. For some, graduate schools are allowing graduate students and staff to work remotely. An example of these newly minted policies reads as follows: “Students who cannot return to their job should seek alternative work arrangements with their manager. This may include working remotely if the position responsibilities allow and the department can support this option…students will not be paid for hours not worked.” Statements like these, meant to be comforting and forward-looking, can strike fear in the hearts of hourly workers. I am fortunate enough to hold a graduate assistantship that allows me to work remotely if needed. However, a question arises concerning those graduate students that cannot work remotely. What are they to do about their paychecks? Few solutions have arisen to financially assist students who cannot work remotely or are unsure due to the health risks of working on campus. University administrators often shift the burden toward graduate students’ supervisors concerning paycheck and work decisions.
For other graduate students, their work almost entirely depends upon undergraduate students being on campus. Resident hall directors, student life coordinators, directors of campus living and learning programs, and other graduate assistantships focused on interaction with undergraduate students are all at risk during this unfolding crisis. If their work is largely done with undergraduates, then remote work simply will not…well, work.
The problem at hand is larger and more important than the specifics of job descriptions not being completed, or graduate student learning experiences not being fulfilled through assistantships. The same students that universities woo and recruit to their graduate programs are now at severe risk of basic needs insecurity. Financial provision is presently an uncertainty for many unable to return to work due to at-risk health conditions. How will these students meet rent expenses, food expenses, and medical expenses? Fortunately, I reside in a two-income household, as my wife and I both work. But what do we make of married graduate students reliant upon a single income? Or single parents with multiple children? How about students with immunosuppressed children? I could go on and on. Support often goes unnoticed when everything is on track. However, when the semester goes off the rails and support is most needed, what then? Are we to turn a blind eye?
We are in uncharted territory. Decisions made today will make a difference in the future of higher education. And because of that, there is a way forward. It involves Americans hunkering down and staying put. To be sure, it involves social distancing and working from home as feasible. But it certainly does not have to involve cutting off the only source of income to those graduate students and hourly workers unable to work who remain in severe financial need. Policies have failed in less than ideal circumstances — but this, this is unexpected, unimaginable, and unparalleled. Institutional employment policies need to shift for the interests and health of graduate students and other hourly workers. There are ways through this unforeseen pandemic. We often pride ourselves on the prestige and resource-laden grounds on which our academic institutions stand. It is time we use them. Let us practice the distinction we promote. It is time not to rely on policy alone, lest we forget our humanity. This time of need is far too great.
This pandemic has certainly shown us several areas where we can improve as institutions of higher education. We are severely lacking emergency preparedness for health crises like COVID-19 due to our inexperience with them. It is safe to say that no university expects dire situations such as our present one to arise. However, learning from our shortcomings and lack of preparedness can happen during the pandemic, not after. Institutions of higher education should advocate for the people that have in turn served and esteemed them greatly. History often looks fondly upon those institutions and people that have done right by supporting those around them. We have the resources. We have the incredible opportunity to do right by our people. We have what it takes — but are we willing to make it happen?
Since originally publishing this article, a larger cross-section of higher education institutions has moved to online and distance education for the remainder of the Spring 2020 semester. Many have encouraged their employees to work from home — however, there are still limited solutions for graduate students in financial need. There have also been several municipal and state restrictions concerning restaurants, retail store hours, and curfews due to the pandemic.
Originally published at https://www.davidawinkler.com on March 16, 2020.
