CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY TEACHERS
Students reconsidering fall semester plans in wake of COVID-19

 A survey commissioned by CAUT and the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) shows a significant number of students are reconsidering their plans for university and college in the fall, citing lost income, limited financial support, and concerns about the quality of remote learning.
 
"Students and their families are worried about their health, the financial implications of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the uncertainty about how classes will be taught in the fall," says CAUT Executive Director David Robinson. "Among those students who say they will still be able to afford their tuition fees and living costs, a large number about 75 per cent are worried that distance learning will create a poor learning experience."
 
The survey, of both graduating high-school students and returning post-secondary students, reveals:

• Seven in ten say their summer employment plans have been negatively affected by COVID-19;
• 30 per cent of returning and new students might change their plans about enrolling at a post-secondary institution in the fall;
• One in two say that COVID-19 has made it more difficult to afford tuition and living costs;
• Over two thirds of students say their personal finances and those of their parents or family have been affected by the pandemic.

 
The survey was conducted with 1,100 high-school and post-secondary students in Canada, aged 17 and older, from April 23 to May 1, 2020. The sample includes 300 graduating high-school students and 800 post-secondary students.