The Consequences of a COVID-19 Campus: Student and Staff Views of Financial Aid Practice During the Pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic closed many college and university campuses as education moved online in 2020. Using interviews and document analysis methods, this article describes how the experiences of campus closure impacted financial aid staff and the students interacting with them. Specifically, it applies the theory of sense of belonging to both staff and students to investigate the question: how did campus closures impact financial aid practice and student and staff sense of belonging? The paper includes recommendations for both legislators and administrators to improve financial aid, even after the pandemic.