GREENSBORO, N.C. – A new study from researchers at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) reveals female college students are lagging behind their male counterparts in academic recovery following the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic. The research, published this month, indicates a widening performance gap as academic relief policies implemented during the initial phases of the pandemic expired.
The findings underscore the need for proactive institutional support to address the ongoing academic challenges faced by female students and prevent further setbacks. “UNCG researchers are committed to understanding how major disruptions shape learning and performance, and to turning those insights into solutions,” stated in a press release. “This type of research helps us better support student recovery and strengthen pathways to success,ensuring every student has the opportunity to reach their full potential in higher education.”
Researchers found that while both male and female students initially benefited from academic relief policies in spring and fall 2020,declines in performance became apparent once those policies ended. “College students were initially protected from academic deficits in the spring and fall of 2020 because most institutions had academic relief policies in place that were effective at keeping students on track,” explained Gicheva. “When those relief policies ended, we begin to see declines in performance. Institutions need to stay proactive in identifying students who can benefit from additional academic supports and implementing policies to meet their need.”
The study also highlights the importance of careful methodological approaches when analyzing the pandemic’s impact on academic trends. Edmunds, another researcher involved in the project, emphasized, “The work highlights the importance of researchers comparing differences in pre-pandemic and post-pandemic data trends. If you simply look at trends over time, you’ll miss nuances in how different groups were impacted by the pandemic.”
This research was supported by the North Carolina Collaboratory at UNC-Chapel Hill with funding from the american Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (federal award identification number SLFRP0129).
