Calling 2020 “a school year like no other,” President Raab and host Rosanna Scotto discussed the steps Hunter has taken to address students’ changing needs during the coronavirus pandemic. Midway through the spring semester, 3,000 classes were moved to a virtual space, and the curriculum continued. For students who lacked the necessary technology to engage with online learning, Hunter created an initiative to make computers and other resources available to empower students to succeed from home.
The summer also necessitated changes, President Raab said. Because the internships and summer jobs that students typically rely on were unavailable, Hunter encouraged its community to “keep their eye on the prize” and use the summer for education. “Students, go to school this summer,” urged President Raab. With a million dollars in scholarship funds awarded to thousands of students, Hunter’s summer enrollment increased by 40 percent.
While plans for the fall are still uncertain, President Raab stressed that safety is of the utmost concern. She anticipates that some courses will remain online for the near future, while some educational programs—like lab sciences, clinical skills training, and the visual arts—just can’t be replicated in a virtual space. “It’s fluid, but we’re planning to think about what is the most important thing to bring back to a campus, and how can we do that safely.”
Watch the full interview below.
