The Impact of Coronavirus on Students and Recent Graduates

By Ally Bolender
Web Content Assistant Manager

SAN MARCOS, TX— The COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic called for cancellations of school semesters and graduations as cases increased across the nation. Students and recent graduates are left with uncertainty in their education and career path as coronavirus cases continue to increase.

The spring and summer I semester at Texas State University was moved from in-person learning to remote learning due to coronavirus. Texas State plans to reopen campus for in-person classes for the fall 2020 semester.

As of July 6, Texas State University is continuing to implement strategies to return students to campus safely. The Roadmap to Return includes face mask requirements indoors and outdoors, 50 percent occupancy indoors, providing remote resources and activities and opening up more spaces (such as ballrooms) with computers to better space out students.

However, some students are worried that despite Texas State’s measures, it won’t be enough to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Melanie Gonzalez is a Texas State University student who has a compromised immune system and is currently pregnant.

“I am most definitely nervous about the fall semester,” said Gonzalez. “COVID-19 numbers are quickly increasing and don’t seem like they’ll be decreasing anytime soon. The fact that Texas State is taking so long to make decisions is very concerning.”

Recent graduates are also facing difficulty finding employment during the pandemic.

Kathryn Hernandez graduated from Texas State University from the McCoy business school in May 2020. Since the pandemic began, Hernandez has been doing interviews on zoom and shifting her job search to find jobs beyond her interests.

“…Finding a job has been a grueling process due to COVID-19,” said Hernandez. “Since March, when businesses began to shut down, companies put a halt on the hiring process.”

Hernandez has found that many of her colleagues that had previously lined-up internships and jobs had them revoked due to Coronavirus.

“In addition, many companies have also delayed their hiring process, meaning they are interviewing but waiting to continue through to the final step because of COVID-19,” said Hernandez.

The national jobless rate for recent college graduates surged to over 20 percent as of June 2020. A decade ago, the Great Recession caused a college graduate unemployment rate of 11 percent.

“(Coronavirus) has definitely added more stress to the process, but it will make us more resilient in the end,” said Hernandez.

Visit the Texas State University website to learn more about Texas State’s strategies for the fall semester. Information about Coronavirus in Hays County can be found here.

Featured image by Ally Bolender via Canva.