Campus Compact for NH is fully online and continuing to support our member institutions, VISTAs, and other grants under our purview. We are beyond proud of the work being done across NH campuses to continue to support student success access amid this challenging time. Campuses have risen to the challenge of supporting their communities and overall mission of coming together to fight this pandemic. We are hopeful that students will return in the fall and that we can get back to our offices but we understand the fluidity with which this problem presents. Please feel free to contact us with questions, concerns, or ideas!
The following information is curated by the CCNH COVID-19 Recovery AmeriCorps VISTA, Arria Hauldin. Please feel free to reach out to Arria with any questions or information at
Community-engaged work/Service-learning virtually
Some campuses have chosen to close campus and/or move to only online classes for some period of time. Inside Higher Ed recently posted this roundup of closures and other announcements. This will have implications for community-engaged courses and projects. The best way to start making contingency plans is to reach out to all community partners. Set up a time to talk through possibilities if classes are canceled and ask how it would impact their work. An overall communications plan that covers different contingencies is a great way to make sure you and partners are prepared. Also, consider including a key contact for community partners with questions on the web page or email response that your campus shares about the issue.
Even if campuses do not close or go online, community partners may have changes to who they can have at their site or there may be other disruptions to planned projects. Communicate with everyone to check in regardless of the status of your campus and start developing contingency plans. Also ask how the response is impacting the services they provide and consider shifting your resources to the areas where they most need support, even if that doesn’t align with your original goals. Flexibility and communication are key to maintaining partnerships.
Community engagement professionals and others can support faculty in shifting their course plans. Some projects may be able to continue online or in a condensed format. Others may need to be postponed. This spreadsheet offers great resources for online teaching as faculty consider how to continue to meet educational goals in a different context for ALL students.
Ideas from other campuses that have moved to online instruction:
- Depending on the situation, it may be possible for many service-learning, internship, and clinical placements to continue even as classes go online
- Communicate one message to community partners about what to expect and who to contact
- Encourage faculty to reach out to partners right away to explore options, many projects may be able to continue virtually or partners may have other work that can be done online (see below for ideas)
- Northeastern University:
- California Campus Compact:
- Campus Compact National’s blogs surrounding global service-learning opportunities in the virtual arena. Great resources for ideas on how to move your programming virtually:
Community Partnerships in the age of COVID:
- Fantastic resource from our colleagues in Iowa on how to maintain relationships with community partners and support your programming for students.
Community-engaged travel
Many campuses have already restricted international travel and brought students back from semesters abroad in affected countries. Some are also beginning to restrict domestic travel. If spring break or other service trips are planned, proactive communication with host communities is key. Consult public health authorities in that area for the latest information.
Supporting low-income students and hourly employees
As campuses consider closing or shifting classes online, low-income students will need extra support to ensure they can continue to be successful. These students may not have a place to go if dorms close, food to eat if cafeterias close, or the technology to participate in online classes. It is important to advocate for the resources these students will need. This can include:
- Seeking philanthropic resources to provide temporary housing and food support to students
- Setting up a resource center to connect students to community housing, food, health care, mental health support, and other resources
- Offering loaned laptops, wifi hot-spots, and other technology resources needed for online classes
- Adding to existing emergency funds or creating one to support students who may be impacted by job losses, school closures, and other unexpected issues
Students may also face additional mental health concerns during this time. Here are some great resources on mental health and coping with the situation.
In addition to students, campuses also have many hourly employees who would be significantly impacted by a campus closure. Advocate for them to have access to sick leave, emergency funds, and community resources as well.
MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES (FREE OR LOW COST)
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Apps & Virtual Resources
- Virtual Therapy: 10 Virtual Therapy and Mental Health Apps to Cope With Coronavirus Stress
- Three FREE Mental Health Apps: Sanvello (offering free premium package during the Corona-19 crisis), Moodfit, Moodpath
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Articles & PDFs
- The Lancet: The psychological impact of quarantine and how to reduce it: rapid review of the evidence
- Mental health risks and coping strategies (NAMI)
- SAMHSA “Taking Care of Your Behavioral Health.” Tips For Social Distancing, Quarantine, And Isolation During An Infectious Disease Outbreak
- WHO: mental health and psychological considerations [PDF]
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Film
- Two films on trauma informed approaches and resiliency
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- How the Health Are You? A Mental Health Guide for People of Color, Oberlin College Counseling Center, Health Promotion, and the Multicultural Resource Center
- National Alliance on Mental Illness COVID-19 Information and Resource Guide
Bias and discrimination
Unfortunately, this public health emergency has brought out bias, discrimination, and hate in some, including racists attacks against Asian people. It’s important to proactively remind ourselves and others around us not to project fears of the virus onto marginalized groups or spread unfounded associations. People of Chinese heritage or those who look East Asian are not genetically predisposed to carry or spread the disease. It’s important to pay attention to what is happening on your campus to be able to respond quickly to any attacks or statements that may impact whether all students are welcome on your campus (here’s a great poster from the Minnesota Department of Health that can be updated and used around campus). There are a number of resources on responding to incidents of hate on campus, including this one from the Chronicle of Higher Education. These incidents also offer an opportunity to engage students in dialogue about racism and xenophobia. Make this a “teachable moment” in your classroom, NH Listens and other areas where safe spaces to talk about issues like this may be a good option to talk with students.
Questions welcome!
If you are working to develop campus, course, or program plans and need help, ideas, and resources, please reach out to Campus Compact NH staff.
We will continue to add to this post as new information becomes available. Please email resources and questions to Aarron Dupuis at
Virtual Engagement Ideas:
In some cases, students’ community-engaged work may be able to shift in ways that still meet community needs and learning outcomes. Here are a few ideas:
- conducting background research or gathering best practices or other information requested the partner(s)
- taping, recording, or streaming performances or workshops to benefit community partner(s)
- creating digital and other social media content, print program materials, or other methods for information-sharing
- undertaking assessment, evaluation, or feedback via phone or web-based services;
- offering (or compiling, researching, or brainstorming) strategies that provide indirect support from volunteers as a result of coronavirus
- conducting virtual or phone-based educational supports for youth and adults
If work with an existing partner is not possible, you may be able to find suitable opportunities through these channels:
- How to Get Involved with Virtual Volunteering
- VolunteerMatch
- AllForGood
- 9 PLACES TO VOLUNTEER ONLINE (AND MAKE A REAL IMPACT)
- #RealCollege COVID guide
- COVID response for former foster youth and homeless students
- financial aid and enrollment management offices
General Resource Links:
- Centers for Disease Control (CDC) COVID-19 Hub
- COVID-19 FAQs
- Preventing COVID-19 Spread in Communities
- CDC COVID-19 Communication Resources
- CDC Educational Videos
- CDC Guidance on Travel
- CDC Travel FAQs
- Department of State Guidance on Travel
- List of state/area Health Departments
General Higher Education Resource Links:
- Colleges and the Coronavirus online forum Friday, March 13th
- With Coronavirus Keeping Them in the U.S., International Students Face Uncertainty. So Do Their Colleges
- As Coronavirus Spreads, the Decision to Move Classes Online Is the First Step. What Comes Next?
- Supporting #RealCollege Students During COVID19
- Planning for Coronavirus With Fewer Resources
- How to close colleges without hurting vulnerable students
Teaching Resource Links:
- Remote Teaching Resources for Business Continuity
- Teaching Remotely in Times of Need presentation, Torrey Trust, Ph.D., University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Instructional Continuity, San Francisco State University
Other Resource Links:
- When Fear Of The Coronavirus Turns Into Racism And Xenophobia
- 5 Things to Know About Coronavirus and People With Disabilities
- A few things for nonprofits and foundations to consider in light of the Coronavirus
- NPR’s Code Switch podcast published an episode on “When Fear Of The Coronavirus Turns Into Racism And Xenophobia”
