Understanding the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Honors College Students: A Qualitative Content Analysis

Abstract

While the global COVID-19 pandemic altered all facets of life, an early focus was the field of higher education. Disruptions in normal instruction affected students and their abilities to connect and create, disrupting first-year students’ classroom engagement, interpersonal exchanges, and personal and professional lives. Using first-year honors college students’ reflection pieces (N = 98), a content analysis was performed from which 8 major themes emerged. These themes were 1) a shift in perspective resulting in personal growth, 2) changes in family dynamics and interpersonal connections, 3) a focus on economic concerns, 4) a focus on mental health and coping strategies, 5) changes in impressions of others and society, 6) understanding a “new normal,” 7) a lack of trust, and 8) an increase in social isolation. The findings of the analysis demonstrate that the pandemic had multi-faceted effects on honors students, ranging from health concerns to consequences for professional outlooks. Understanding these impacts may allow honors college faculty and staff to identify multi-level and inclusive strategies to help their students cope with ramifications from the pandemic.