Selingo, Jeffrey, J. “The Future of Gen Z: How Covid-19 Will Shape Students and Higher Education for the Next Decade.” The Chronicle of Higher Education, 2021.
After summarizing Gen Z characteristics mentioned in other sources (e.g., small size, diversity, exposure to technology from an early age, reliance on technology, and majority growing up in one-parent households), author Jeffrey Seligo describes how the Covid-19 pandemic has affected Gen Z.
Seligo notes that Covid has exacerbated existing Gen Z tendencies, “making them more likely to stay home and less likely to socialize in person,” which has negatively affected their ability to function effectively in society (6). School closures and mask mandates had the most worrisome effects, which Seligo, Jean Twenge, and other generation experts list as lack of academic progress, decreased social interaction, increased anxiety, and poor overall mental health (6).
Covid’s disruption of Gen Z’s education has also influenced decisions about whether, where, and why they’ll attend college (21-23). Half of Gen Z’s parents prefer not to send their children to four-year colleges, regardless of cost or other factors (20). Both parents and students who are still considering college now “focus on value over frills” (12). Seligo explains, “if the first decade of this century was about student amenities,” such as dorms with private bathrooms, Jacuzzi tubs, flat-screen TVs, gaming systems, and gourmet food in the cafeteria, “then the second decade was about student services” (9). Services students deem most important are those related to academic support and mental health. That fits with a 2020 survey of high school seniors that showed a third “shared concerns about their academic preparedness for school” (21). Colleges are trying to keep pace with Gen Z’s changing demands. Seligo notes that “as many colleges return to normal operations [post-covid lockdowns], many are beefing up their tutoring services . . .” (21). Those that “fail to step up their academic and co-curricular programming risk even greater enrollment declines than from demographics alone” (30).
Ultimately, Seligo asserts that to attract and keep Gen Z students, colleges should refocus on the basics: academics and social interaction. Though Seligo provided a useful overview of Gen Z’s needs and how colleges can meet them, his text was too broad and brief to be among my top recommendations for educators or parents.