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Exploring ability of engineering students in the Pacific Southwest to meet basic needs during the COVID-19 pandemic

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Conference

2024 ASEE PSW Conference

Location

Las Vegas, Nevada

Publication Date

April 18, 2024

Start Date

April 18, 2024

End Date

April 20, 2024

DOI

10.18260/1-2--46039

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/46039

Paper Authors

biography

Andrew Danowitz California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo Orcid 16x16 orcid.org/0000-0002-4842-2005

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Andrew Danowitz received his PhD in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University in 2014, and is currently an Associate Professor of Computer Engineering at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. His research interests involve student mental health and accessibility in engineering education.

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biography

Kacey Beddoes San Jose State University

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Kacey Beddoes is the Assistant Dean for Systemic Equity and Engagement for the College of Engineering and Architecture at Washington State University. She holds a Ph.D. in Science and Technology Studies (STS) from Virginia Tech and serves as Managing Editor for Engineering Studies and Deputy Editor for the Australasian Journal of Engineering Education.

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Abstract

One result of campus closures during the COVID-19 pandemic was that those who relied on campus-based housing, meals, and technology lost access to these services. Some students were able to return home and rely on resources from family and friends. At the same time, broader economic difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic may have led to food and housing insecurities for vulnerable and economically disadvantaged students. These same economic factors and existing inequities in internet access may have also prevented some students from accessing web-based coursework and instructional material. This work attempts to document rates of housing, food, and instructional access insecurities at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. We include self-reported data from students at five non-profit four-year engineering programs across the south-western United States and conduct a statistical analysis of how housing security, food security, and instructional access varied across demographic groups.

Danowitz, A., & Beddoes, K. (2024, April), Exploring ability of engineering students in the Pacific Southwest to meet basic needs during the COVID-19 pandemic Paper presented at 2024 ASEE PSW Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada. 10.18260/1-2--46039

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