The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) indicates one-fourth of rural citizens – 14.5 million people – lack access to broadband internet. Until recently, governmental policies and business practices have not actively attempted to provide high-speed broadband for rural citizens, creating digital inequities exacerbated by COVID-19 school closures. Fortunately, legislative aid and corporate partnerships are in motion to assist rural K-12 students and families.
However, for rural higher education students, the digital divide has not adequately been addressed. Scholars note that colleges and universities often fail to understand rural ways of life, a trend continuing during COVID-19. Higher education institutions rushed to ask students to leave campuses, closed their doors, and moved classes online, yet failed to contemplate consequences for rural students lacking access to online learning tools.
Recent literature discusses what the rural digital divide during COVID-19 means for rural students’ postsecondary access and enrollment but not the persistence of rural students already enrolled at colleges and universities. With rural student graduation rates at only 42 percent, higher education leaders must consider how digital inequities create further barriers to rural postsecondary success.
Acknowledging these challenges during the current health pandemic, we offer varied higher education perspectives and a call to action.
Students Perspectives from Jenay Willis and Ty McNamee
As a rural African-American, attending a rural southern institution for doctoral study returns me to my communal roots. After studying for my master’s in New York City, I was happy to return home to be near family, yet challenges arose. Being closer [to home means] traveling to my childhood home often, which for me equates to limited access to high speed internet. Transitioning from in-class instruction to fully online instruction has meant frozen Zoom meetings and emails remaining in drafts after realizing they never sent, resulting in more harm done due to my rural location.
Hailing from a farm/ranch in remote Wyoming, it was not an easy decision to stay in New York City during the pandemic, but it was my only option as a doctoral student. My family’s house, miles from any town and surrounded by trees, does not allow most companies to set up broadband equipment. With limited cell service, it is also impossible to create a smartphone hotspot. I could use a neighbor’s internet or public Wi-Fi in town, but social distancing and travel distances make that difficult. While I am thankful to my institution for allowing me to stay on campus, it is disheartening that I have no option to continue my schooling virtually with my family during this crisis.
