Nearly Half of Students Want Hybrid Classes, While Majority of Faculty Still Prefer Face-to-Face

Campus Technology

July 14, 2022

Rhea Kelly

Flexibility remains a key priority for students pursuing higher education, according to a new “College 2030” report from Barnes & Noble College Insights, the research arm of Barnes & Noble Education. In a survey of 2,600 students, faculty and administrators at colleges and universities across the country, nearly half of learners (49%) said they prefer a hybrid class format. In contrast, just 35% of faculty members said they favor a hybrid environment, and 54% preferred fully in-person instruction. Only 18% of students and 11% of faculty favored fully remote classes.

Despite differing with faculty on class format, students’ views on the overall value of a college education have improved compared to the early days of the pandemic. Thirty-three percent of students said the value of higher education has increased over the past two years — an increase of 15 percentage points since Barnes & Noble College’s first College 2030 survey in late 2020. Thirty-one percent of faculty agreed. Thirty-six percent of students and 45% of faculty said that the value remains the same, while 31% of students and 24% of faculty thought the value has declined.

The survey asked faculty and administrators what makes higher education most valuable. Their top responses:

• Access to talented instructors (cited by 55% of respondents);

• Opportunity to build soft skills (48%);

• Earning potential (45%);

• Access to top programs/courses (42%);

• Access to internships (31%);

• Access to network building (30%) and

• Campus resources, such as libraries (27%).

Students, faculty and administrators were in agreement on key areas where schools should offer more value. Affordability was top on the list, followed by career planning and student life services.

Continue Reading