Data Blog

Selectivity	Total Fall 2020 COVID-19 Cases	Number of Institutions
Highly selective	18464	74
Less/non-selective	27994	376
Most selective	16612	74
Very selective	24514	193

 

The top boxplot graphic shows the total number of undergraduates infected in the fall semester of 2020 by school selectivity. The vertical line in the green boxes indicates the median number of undergraduates infected in each category. Most selective schools have the highest median number of students infected, while less/non-selective schools have the lowest median number of students infected.

The bottom table shows the total number of COVID-19 cases among each category in the fall semester of 2020. In comparing the two graphs, it is interesting to note that while most selective schools have the highest median number of undergraduates infected, most selective schools have the lowest total number of infected graduates after summing the cases from each institution in this category. Similarly, while less/non-selective schools have the lowest median number of students infected, less/non-selective schools have the highest number of total cases. This phenomenon can be used to illustrate that outliers can greatly affect the total value, and that median value is not necessarily indicative of a bigger picture. It is also important to note that this visualization did not use the total number of undergraduates on campus within each category, and thus the number of undergraduates infected within each category is showcasing something different from the percentage of infected students on campus.

 

Data Analyst: Rachel McLean

This graphic displays the total number of positive Covid-19 tests reported to the New York Times, shown as a percentage of the undergraduate student populations. For many schools, even with remote/hybrid learning systems adapted and preventative Covid measures in place, cases in the fall skyrocketed to up to 15% of the student bodies. Some NC schools, like UNC Chapel Hill, made the decision to send students home before cases got too high. Spring case data will provide the ability to show how these schools have improved/worsened between the two semesters.

 

Summary:

• 17 schools, 7 private, 10 public
• 0-4%: 6
• 5-8%: 9
• 9+%: 2

 

Data Analyst: Kilian Quinn

The graphic above shows the spring break plans of institutions by the NCAA Division level. Interestingly, the highest percentage of institutions with spring break plans appear within the Division 2 level. I was surprised Division 1 did not have the highest percentage because they often are larger schools and have a reputation of being less strict with the COVID restrictions. Division 3 had the highest level of “Other” spring break plans which include wellness days, mental health days and surprise breaks. Division 3 schools are often smaller and may be stricter with their COVID rules, so they have the ability to be creative when figuring out spring break. The NCAA Division level of institutions was found from the “Equity in Athletics Data Analysis” by the U.S. Department of Education. The spring break plans for institutions was found from the C2i Spring Break Plan data collection.

 

	No Spring Break	Other	Spring Break Scheduled
Division 1	26.8%	36.3%	36.9%
Division 2	27.5%	31.3%	41.2%
Division 3	31.9%	42.2%	25.9%

 

Data Analyst: Meghan Corso

Recently, data collectors at the College Crisis Initiative completed a collection on how different colleges and universities across the US planned for Spring Break (2021) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

The top waffle graph summarizes the break down in Spring Break plans by “No Spring Break”, “Spring Break”, and “Other” (a different type of spring break). 26.3 % of institutions had no break scheduled, while 40.8% had a regular spring break scheduled. Interestingly, 32.8% of institutions had some “other” type of spring break.

 

The waffle graph below differentiates the various types of “other” unique spring break plans that many institutions chose to implement this semester. 46.6 % of institutions in the “other” category scheduled one or more breaks during the week, 23.6% of institutions scheduled a long weekend, 9.1% of institutions scheduled a mental health day or a surprise break for the students, 14 % still had an unclear plan, and 6.4% had some other sort of break planned.

 

Our data on spring break plans were recently featured on NPR: https://www.npr.org/2021/03/16/977568407/colleges-canceled-spring-break-but-students-are-traveling-anyway

 

Waffle Graph 1

	Spring Break Type	Count	Percent (%)
1	No spring break scheduled	517	26.3
2	Spring break scheduled	800	40.8
3	Other	644	32.8

 

Waffle Graph 2- Spring Break “Other” Type

	“Other” Type	Count	Percent (%)
1	Long Weekend	300	46.6
2	Mental Health Days /Surprise Breaks	152	23.6
3	One or more mid-weekdays off	91	14.1
4	Other	59	9.1
5	Unclear Plan	41	6.4

 

Data Analysts: Gracie Petty & Danya Rangachar

This graph shows the mode of instruction for each group of selectivity for institutions in the US. 892 institutions were categorized as either the “Most Selective”, “Highly Selective”, “Very Selective” or “Less selective”; these categories are grouped together in the graph. The mode of instruction is distinguished by color in each of the groups. The graph shows the number of institutions for each selectivity and mode of instruction. As you can see, regardless of the selectivity of the institution, the most common mode of instruction is “Primarily or Fully Online”. Interestingly, the most and highly selective groups had very few “Primarily or Fully In-Person” colleges and universities.

 

Data Analyst: Caitlin Welch