What Mattered More? An Analysis Of Factors That Affected The Success Of University Response To COVID-19

ASU Author/Contributor (non-ASU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Michael Christopher Davis (Creator)
Institution
Appalachian State University (ASU )
Web Site: https://library.appstate.edu/
Advisor
Phillip Ardoin

Abstract: This analysis seeks to understand the causes affecting variations in COVID-19 case rates at American college campuses during the Fall 2020 semester. The literature suggests that certain university policies like testing and community factors like partisanship will impact case rates in a significant way. Data is reported by university COVID-19 dashboards, and the dependent variable is measured as the percent of students, faculty, and staff on each campus to test positive for COVID-19. Testing frequency is shown to increase, not decrease, COVID-19 case rates, and Greek life percentage, in-person opening decisions, county partisanship, state COVID-19 case rates, and county COVID-19 case rates are the statistically and substantively significant variables in the model. These findings indicate that while university decisions can play a significant role in shaping university COVID-19 case rates, external factors like community behavior and COVID-19 spread hold the most explanatory power. The results tend to not support the reasoning for widespread angst by frustrated students and faculty toward university administrators regarding university re-opening in Fall 2020.

What Mattered More? An Analysis Of Factors That Affected The Success Of University Response To COVID-19
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Created on 6/22/2021
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Additional Information

Publication
Honors Project
Davis, M. (2021). What Mattered More? An Analysis of Factors That Affected the Success of University Response to COVID-19. Unpublished Honors Thesis. Appalachian State University, Boone, NC.
Language: English
Date: 2021
Keywords
COVID-19 case rates, university, Fall 2020 semester, internal factors, external factors