The transition to online learning in the wake of COVID-19 has been challenging for some students at Tougaloo College. The private, four-year historically Black college serves students living in the Mississippi Delta, a rural region long considered one of the poorest areas in the country. When classes went virtual, many students struggled to get online.

The problem is not unique to Tougaloo. Connecting to the internet can be a challenge for lower-income students and those living in rural communities. The issue has only gotten worse since the pandemic closed campuses. Now, many institutional leaders fear the lack of access is widening higher education's class divide and forcing students to drop out or not enroll in college.

America’s rural communities are the bedrock of the nation’s economic and fiscal well-being. At the same time, they are frequently under-resourced, struggling to gain the attention of policymakers and investors. 

A new initiative from Achieving the Dream hopes to change that sentiment. The group will initially work with seven rural community colleges, helping them equip students with the skills they need to enter the workforce and secure well-paying jobs. 

The shift to online learning over the past year because of the pandemic has been a dramatic one for many students, including student veterans. 

Student veterans report difficulties studying and learning, as well as a lack of presence in the community, according to a new study from Operation College Promise and the Texas A&M University system. The survey also found growing gaps in institutional support for military students, likely caused by financial challenges brought on by COVID-19.