The pandemic has locked down parts of the country for more than seven months now, and colleges have made it at least halfway through their fall terms. What have they learned? Which predictions from the spring came true?

The pandemic still poses many uncertainties, but some lessons for college leaders have emerged and can help them better weather the months, and possibly years, of COVID to come. And many of these lessons have upended the assumptions of the spring.

Overall, the nation has recovered slightly more than half the 22.2 million jobs shed in March and April as businesses restarted and brought back many furloughed workers. But job growth has slowed substantially in the past few months. Some businesses have closed for good. 

USA Today recently checked back in with some of the dozens of Americans who spoke with the publication earlier this year after losing jobs because of COVID-19. Some have finally landed full- or part-time work, easing their distress or providing hope. Others are still struggling. 

In recent years, students have led climate marches, gun control rallies, and walkouts protesting federal immigration policies and racial injustice. Now they are demanding a greater role in school policy and the decisions that shape their educations.

Schools and governments across the country have galvanized this youth activism by giving students opportunities to participate in leadership roles and democracy in ways that go beyond civics classes and student government. They also are using this moment to educate teens about elections and voting and turn them into lifelong voters.