senate should be -- should we be watching? guest: that's a great question but not when i have a great answer to. i am an expert on the economic issues, not the political issues, but i think we want to watch everyone and make sure they make the right decisions, make sure the bill gets through, and it is not the first thing we need to do -- it is the first thing we need to do but not the only thing. we need to make sure we get money in the hands of people who needed to have had these job losses and who have medical -- who need to have medical care and make sure we can continue to simulate the economy during this time. host: we would like to thank elise gould for bei "washington" continues. host: we are joined by elizabeth redden, a correspondent for inside higher ed, and we will talk about how coronavirus is affecting higher education. elizabeth, good morning. guest: good morning. host: a lot of the colleges and

universities in the washington, d.c. area, in the capital region, have basically closed their campuses and are going to virtual and online classes. is that something only happening here or are we seeing it all over the united states? guest: it's happening nationwide. it has been hard to keep track of the number of colleges switching to virtual instruction because the changes have come so rapidly over the last week. there's one crowd source document that a scholar has put together that has identified more than 200 colleges around the country that have posed or -- a move to virtual instruction . we are seeing it all over the place, all types of colleges. some of the nation's most elite colleges have moved to virtual instruction for the remainder of the semester, places like harvard, princeton, cornell. also, we see a number of public universities doing this. collegesee community

doing this. in seattle, virtually all of them have moved to virtual instruction. host: what are we losing by these colleges and universities going to online classes? we know online instruction is becoming more and more popular in the higher ed community anyway, but what are we losing by these campuses closing, and specifically, what are students losing by these campuses closing down? guest: certainly online instruction has grown more prevalent, but these are students who are enrolled in residential colleges or community college for that matter. in any case, they are used to in person classes and instructors and vital -- faculty members are learning how to adjust quickly to online for the remainder of the semester, so they don't have the benefit of extensive, spending a lot of time training to teach online because teaching online is a different thing than teaching in person.

certainly, they are losing the in person classroom collegeses, and some have asked students to pack their dorms to go home. for those students, they are missing everything that comes with the residential, on-campus experience. they are leaving their dorms, leaving their friends, losing the extracurricular -- those intangibles that make college life college life for those who are at residential campuses. there are also certain courses that could move online, and i think colleges are struggling with that question as well. if you have a bio lab, that is harder to move online then maybe an english course where you discuss books every week. there are all sorts of various types of education, some of which can more easily move online than others. i think that is something a lot of colleges are grappling with, how to work online -- find a way

to work online that does justice to these hands-on learning experiences. host: so are we seeing colleges saying, and universities saying, they will only close for a couple weeks? do they say the entire semester is going to be online from this point? i know this happened right around spring break where kids were leaving the campus anyway. some universities and colleges willack up and go home, so these universities and colleges plan to open back up in a few weeks or they say the rest of the semester is lost and we will do it from home? guest: it is a mix. a number of colleges said they are going online through the end of march or early april, but there are colleges that have said, we are finishing the semester from home. that is it for the semester. we are seeing a mix of approaches in that regard. host: what does that do for graduating seniors? does that mean if you are a graduating senior and your

university or college says we will do virtual for the rest of the semester, does that mean you do not get a graduation ceremony? guest: it's a good question. i'm not sure every college has announced what they are doing with graduation ceremony's. i can think of one off of the top of my head. kentucky, heyin free tuition college, everyone has a work responsibility, like a campus work job. they actually ended the semester early, they ended instruction early, on friday. they said graduation was going to be postponed indefinitely, so i think there may be -- i think some colleges are holding off on commencement announcements, but there may be postponements, you know, it is a little hard to tell what is going to happen here. i think most colleges will try to figure out a way to make a commencement ceremony happen at some point, but whether or not it happens in may on time, i

think will really depend how things pan out over the next couple of weeks. host: let's get our viewers involved in this conversation. we open up special lines for this talk about higher education and coronavirus. student ora college you are the parents of a current college student, we will open up a special line for you, because we want to hear what your child's university or your university and college is doing as far as the coronavirus. that line for college students and parents is (202) 748-8000. if you are an educator, college administrator, if you are a college instructor, we want to know what you are doing around the coronavirus. are you switching your class online? rewriting your syllabus this weekend? your line will be (202) 748-8001 .

once again, for college educators, (202) 748-8001. for everyone else, if you want to talk about higher education and the coronavirus, your number is (202) 748-8002. i especially encourage you to call and if you are living in a college town, because once again, with all of these students leaving, what will that do for businesses in college towns? your number will be (202) 748-8002. remember, you can always text us at (202) 748-8003. we are always reading on social --ia, twitter, and @cspanwj twitter, @cspanwj. and on facebook, facebook.com/cspan. this student tweets socioeconomic differences will show this semester due to virtual classes, because of coronavirus. one, not everyone has internet at home.

quietot all students have conditions to study from home. should account for all of these factors. what are colleges and universities doing for the vulnerable students who may not be able to study from home? absolutely. that has been a subject of intense concern over the past week, with colleges making these announcements. most colleges that have asked students to leave have given an option for students to petition to stay, if you have extenuating circumstances, you can petition to stay in the dorms on campus. most campuses will continue to provide some level of meal services, although it is unclear how extensive those services will be. most colleges are making an option for students to say if they have extenuating circumstances. i think there has been -- some

colleges have been -- i have been scanning the faqs on university websites over the last week as they come up, and some say if you don't have internet access at home, call our information technology office. i think there will be some colleges that will work with students to enable them to have access to secure, reliable internet at home. there are colleges securing storage space for students having to move at the last minute. there are colleges able to offer reimbursements for travel costs, unexpected travel costs of students who can demonstrate a financial need for it. i think we will see a gap here, not just in terms -- one person i spoke with this weeks that these changes are worsening pre-existing inequalities between students with the have and have-nots students. i think we will see that with the have and have-not colleges.

worknk people will have to precarious situation -- so that they can help with those -- there will be some colleges that have a lot more resources to help those students who need help. president trump addressed one issue dealing with higher education during his press conference. he announced an executive balance -- action to weigh all interest from stew moans. pres. trump: we announce the -- from student loans. --s. trump: we announce the by agencies. that is a big thing for students left in the middle. many of the schools have been closed. host: elizabeth, how much of a

help right now is what the president did yesterday? student advocates would welcome that. any relief. my understanding -- this isn't the area i covered most closely myself, but i understand there are advocates who called for broader suspension of loan payments altogether during this time so the interest is one thing, but there is also the payment on the principal. i think that was viewed by many student advocates as a positive step during this time. host: let's let our viewers join in on this conversation with jim calling from arlington, massachusetts. jim, good morning. understandt i don't is how these decisions are made to our schools. thatpen to live in an area

have many large colleges and universities, a lot of high schools and school districts closed. arlington mass, everett mass, boston closing down on st. patrick's day. i don't understand why the new york city school system has a mandate to keep schools open at all costs. that means i think there is a million plus students in that system. you are supposed to have -- supposed to have socia distancing from this. think -- it is mind-boggling to me. host: go ahead and respond elizabeth. guest: it's a good question on how colleges are making these decisions.

i think there are a lot of factors. it certainly in some states, massachusetts, i think there is a state of emergency. i could be wrong, but there have been a number of cases. i think we have seen a lot of colleges follow that, and other places we have seen colleges make these decisions without any cases on their campuses or in the immediate surrounding area, they have done it proactively. i think the timing of spring break precipitated a lot of the announcements over the last week because students were about to leave campus or were already off-campus. then was the time to act, especially because of colleges citing the risk of students leaving for spring break and coming back -- not just students but faculty, staff, leaving for spring break and coming back from all over, and the potential transmission risk. i believe the state university of new york and steady -- city university of new york -- i believe governor cuomo announced

they would move to virtual instruction this week. in that case, it was a gubernatorial directive. other cases, college announce there are two public universities -- those are two public universities. colleges are certainly making them on their own -- making the decisions on their own and they are also talking with public health officials. collegeszabeth, were and universities prepared for this? we have one student who has tweeted to us, while i'm glad classes have been canceled, vanderbilt is having us return for one day, exposing all of the students, and now exposing us and others in return as well as travel cost burdens and last-minute arrangements. it is incredibly inconsiderate by the university. were colleges and universities prepared at all for something like this, likely coronavirus? guest: i don't know if anyone

really was. this has been so fast-moving. the main effect in terms of colleges, they were the effects on the china outreach and recruitment of chinese students and a study abroad in china. then, effects step -- extended to other city abroad programs like italy. has the last 10 days, it really hit home for colleges in a way that was different than it had been before for u.s. colleges that is. i do think there has been a lot of confusion. evolving colleges guidance saying one thing one day and the next day they have to updated. it has been fast-moving. colleges, a number of them announced -- a number have not been -- they have made the announcement they plan to close, but some of the information students might want in terms of rebates for housing, rebates for

work costs, some of that information has been slower coming. they have announced the closure, or the parcel closure, but they have not immediately provided some of those details that students are seeking. i think higher education is generally known for being kind of slow moving and happening slowly. unfairly or not, everything is deliberate and considered. i think colleges felt they had to move quickly this week, especially given the timing around the spring break, as i mentioned, and the imperative i think some colleges felt, that if we were going to act this semester, now is the time. host: let's talk to christie calling from cambria, california. christie is a parent of a college student. good morning. caller: good morning. i actually am a parent of three college students. host: three college students, ok. [laughter] caller: of course all of them are being sent home. -- all onlso on

financial aid, and even though they are getting out of their student housing, they were notified the financial aid is room to be clawed back for and board. i am in a precarious financial situation and was literally because iove, just could not afford my own rent, so i was kind of counting on that. now, we are all in bad shape. anynder if you had comments about that clawback and how we can maybe change the policy on that for needy families. guest: so just to be clear, what part -- theyhe decreased the amount your kids were getting? host: we've already lost her, but i think what she said was they are asking for some of the

financial aid money back for the housing for the students. host: it's a -- guest: it's a really good question. it is something i want to look into more. there has been -- i do know the department of education put out guidance last week about sort of maintaining student aid eligibility during this time, and saying the department would be flexible in a lot of ways. specific heard of that circumstance before, so i do not want to comment too much without looking into it, but i am sorry to hear that, and it is something i want to look into on how colleges are handling the federal aid disbursements in relation to cost of housing and board. host: one of the things we know is that colleges are dealing with what is happening right now. semestersve summer coming up, and we have the fall semester coming up.

we have one student who tweeted "i was supposed to go to florence, italy this summer but has been canceled due to the coronavirus. i'm very upset that i want to experience this phenomenal opportunity, but i'm glad the university of florida is taking percussion seriously." aboutre colleges saying the summer semesters right now? guest: i think we have seen a number of colleges that have gone ahead and canceled summer study abroad. point, sure, at this what the norm is, but a number have gone ahead and canceled their summer or study abroad. at this point, i think colleges have not said much about the fall, but we certainly have seen the number cancel summer study abroad programs, and it is the time for colleges, if they are thinking about canceling, they get to the program, the more potential costs that are not recoverable, i think colleges that have not canceled their

study abroad programs are seriously considering it. over the last week, there were a couple developments as well. the state department put out a local health alert warning, warning american citizens to reconsider travel abroad anywhere in the world. the centers for disease control and prevention issued a level 3 travel alerts, a suggesting you reconsider travel to most of europe, which is the predominant -- or the most popular destination for americans studying abroad. i think colleges are taking all of that into consideration, but i have seen a number of colleges cancel study abroad programs at this point. host: what are colleges and universities doing for international students who are studying here and the college campuses are closing? guest: it is a good question. i think international students would be a group of students that will benefit from what i mentioned earlier, that a lot of

colleges that are not asking students to leave -- that are asking students to leave give the -- i think international students will be among the decision to stay on campus. typically, federal regulations limit international students in terms of the number of online classes they can take a semester, and that usually, under normal time, can only take one course online or only count one online course toward their requirement they made a full-time course of study. the department of homeland security said they would be flexible, and basically allow international students to take online courses this semester either in the country or if they leave the country without it negatively impacting their visa status. that is good news for international students. there are various concerns, depending on what your specific situation is as an international student, but at least one college, for example, international students, after

they graduate, they are eligible for an authorization to work in the u.s. for one to three years called optional practice will -- practical training. there are graduating seniors, international students planning to finish their course of study in may, and stay in the u.s. to work. i have seen at least one college recommended students stay in the u.s., so that they don't leave the u.s.. i think it has raised a lot of concern and can and among international students and pick a killer -- in particular because it is a much bigger deal to go home. if they leave the country, depending on if they have an active visa, they might need to apply for a new -- there are all sorts of various circumstances but i think colleges are trying to provide useful guidance to students, international students. this is evolving day by day. host: let's see if we can get a couple more calls in this segment. let's talk to jesse from

cleveland, ohio. jesse is a college parent. good morning. caller: good morning. host: go ahead, jesse. have threectually daughters in college. alabama, one was told to come home last week for three weeks, and my son in alabama, we waited to hear from them, hearing thursday night saying friday was the last day and they need to come home. travel is much different -- that is much different than the one in ohio. do you think the federal government should step in and give all of the colleges some kind of language around how college students -- what will happen to them? students,college educating them on what will happen to them? guest: the department of education provided federal guidance in terms of the

financial aid implications of kids can continue to maintain their eligibility -- students can maintain their eligibility even during these closures. higher education, for example, in the united states is -- the federal government has a limited responsibility. -- it tendsly are to be the states that provide the majority of these operational fundings, in terms of government funding coming to colleges. the federal government has a big providedhe federal aid directly to students, but it tends to be -- higher education in the u.s. tends to be more state driven then federal driven. host: let's talk to kyle, an ming education and higher educator in an higher education. good morning. caller: good morning and thank you for c-span. first of all, i do not think we

should hold universities to the higher -- a higher standard than we hold the federal government. to the point about online teaching and that transition, i think it is a little inconsiderate for universities to push us to transition to online teaching so quick. i have students that are having to move across the country, students that are losing their on-campus jobs, students that are queer or trans or suddenly -- and suddenly have to go home -- go to hostile homes. we need to be treating these weple that -- people in that need to treat them the same way and contemplate switching to online education. guest: that is an interesting point. i've seen colleges that have basically extended spring break until the end of march with the

suggestion, for example, on break until march 28 to allow for that time for transition both in faculty transition to learning how to teach online -- not learning how to teach online but getting a handle of it if they have not done it in the past, but also student transition so students can deal with that. students lives have been turned upside down. there are students who are in very vulnerable positions who going home is either not easy for financial or personal reasons, all sorts of reasons for which students might have fraught home relationships where going home can really upset things. ie of the things i've heard, think we will see increasing health,n to mental continuing access to mental health resources. some colleges are thinking about -- telehealth, making counseling

sessions available virtually. i think the mental health implications are something colleges need to pay a lot of attention to as well in this transition, because it is a big stressor and the students are being removed. for students leaving campuses, they are being removed from their immediate support system that they are used too, at least there. and not everyone has a happy home to go back to. host: let's take one last caller, ricky calling from jacksonville, florida. ricky, good morning. caller: yes, sir, good morning. i love your show. i always believe in american exceptionalism and that we were at the top of the food chain when it comes to situations. this situation reflects just where we really are lacking across the board in everything from education, to everything.

my situation is my granddaughter has a friend who has nowhere to go, a friend on medications and stuff, and it is just terrible that these students are being cast out into the world without knowing -- they don't know where to go. of americaneliever reception, it really shook me to let me know that the entire infrastructure of the united states is in peril. host: elizabeth, who should college students call if they can't -- believe they can't go home or feel like they have financial trouble and not able to do online classes? what would you suggest college students do? guest: that's a good question. i think some colleges have explicit guidance on this on

their website. if you don't have internet access, call our information technology web. -- office. if you're worried about going home, call the dean of students. i hope most students would have, if no other place, the dean of havents office if colleges not offered other guidance. that is the office that is charged most with student welfare, sort of from a holistic perspective. host: we would like to thank inside higher ed correspondent elizabeth redden for walking us through higher education and coronavirus. >> it's easy to follow the federal response to the coronavirus out