March 2025 marks five years since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. The crisis affected economies, redefined workplace and education norms and redefined public health policies worldwide.
Beginning March 23, 2020, Iowa State students were forced to take classes online. First expected to last until April 3, students did not return to the spring semester.
While COVID-19 is no longer at the forefront of global discourse, its impact is still evident in various aspects of life.
One of the largest transformations post-pandemic is remote work. At Iowa State, the pandemic forced institutional leaders to rethink operational structures.
“We have become more prepared to address unique situations that impact our campus operations,” Toyia Younger, senior vice president of Student Affairs, said. “The pandemic prepared us to be more adaptive to unexpected disruptions.”
The pandemic has also created a heightened awareness of mental health and well-being, leading to increased investments in counseling and supportive services.
“I have learned not to take my health for granted and to prioritize taking care of not only myself, but others,” Lori Hilby, a junior in agricultural communications, said.
In 2020, the demand for on-campus counseling services at Iowa State led to the implantation of virtual counseling through Uwill. This provided students with access to mental health services 24/7.
“One service that we knew we needed to provide to students was the ability to have access to counseling services 24/7,” Younger said. “We have a great set of counselors in our Student Counseling Services. Access to a wider set of counselors outside of normal work hours was essential. This has been such a great program for students that we minted to keep this option available for the foreseeable future.”
In addition to mental health considerations, perceptions of hygiene and public health measures have evolved.
“I think cleaning products are more effective now,” Taryn Hosek, a sophomore in agricultural communication, said. “A lot of people got freaked out during the pandemic, and I think this result is better, healthier cleaning.”
Education systems worldwide have experienced disruptions during the pandemic, forcing institutions like Iowa State to pivot to online and hybrid learning models.
While online learning presents challenges for some students, others find benefits in what it offers.
“Although online learning is difficult for some, I enjoyed it,” Hosek said. “It helped me more at my own pace and focus on what I wanted to learn.”
At Iowa State, hybrid learning remains an option in certain courses, and the university has expanded digital resources to support students.
“The pandemic forced us to accelerate digital learning initiatives,” Younger said. “While in-person engagement remains critical, we now have a better infrastructure for supporting remote learning when needed.”
For Iowa State students, returning to campus after months of remote learning presented both challenges and opportunities.
Many students struggled to reconnect with campus resources, prompting the creation of “Cyclone Support”; a program offering a centralized hub for mental health services, academic assistance and student engagement initiatives.
“After the first year, we noticed that students were struggling to get connected to many of our on-campus resources,” Younger said. “Cyclone Support has helped bridge that gap.”
