Career Development & Learning at Jesuit Colleges & Universities During the COVID-19 Pandemic & Beyond

Today’s youth are often interested in how they can work toward social justice, not just in their spare time, but

also as part of their educations and careers. This includes students who are drawn to the social justice

missions of Jesuit colleges and universities. In 2020, the COVID-19 public health crisis disrupted education

and career plans, placing major obstacles along young adults’ pathways. Guided by the Engagement of Hope

theoretical model, the current study examines student supports and how they may facilitate hope and

learning.1 In 2021, an online survey study was conducted with 169 students from a Jesuit university in a

Midwestern city. Of the original participants who completed the online survey, five students completed indepth interviews. The findings revealed the students’ hopes for later careers, described learning numerous

skills, used a wide array of college supports, and discussed the role of families in their education and career

path. The authors reflect on adaptations made to student supports during the pandemic and on how student

service programs at Jesuit institutions might continue to evolve in the post-pandemic era.