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Coronavirus forces college students to face challenges with remote learning

For millions of college students across the U.S., including nearly 50,000 at University of Washington, coronavirus is impacting everything from classes to housing.

SEATTLE — Fourteen million college students across the country are dealing with new challenges because of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. From remote learning, closing dorms, and canceling events, there are major disruptions to students and faculty members.

The University of Washington was the first large university in the U.S. to close its doors, which meant canceling in-person classes for nearly 50,000 students. 

College leaders across the country told their students they'd be back in class after spring break, but instead, students were told to pack up all their belongings and stay home.

The closure has caused a logistical scramble for students who don't have a car or couldn't travel home. It has also exacerbated inequalities as some students already struggle with food insecurity, much less affording college during a pandemic.

RELATED: UW cancels in-person classes amid coronavirus outbreak

And then, there's the looming recession.

"The job and internship search, that's kind of my biggest worry and fear right now," said Leah Kahan, a junior at the University of Oregon. Kahan returned to Seattle when her university notified her it was ending in-person classes. 

"A lot of places that I applied for either have canceled their internship programs now or they just kind of stopped responding altogether," explained Kahan.

Kahan is also concerned about paying for the college experience. There is a growing movement by students to make colleges reduce tuition costs. 

More petitions are popping up on sites like change.org to get universities and colleges to reduce tuition since students no longer have a chance to go to labs or meet with professors.

Their entire educational experience is now online.

Online classes typically cost less, but research shows online learning can be less effective. Colleges also have a challenge in meeting students' needs.

The concern is if they can't support students, they could lose them for good.

RELATED: University of Washington researchers studying well-being during coronavirus pandemic

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