Tiny Earth PIVOT: Impacts of COVID-19 on Faculty Mentoring and Teaching

An online survey was conducted to assess the impact of COVID-19 on Tiny Earth (TE) faculty (n = 44) teaching and mentoring. Prior to our survey research, TE faculty were trained to teach Tiny Earth content in an online format. Our research showed that COVID-19 impacted the ability of TE faculty to work and conduct research. Faculty also reported that family, university, and department were helpful resources in adjusting to the challenges that the pandemic presented, with noteworthy male and female differences in response. COVID-19 also impacted the manner in which TE faculty provided or received mentorship, with an increase seen in online mentorship support for students and an increase in barriers when seeking guidance from mentors. Lastly, the majority of TE faculty reported that professional development tools to transition to an online course were needed. These results show the challenges faced and the social support that is helpful in adjusting to increased demands due to COVID-19 on TE faculty’s personal and work life.