ABSTRACT
The start of the COVID-19 pandemic was devastating, affecting every country and territory around the world. COVID-19 prompted immediate lockdowns and the implementation of measures that brought daily operations of life to an immediate halt. The virus contributed to many closures and posed challenges for businesses, organizations, government agencies, and academic institutions. Similar to businesses, higher education institutions (HEIs) faced enormous challenges, as they were forced to take swift action to ensure the safety of their students, faculty, staff, and administration. The purpose of this qualitative study was to gather lessons learned from the perspective of higher education professionals and academic scholars (HEP/AS, [N = 196]) regarding how their institution prepared for the pandemic and to gain insight into responses to the disruptions created by the pandemic. Using the SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis model, the researchers collected information from professionals and academic scholars about how this virus impacted their HEIs. The HEP/AS findings are indicative of five main strengths encompassing the importance of organizational action aimed at preventing and controlling the devastating effects of COVID-19. The results, highlighted the strengths, identified weaknesses, and provided recommendations for the future.