  The COVID-19 global pandemic spurred sudden and dramatic changes in the way
universities and research programs operate, often with negative consequences
that have disproportionately affected minorities, women, and people with low
income. These consequences compound the difficulties these groups faced prior
to the pandemic | in particular, the increased obstacles marginalized students
encounter while pursuing STEM career paths. The National Astronomy Consortium
(NAC) was founded to support underrepresented physics and astronomy students by
providing research opportunities and long-term mentoring. In response to the
pandemic and nation-wide shutdowns, the NAC shifted both its summer research
program and its annual fall conference to a fully-remote format. Here, we
discuss the changes the NAC made to achieve a successful virtual transition,
and provide temporary and long-term recommendations for programs seeking to
provide support to marginalized undergraduate and graduate researchers moving
forward.
