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This report by Sade Bonilla and Veronica Minaya explores the barriers to academic success for community college students, particularly focusing on the impact of time utilization, campus engagement, financial, and mental well-being on academic persistence. The study emphasizes the critical role of community colleges in promoting educational equity and highlights the persistent challenges faced by students from traditionally underserved communities.
Main Takeaways:
- Critical Role of Community Colleges: Community colleges serve a disproportionately high number of low-income, racially minoritized, first-generation, immigrant, and older students, making them crucial for promoting educational equity.
- Persistent Barriers to Success: Despite their importance, community colleges face enduring challenges related to educational, economic, and social inequities that affect student persistence and completion, especially among students of color and those from lower-income families.
- Impact of Mental Health: Adverse mental health conditions are prevalent among community college students and are negatively related to academic persistence and credit accumulation. The incidence of mental health issues is comparable to those found in four-year institutions.
- Food and Housing Insecurity: Rates of food and housing insecurity among community college students are strikingly high. However, their relationship with academic outcomes is smaller and not significant compared to mental health conditions.
- Engagement with Campus Resources: While many students engage with multiple campus resources, this engagement does not necessarily correlate with higher rates of enrollment persistence or credit completion. Effective use of resources and supports is crucial.
- Time Utilization: How students allocate their time, particularly the balance between academic activities and work obligations, significantly impacts their academic success. High work intensities are often detrimental to academic engagement and performance.
- Policy and Support Recommendations: The report underscores the need for institutions to provide robust mental health supports and tailored financial aid to address the complex challenges faced by community college students. Additionally, policies should focus on creating supportive environments that foster academic and social integration.