LONG BEACH, Calif. —
Community Colleges have to be more proactive in tackling the financial, housing and food insecurities that their students face.
That was the message throughout this year’s Achieving the Dream (ATD) conference, which brought together faculty, administrators and students to discuss some of the most pressing problems facing community college students across the nation.
ATD — now in its 15th year — is a nonprofit organization that champions evidence-based institutional improvement and focuses on student outcomes. 
At a Thursday morning plenary session titled, “Crystallizing Success for Every Student: The Role of Colleges in Supporting Students’ Basic Needs,” panelists noted that community college students often underperform in the classroom because they are struggling to make ends meet.
Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart, president of Amarillo College in Texas, said that after he became president, he commissioned 20 student focus groups along with a survey to learn more about what was keeping his students from excelling in the classroom.
Childcare, healthcare, transportation, food insecurities and legal services topped the list of student concerns.
