Dr. Linda L. García
Students who feel supported and connected at their community colleges demonstrate higher engagement levels and stronger academic performance, according to a major new national report released Tuesday by the Center for Community College Student Engagement.
The report, "Essential Conditions for Community College Student Success: Maximizing Student Engagement by Fostering a Culture of Caring," draws on survey responses from more than 54,000 students at 127 community colleges and nearly 10,000 entering students at 58 institutions. The findings reveal that while many students experience support, significant gaps remain in creating comprehensive caring environments.
"Connections have always been at the heart of student success," said Dr. Linda L. García, executive director of CCCSE. "These findings confirm that when caring becomes an institutional practice—not just an individual act—students are more likely to stay, learn, and complete."
The report examines five components of a caring culture: sense of belonging, self-efficacy, stigma and help-seeking behaviors, basic needs support, and mental health and well-being. Students experiencing a "strong culture of caring" showed markedly higher engagement across all five CCSSE benchmarks compared to those experiencing a "weak" or "mixed" culture of caring.
However, the data revealed troubling gaps. Sixteen percent of respondents said they feel invisible to faculty and staff, and 12% disagreed with the statement "I belong at this college." Nearly one in five students said their college does not prioritize mental health and emotional well-being.
