0 Copyright 2020 – Public Policy Associates, Inc.

Transcript:0 Copyright 2020 – Public Policy Associates, Inc.:
0 Copyright 2020 – Public Policy Associates, Inc. Gathering Student Voices to Better Support Financial Stability and Academic Success Colleen Graber Christopher Baldwin September 15, 2021 1 Focus Group Results Student Focus Groups 2 Participant Characteristics 3 68% White 11% Black 7% Asian 2% Native/Indigenous 2% Latinx/Hispanic 2% Middle Eastern/Arab/North African/Chaldean Remainder were multiracial or did not give race/ethnicity 61% female 66% attending college full time Age range: 20-55 67% had financial responsibility for another person Participant Financial Situations 4 Percentage of Students Selecting Statements That Were True in the Past 12 Months, Across All Colleges Topics Educational and career goals Financial concerns Awareness of supports Satisfaction with college and community resources Opinions of colleges’ communication about student support resources Recommendations for improvements 5 Key Findings Students piece together funding sources to cover their costs. Many students are working as well as attending college. The top financial worries (beyond tuition) for students are paying for housing and utilities. Just under 1/3 of the focus group participants had food insecurities. Most students couldn't name non-academic supports provided by their colleges. 6 Key Findings Students are unclear about whom to ask for help on campus when they have issues, academic or otherwise. Some students are highly self-sufficient, whereas others require direct support to address their challenges. Students are interested in receiving information about supports through: Websites Online platforms Social media Emails Text messages Print notices Staff and faculty 7 Key Recommendations Create a list of community resources with direct links on the college website and/or other online platforms students use. Test website changes with students. Increase communication about student supports through a variety of approaches and during different times each semester. Ensure that there are mental health services available and known to students. 8 Key Recommendations Consider small supports that could ease student budgets, like discounts and fewer textbooks. Make sure all faculty and advisors know how to refer students to supports. Younger and older students require a different menu of supports. Give information about how to address issues with instructors, technology support services, and study tips. 9 10 Breakout Discussion Discussion Group Questions 11 What was the most surprising finding from the focus groups and what finding(s) confirmed the experience on your campus? Based on the findings, where do you see the biggest gap in supporting students on your campus? 12 Conducting Focus Groups Planning 13 Team: Someone from institutional research