Community college leaders are increasingly concerned with finding ways to better support and engage students in an effort to improve college completion rates. In order to increase their persistence and completion, many students need assistance connecting to services, activities, programs, and supports relevant to their individual needs and goals. Postsecondary institutions can play a significant role in helping students access these services, supports, and opportunities. This series of Info Briefs is designed for community colleges to raise awareness about the significance of connecting students to services and supports such as health insurance, financial assistance, housing, and transportation, and assisting them in navigating these and other services and supports relevant to their individual needs and goals. In addition, these briefs provide practical examples of how some colleges are supporting students and relevant resources for implementing connecting activities at community colleges.
- Introduction
This introductory brief begins the series with an overview of the connecting activities all students need, including those specific to students with disabilities. Download the PDF. - Physical Health Services
This brief discusses the responsibility of transition-age youth to manage their own health care including health insurance, health services, dental care, and living a healthy life style and how community colleges can help. Download the PDF. - Mental Health Services
This brief discusses strategies community colleges can take to ensure students receive appropriate access to mental health services as well as supports for making decisions about disclosing mental health needs. Download the PDF. - Housing & Transportation
This brief discusses how community colleges can help students to have accessible, convenient, and affordable access to transportation and housing. Download the PDF. - Academic Skills Training & Assistance
This brief discusses how community colleges can provide all students with opportunities to learn academic success skills and with information about where students can go to receive academic assistance. Download the PDF. - Financial Assistance, Planning & Management
This brief discusses how community colleges can provide all students with information on paying for college, loan management, and public assistance, as well as training in financial capability. Additionally, the brief discusses the need for access to benefits planning for students with disabilities. Download the PDF. - Connections with Adult & Community-Based Services & Opportunities
This brief discusses how community colleges can connect all students with workforce development services and civic engagement opportunities, as well how to connect students with disabilities with the additional human services agencies they may need. Download the PDF.