Support for Learners

Students perform better and are more satisfied at colleges that are committed to their success and cultivate positive working and social relationships among different groups on campus. Community college students also benefit from services targeted to assist them with academic and career planning, academic skill development, and other areas that may affect learning and retention. The following seven survey items contribute to this benchmark:

How much does this college emphasize:

• Providing the support you need to help you succeed at this college
• Encouraging contact among students from different economic, social, and racial or ethnic backgrounds
• Helping you cope with your nonacademic responsibilities (work, family, etc.)
• Providing the support you need to thrive socially
• Providing the financial support you need to afford your education

During the current school year, how often have you:

• Used academic advising/planning services
• Used career counseling services

Key Findings: Support for Learners

• While students attribute relatively high importance to academic advising and career counseling, one-third to one-half of students rarely or never take advantage of those services.
• Highest levels of dissatisfaction are expressed with (1) career counseling, (2) job placement assistance, (3) financial aid advising.
• While 68% of students indicate that their college provides the support they need to succeed at the college either “quite a bit” or “very much,” a smaller percentage — 42% — report that the college provides the financial support they need to afford their education.
• Less than one-quarter (22%) report that the college helps them cope with nonacademic responsibilities (work, family, etc.) either quite a bit or very much, and 44% say that “very little” help is provided on that front.
• 45% report that their college puts emphasis on encouraging contact among students from different economic, social, and racial or ethnic backgrounds.

For examples of intentional strategies that colleges are using to promote support for learners, see CCSSE's 2004 National Report, Engagement by Design.

Back to top