Surviving the Storm: Community College Students Overcoming Adversity During Hurricane Harvey

• In Event: 51.077 - Student Resilience in Response to Stressors

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore how community college students were impacted by Hurricane Harvey. We sought to examine how participants responded to hardship from the storm’s aftermath by learning about the strategies and resources participants utilized to overcome adversity and persist in college. Through qualitative research consisting of interviews and focus groups, we found that students used personal, social, and familial assets as well as campus resources to persevere during and after the storm. Given the expected frequency of natural disasters according to climate change experts, findings will be relevant to education researchers, policymakers, and campus leaders looking to improve policies and practices focused on reducing the negative impact of disasters on student success.

Authors

• Vincent D Carales, University of Houston

• Ruth María Lopez, University of Houston