The Personal and Social Dimensions of Difficult Economic Realities for Community College Students

• In Event: Race, Gender, and Class: Examining Student Agency and Assets

Abstract

There is a critical need to elevate the voices of low-income students of color, and to develop solutions to the pervasive inequities and disparities in their education experiences and outcomes. Using participant observation, survey, and focus group data, this multiphase qualitative study examines the financial hardships facing community college students to better understand the role of unmet basic needs in the student experience and the impact of high costs of living on students both inside and outside of the classroom. Four major themes emerged from students’ narratives: difficult financial realities, taxing circumstances, impelled by stability, and basic needs and multifaceted supports. Broad recommendations for practice are presented, particularly for community colleges that serve low-income students.

Author

• Monique Corral, University of California - Los Angeles