The Relationship Between Community College Student Life Stressors and Course Outcomes Pre/Post-Pandemic

• In Event: Opportunities Outside Academics to Support Student Success

Abstract

This study examined the self-reported stress of community college students pre/post pandemic. Surveys were collected after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic at the City University of New York’s largest community college from 529 students enrolled in core STEM subjects, and the study obtained a response rate approaching 90%. Students were asked about life events experienced during Spring 2020 and how strongly they impacted the time or energy students had for their college studies, and the Institutional Research office provided course outcomes. The relationship between life stressors and course outcomes was significant during COVID-19, although the stressor-outcome relationship was overall stronger pre-pandemic than post-pandemic. This suggests that generally, life stress may be a serious barrier to community college student progress.

Authors

• Catherine A. Manly, Fairleigh Dickinson University
  Presenting Author

• Claire Wladis, Borough of Manhattan Community College
  Non-Presenting Author

• Alyse C. Hachey, The University of Texas - El Paso
  Non-Presenting Author