Students with Mental Health Diagnoses: Experiences with Faculty at Research 1 Universities

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Saturday 1:45 pm - Gold 3
  In Roundtable Session: Reflection and Transformation: Centering Disabled Students' Perspectives in Shaping the Future of Higher Education

Abstract

Within recent years, there has been a significant rise in college students with mental health disabilities with 50% of students reporting to be diagnosed with a lifetime mental health disorder (Healthy Minds Network, 2024). Prior studies on students with disabilities at community colleges and four-year universities have shown that faculty attitudes significantly influence student engagement, accommodation implementation, and academic achievement (Carey et al., 2022; Hansen & Dawson, 2019; Mamboleo et al., 2020; Stein, 2014). This qualitative study utilizes Bronfenbrenner’s (1979) Ecological Systems Theory to highlight the lived experiences of students with mental health diagnoses (n=12) and their experiences with faculty at Research 1 universities. Findings underscore the nuanced and interconnected experiences between individual characteristics, faculty, peers, and disability offices.

Author

• Alyson Thach, Claremont Graduate University