New Report: Peer Support in College Mental Health
In this first-of-its-kind survey of college students on peer counseling, Born This Way Foundation and the Mary Christie Institute examine the perceptions and experiences of college students as they pertain to peer mental health support. The survey of over 2,000 American college students reveals widespread interest in peer mental health counseling, with one in five saying they have used these programs while more than 60% of those who have not, are interested in doing so. Inside Higher Ed provided coverage of the survey findings along with context from national experts on how these services can be a safe and effective option for some students.
The report is also covered here in the winter issue of the Mary Christie Quarterly.
Mental and Behavioral Health
Main Stories
GBH News reports that a Worcester Polytechnic Institute student was found dead in their off-campus apartment, marking the event as the seventh student death since July 2021. Three of the deaths have been reported to be suicides, and WPI officials say they are trying to combat the mental health crisis on campus. The school announced expanding mental health initiatives, such as implementing a mental health and well-being task force, to the campus community on managing stress while also planning to open a well-being center to increase social connections and alleviate stress.
Other News
The Chronicle reports on students’ frustrations with inconsistent attendance policies, questioning, “Why aren’t other health issues — including mental health — treated with the same flexibility that Covid is?”
Inside Higher Ed reports on a new study showing that good grades and positive ratings of instruction are directly correlated with students’ happiness with their grades.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The New York Times reports that on Monday, the Supreme Court agreed to hear two cases on the lawfulness of race-conscious admissions programs at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina, which raises major concerns on the future of affirmative action in higher education. “Affirmative action has repeatedly been administered last rites during the last five decades. But these two cases unmistakably pose the gravest threats yet to affirmative action’s continued vitality,” said Yale law professor, Justin Driver.
According to a new report by the Eos Foundation and the American Association of University Women, elite colleges are lacking women of color in their leadership. The report attributes systemic bias as preventing women of color from becoming college leaders. Fifty-five percent of all PhDs are being obtained by women with 20% being women of color, yet there is a lack of gender and racial diversity among the highest-paid professionals at top research institutions.
In an op-ed for Diverse Education, Dr. Nichole Margarita Garcia, an Assistant Professor of Higher Education at Rutgers University, writes about grieving family members she has lost from COVID-19 as an academic of color. “I, like many others, have lost family members directly from COVID-19 or indirectly as the consequences of the pandemic have taken an emotional, mental, and physical toll on the body, mind, and spirit of our communities.
Inside Higher Ed reports that Compton College is hiring staff to focus on the needs of Black and Latino men. Compton College president Keith Curry says community colleges that enroll high numbers of Black students, such as Compton College, will be “at the forefront” and that positions such as these will become increasingly popular at colleges and universities in the future. “If they aren’t fortunate enough to identify someone, whether that be faculty or staff or a community member or a peer or somebody who can very early on help walk them through that process, they can be discouraged,” he said.
Inside Higher Ed reports on colleges and universities updating their information systems to accurately reflect students’ gender identities. As gender identity norms shift, more institutions are allowing students to list their names and pronouns in campus databases; however, some schools are navigating technical issues to update their systems. “Although student information systems and CRMs [customer relationship managers] support preferred name and pronoun functionality, institutions report that it is often limited—even in next-generation systems,” said Laura Gogia, a senior analyst at the Tambellini Group.
Student Success
The Washington Post reports that beginning in 2024, the SAT will be delivered digitally. The College Board announced that students must still sit at schools or testing centers but will be able to use laptops to take the test. Additionally, the test will be shortened from three hours to two. Many colleges have opted to go test-optional due, in part, to COVID-related shutdowns and as a way of achieving more equitable admissions practices.
The Chronicle showcases a new report that shows what an equitable admissions process would look like. The National Association for College Admission Counseling and the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators released five key ideas, which include: examine the consequences of selectivity, simplify the application process, streamline the federal aid process, diversify the admissions profession, and confront implicit bias in financial aid offices.
College Affordability
Higher Ed Dive and Inside Higher Ed highlight findings on which types of institutions offer low-income students the greatest return on investment. Led by Georgetown University, Stanford University, and Harvard University, the new report shows the top tier colleges that provide low-income students with the greatest return on investment are all private, selective colleges. However, public universities with four-year degrees offer the best median return on investment for low-income students.
Basic Needs
Inside Higher Ed reports that HBCU students are struggling with basic needs, such as food and housing. Conducted by the Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice, the survey of 5,000 students at HBCUs throughout the country found that 55% said they struggled with having safe, affordable housing. One in five students also reported being homeless in the last year. The report found that many HBCU students benefited from federal COVID-19 relief funds. Still, President and founder of the Hope Center, Sara Goldrick-Rab, said “there is so much need and the money doesn’t go as far.”
The Washington Post reports that the Biden administration is urging colleges to utilize Covid relief funds for students’ basic needs. The Education Department has issued guidance on how colleges can use relief funds and has allocated $198 million for colleges that have been hit hardest by the pandemic. So far, Congress has provided a total of $76.2 billion to colleges and universities, amidst the public health crisis. Schools have divvied up the funds to clear outstanding student balances, housing aid, employment, food insecurity, and mental health services.
COVID-19: Safety and Reopening
Inside Higher Ed covers how colleges are changing their policies in order for students who test positive for COVID to isolate in their dorms, despite having roommates. The high transmission rates of the Omicron variant have led colleges to prepare for expected outbreaks or surges. Some schools, however, have announced that their alternative housing is very limited and are allowing students to travel home. According to The Chronicle, the College Health Association says students with COVID-19 should be required to test out of isolation.
Inside Higher Ed reports on how colleges and universities have served as COVID-19 testing sites for local communities. Some are working on developing new technologies to contain the virus and advance testing options. Others have aimed to serve minorities and lower socioeconomic community members. “We wanted to make sure that the African American community, minorities, the lower socioeconomic part of the community here in Tallahassee, had access to testing services,” said Tanya Tatum, director of student health services at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee.
