Big Thinking at Bennington College
In the fall issue of the Mary Christie Quarterly, out next week, we feature Bennington College and its efforts to transform mental health and wellbeing on its campus by infusing wellness into the school’s unique student-driven pedagogy. After engaging outside experts, interviewing all campus stakeholders, and asking hard questions, Bennington President Laura Walker and her team have created the Bennington College Mental Health and Wellness Initiative – a new model for the health of the community. “I have never thought that the best answer to what we should do is to look at what we’ve done in the past,” she said.
Mental and Behavioral Health
Main Stories
Inside Higher Ed features the latest research from the Trevor Project, revealing that the likelihood of suicidal ideation or sucicide attempts for LGBTQ+ college decreases when their schools provide mental health and LGBTQ+-specific support. The results are based on the survey responses of more than 30,000 LGBTQ+ undergraduates and graduate students. Experts suggest that the findings reinforce the necessity of offering targeted mental health resources at the university level.
In an op-ed for Inside Higher Ed, clinician Carla Chiganianticipates the importance of college counselors for students upset by the decision to overturn Roe v Wade. Since the decision, many young adults have been dealing with the stress of restricted access to abortion, which has also historically impacted the ability of American women to complete their education. Chigani believes colleges can help support students in a number of ways, including by clarifying their stance on reproductive care laws, ensuring counselors are equipped to offer care for those with postpartum or reproductive concerns, and developing sexual health and sexual violence prevention programing.
Other News
The Ithacan, the student newspaper at Ithaca College, explores the state of mental health care two years since the school began working with JED Campus to improve student wellness.
The student newspaper at the University of Connecticut, The Daily Campus, warns against the dangers of developing disordered eating in college and advises students on how they can stay on top of their nutrition.
The Daily Trojan, the student newspaper at the University of Southern California, covers the recent “Sistxrs in Solidarity Summit,” which took place on campus and focused on the mental health of Black women at USC.
The Crimson, Harvard College’s student newspaper, reports on a new mental health awareness campaign, “We’re All Human,” which administrators hope will reinforce a culture of wellness across campus.
In an op-ed for Inside Higher Ed, psychologist and president of Oglethorpe University, Nick Ladany, urges colleges to move beyond “band-aid” approaches to the student mental health crisis and start prioritizing funding mental health services.
Also for Inside Higher Ed, James Hervert and Jennifer DeBurro, the president and dean of students at the University of New England respectively, argue that addressing the student mental health crisis will require “communicating messages of hope, strength and resilience rather than those that suggest pathology and fragility.”
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Inside Higher Ed and The Hechinger Report showcase findings from a new paper on how introductory STEM courses disproportionately push underrepresented minority students out of the sciences. According to a study by PNAS Nexus, underrepresented minority students were less likely to graduate with STEM degrees than white men. Co-author of the study, Chad Topaz, quotes inequities that can contribute such as, “implicit signaling to students, stereotype threat, support networks, broader socioeconomic trends and more.”
The Hechinger Report reports the low enrollment of Black students at state flagship universities. In 2020, just 6% of first-years who enrolled at the University of Georgia were Black, even though 36% of the state’s public high school graduates were Black. At the University of Mississippi, 8% of first-years were Black, compared to 49% of the state’s high school graduates.
Inside Higher Ed features an article on connecting community college students to paid internships. California Community Colleges’ Chancellor Daisy Gonzales describes why and how institutions can help. “Unpaid internships only provide further opportunities for those who can afford to take them while leaving those who cannot behind. Given the financial need and other obligations, unpaid internships are not realistic options for most first-generation students,” states Gonzales. “In the community colleges, we need to continue to focus on addressing students’ social determinants of educational success, such as transportation, while continuing to support their success in the virtual environment.”
Sexual Assault and Title IX
The Chronicle considers whether the storm of student outrage and activism over sexual violence has motivated change on campuses. Some colleges have established training programs in response or suspended Greek organizations where assaults allegedly occurred. Still, student activists continue to be frustrated with the “lip service” they say their schools pay them when it comes to sexual misconduct prevention.
Student Success
Jalen Woodard, a senior at Amherst College, writes for The Hechinger Report about her experience pursuing the neurological testing she needed to be awarded extra time for her exams. For low-income students like herself, Woodard reveals that seeking accommodations can be daunting because of both cost concerns and a lack of school oversight. “As colleges and universities admit more students with disabilities and make an effort to create a path to education for low-income and first-generation students,” Woodard argues, “it is their responsibility to provide those students with adequate resources to succeed academically.”
The Hechinger Report considers the possibility of schools doing away with grades for first-years in an effort to help them adjust to life in college. While proponents suggest that this “un-grading” strategy can eliminate stressful metrics that don’t actually reflect how well students are learning, critics view the change as a way to “coddle” students. Some schools are also altering their approaches to assessment without getting rid of grades entirely.
A new report from the Community College Review suggests that when community colleges establish bachelor’s degree programs, they report upticks in enrollment for low-income students and students 25 and older. Higher Ed Dive considers how these results upset the debate over whether community colleges should offer bachelor’s degrees, as detractors have often argued that such programs would lead community colleges to “abandon their missions of providing educational access to underserved populations.”
College Affordability
According to NPR, the Department of Education has “quietly” altered President Biden’s college debt relief plan so that around 800,000 borrowers no longer qualify for assistance. In a reversal of previous guidance, those with privately held federal loans, including Perkins loans and Federal Family Education loans, cannot consolidate their loans through the Direct Loan program in order to receive relief.
Inside Higher Ed explores a new study probing why “would-be students” are choosing not to go to college. The results suggest that financial considerations are very influential in steering people away from higher education—both because of the cost of programs and because many would prefer to work and earn money. That said, concerns about the stress college creates and professional uncertainty also inspires people to put off college.
Basic Needs
Inside Higher Ed reviews the results of a recent survey from the nonprofit Educause, investigating the technology use and needs of students. The vast majority of students reported facing at least one technology challenge over the last year, particularly unstable internet connection or losing connection while participating in some synchronous class activity. Technology support designed for students with disabilities may help ease the burden for students across the board.
Having announced its plans to enroll 23,000 more students over the next eight years, the University of California system is now grappling with how to provide housing for its growing population. While the system hopes its recent acquisition of Marymount California University will help make room for much needed residential space, The Chronicle suggests that this housing problem won’t be a “quick fix.”
Campus Safety
Jason Duhaime, who said he was injured after a bomb device exploded at Northeastern University last month, has been charged for “conveying false information and hoaxes,” according to The New York Times. Investigators learned that Duhaime, a former employee at the university, lied to law enforcement about discovering a mysterious package that later exploded. In reality, no such explosion occurred.
Inside Higher Ed reports on the status of colleges across southwest and central Florida after their campuses came up against the force of Hurricane Ian last week. While some were able to return students to their dorms as early as Friday, others faced more serious damage from flooding and wind and will remain closed until further notice.
