“Life Gets in the Way”: Community College Students’ Perspectives on Holistic Supports for Navigating Academic and Personal Complexities

We describe findings from a qualitative analysis of written responses from a larger survey on holistic support structures for mental health and educational success at three community colleges. Guided by the Model of Momentum for Community College Student Success (Wang, 2017), we analyzed 5,496 students’ responses to open-ended survey questions on their perspectives on and engagement with holistic support at their institutions. Findings indicate that, to realize student success, holistic approaches and integrated services are essential. These include prioritizing students’ mental health and belonging within college contexts as well as broader life circumstances. Further, to center the unique needs of community college students and ensure equitable accessibility and usage, culturally responsive approaches and purposeful resource provision are needed so that traditionally minoritized students are not excluded.