Fall 2020 was an unprecedented time for colleges and universities in Colorado as the state continued to deal with the effects of the pandemic. By mid-September, just weeks into the new term, the state Department of Public Health and Environment had reported a dozen active coronavirus outbreaks linked to colleges and universities. Students forced to quarantine on campuses or required to learn remotely throughout the semester all faced a variety of unique challenges.
This report sheds a light on how students attending community colleges in Colorado met those challenges. Specifically, we present #RealCollege Survey results from the Colorado Community College System’s 13 colleges, all of which fielded survey in fall 2020. In total, more than 9,000 students participated, with a response rate of 18.5%. As the repercussions of the pandemic linger, there is an urgent call for basic needs resources for students in the Colorado Community College System, and across the country.
Topics covered include:
- Impacts of the pandemic on:
- Students’ health, employment, and well-being
- Parenting students’ childcare demands
- Students’ basic needs security
- Utilization of public and campus supports, including SNAP and emergency aid
- Disparities in students’ needs and access to supports