New From Ithaka S+R: Results from a National Survey of Community College Library and Campus Partners

The Ithaka S+R report linked below (DOI: 10.18665/sr.321619) was written by:

• Elmira Jangjou
• Melissa Blankstein
• jean amaral

From the Introduction:

Navigating higher education requires more than attending classes and completing assignments; it requires “college fluency,” a set of skills that enables students, faculty, and staff to effectively locate and utilize institutional resources.^[1] College fluency can empower students, faculty, and staff to navigate the complex culture and bureaucracy of higher education, supporting students to advocate for themselves as they move through these systems. Libraries play a crucial role in fostering this college fluency by equipping students with the tools and resources for both their curricular and non-curricular needs.

Curricular and non-curricular support are essential components of a comprehensive educational experience, with curricular support encompassing the academic services and resources directly tied to course content and academic performance, such as tutoring, advising, and course materials. Non-curricular support includes services that address students’ holistic needs outside of the classroom, such as mental health resources, housing assistance, and student engagement. It also includes supporting students in navigating the often-complex college bureaucracy successfully. Both curricular and non-curricular support are crucial, as student success encompasses not only academic performance, but also overall well-being and the ability to navigate the complexities of life while at college. Effective support systems must integrate both curricular and non-curricular elements to foster a well-rounded educational environment that empowers students to thrive.

Student success encompasses not only academic performance, but also overall well-being and the ability to navigate the complexities of life while at college.

To better understand the current landscape of college fluency, and the challenges faced by institutions, Ithaka S+R and the Borough of Manhattan Community College, with support from IMLS, fielded a national survey to gather insights from administrators, librarians, and faculty and staff from academic and student affairs departments across community colleges in the US.^[2] This survey aimed to explore the perceptions of college fluency, evaluate the effectiveness of existing support and resource referrals, and identify gaps in non-curricular information and resources available to faculty, staff, and students.

Key Insights

• While institutions value traditional indicators of success (e.g., graduation and retention), they often overlook the opportunity to reduce bureaucratic barriers to accessing college services and resources that could enhance students’ ability to navigate college effectively.
• While the majority of respondents feel confident in their own college fluency, respondents consistently rated the college fluency skills of students and peer faculty and staff as only moderately proficient.
• When addressing non-curricular inquiries, departments prioritize providing information on technology needs, fostering a sense of belonging, and supporting mental health over other complex student needs, such as housing or transportation.
• Respondents of color reported greater confidence in providing cultural adjustment and fostering a sense of belonging for diverse student populations compared to their White counterparts. This underscores the need for institutions to hire and support staff of color and to train all staff to better support students from diverse backgrounds.
• Librarians prioritize providing students with access to technology and information, and most respondents, particularly the ones affiliated with academic affairs, view the library as a key resource for directing students to non-curricular inquiries. To maximize their impact, librarians can further embrace their potential role in guiding students to critical information about non-curricular support services.
• The most common challenges to supporting students’ college fluency include insufficient staffing, bureaucratic complexity, and inadequate cross-departmental collaboration.
• Digital platforms like college websites, online portals, and email are the preferred channels to reach students, but their effectiveness depends on how they are integrated into departmental workflows and kept up to date with relevant information.

Direct to Full Text Report

Direct to Full Text Report (49 pages; PDF)

Filed under: Academic Libraries, Libraries, News