Twenty-eight-year-old Blessing Henderson is about halfway through an associate degree in culinary arts and business at Cincinnati State. She takes a full-time course load and balances school with a part-time job and being a single mom.

But despite juggling all those commitments, Henderson is on track to finish her degree in two years, a feat that less than 20 percent of community college students manage in the United States. She says a big reason is because of a program called CState Accelerate.

Researchers have long known that belonging is vital to student success—in school and in life. But in the past, many college leaders viewed belonging as outside of their responsibility, or perhaps beyond their influence. 

That mindset is changing. Three experts offer their thoughts on building the capacity for belonging on college campuses.

Every year, Lexi Geampa has to be verified as an unaccompanied homeless youth in order to receive federal financial aid because she doesn’t have parents to support her. The process is frustrating, she says.

The new Free Application for Federal Student Aid form aims to provide some relief. Among other changes, students will have to answer one question instead of the current three about their status, and they won’t have to recertify their status every year. Advocates are hoping the changes will open doors for students and boost retention.