Photo: Kathleen Kordek

Studies abound about the state of mental health and college students. Citing some measure of sadness, anxiety, feelings of burnout, or use of unhealthy coping skills, these studies say the same thing: College students are struggling. 

Leaders in Washington are starting to listen. The Biden administration recently called on colleges to use federal COVID relief funding to add mental health support for students. And, last month, the House of Representatives passed two bills relating to college students’ mental health. 

For many students, federal financial aid makes the difference between being able to afford college and never attending. Such resources are not available to students who hold Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status, leaving many of them struggling to make the dream of college a reality. 

Their struggles might be a little easier if a new proposal becomes law.

The announcements have rolled out at a startling pace, from Oregon to Maryland and everywhere in between. Around the United States, community college presidents are retiring.

The departing presidents represent decades of leadership at community colleges. They have nudged the primary mission of the sector from access to student success, owned the workforce development space, and established equity as a foremost tenet.