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Basic needs insecurity looms large for Arkansas community college health students

A new survey commissioned by the association of Arkansas Community Colleges and conducted by Trellis Strategies (Trellis) reveals that a significant number of students in critical allied health programs face substantial challenges related to basic needs insecurity, mental health, and financial strain. The findings highlight the unique struggles of community college students.

The survey, which collected 500 responses from students enrolled in programs like Registered Nursing (RN), Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN), Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) across six colleges (UA Pulaski Technical College, ASU Mid-South, NorthWest Arkansas Community Colleges, Phillips Community College of the UA, Southeast Arkansas College, UA East Arkansas Community College) provides a vital look into the realities faced by students training for high-demand healthcare careers.

The data indicates that struggles with basic necessities are widespread among this student population, exceeding national benchmarks for the general public and underscoring a critical barrier to student success. Nearly half of all respondents, 49 percent, experienced insecurity with basic needs such as food insecurity, housing insecurity, or homelessness in the past year. Forty percent of students reported signs of housing insecurity, and more than a third, 34 percent, experienced food insecurity in the past year. This includes 17 percent with very low food security, characterized by disrupted eating patterns and reduced food intake. Five percent of students reported experiencing homelessness since starting college or within the past 12 months.

According to the USDA,** the national average for food insecurity in U.S. households in 2023 was 13.5 percent. The 34 percent rate among Arkansas community college allied health students is more than double the national average, indicating a severe and immediate challenge for this critical student group.

“While the healthcare industry seeks to hire community college graduates to play vital roles in keeping Arkansas healthy, these students struggle with far more than the demanding curriculum in their Allied Health programs,” said Dr. Collin Callaway, Executive Director of the association of Arkansas Community Colleges. “Furthermore, these alarming trends are indicative of more widespread issues among all community college students.”

The pressures of balancing rigorous healthcare coursework with personal challenges are taking a toll on students’ mental well-being and finances. Thirty percent of respondents indicated experiencing mental health challenges, with 27 percent self-diagnosing symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder and 12 percent self-diagnosing major depressive disorder.

One quarter of students reported utilizing public assistance within the past year. The most commonly accessed programs were SNAP (13 percent) and WIC (8 percent). A substantial 42 percent of students are parents/caregivers, and 41 percent are first-generation college students, groups that often encounter heightened barriers to college completion.

Students reported high satisfaction with institutional academic resources, but pointed to specific areas where basic needs support must be enhanced. Students rated access to academic support services (86 percent good or very good), technology (84 percent), and assistance in pursuing studies (82 percent) very highly. Areas of dissatisfaction concerned lack of access to required materials and meals. Eight percent rated their access to required books and materials as poor or very poor, and nine percent indicated access to healthy, nutritious meals was poor or very poor. When asked how colleges could better support them, the most common themes were a need for increased assistance with financial aid and academic costs, as well as help with living expenses.

“Community Colleges often serve students who are struggling to overcome generational poverty, as well as day-to-day struggles like transportation, childcare, and putting food on the table,” said University of Arkansas Pulaski Technical College Chancellor Summer DeProw. “Wrap-around services like TRIO and Career Pathways improve retention and persistence as much as ten percent more than the college average. Their retention rate is 87%.”

The survey's findings confirm that for many aspiring healthcare professionals in Arkansas's community colleges, financial precarity and basic needs insecurity remain significant hurdles. Addressing these challenges is paramount to ensuring student persistence and meeting the state’s demand for qualified allied health workers.

Notes: **U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. "Household Food Security in the United States in 2023."