NVC Highlighted in USA Today and National Report from CCCSE
October 20, 2022
NVC Highlighted in a National Report from the Center for Community College Student Engagement and in USA Today
Northwest Vista College is among the colleges highlighted in a new report from the Center for Community College Student Engagement (CCCSE) as providing student assistance to address multiple needs. Published today, the Mission Critical: The Role of Community Colleges in Meeting Students’ Basic Needs report on food insecurity among community college students highlights the struggles students experience.
The report is based on national data gathered from the spring 2021 CCCSE survey with 82,424 community college students attending 194 institutions in the U.S. The data also includes information gathered from the Survey on Entering Student Engagement (SENSE) and CCCSE’s interviews with students.
The highlights of the report include:
- Nearly a third of all respondents reported running out of food and not having money to get more.
- One in four students with dependent children reported cutting the size of their meals or skipping meals.
- Nearly a quarter of students with dependent children have low or very low housing security, compared to 10 percent of students without dependent children.
Findings from the report are featured in a USA Today article titled, “Eat or pay tuition? Many community college students are forced to choose. But colleges can help.” NVC Interim President Debi Gaitan is quoted in the article reflecting on the tough choices students must make between paying for tuition or paying for food or rent. “Helping students now with their critical needs can pave the way for their long-term success,” she added.
NVC’s Student Advocacy & Resource Center is highlighted in the article as working with students individually and advocating for their multiple needs, beyond just giving them community contacts. NVC Advocacy Center Director Lisa Black is quoted as saying “We really endeavor to not just give the student a list of numbers,” she said, “Because when you’re drowning, that doesn’t feel like much of a life raft.” She added.
CCCSE is a service and research initiative in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy in the College of Education at The University of Texas at Austin.
The entire CCCSE report can be found at this link.
NVC students, faculty and staff who want to learn about NVC’s Student Advocacy & Resource Center can review services offered at the following link on NVC’s website.
Contact:
Renata Serafin
Director of Marketing and Strategic Communications
Email: nvc-news@aplrealestate.com
Northwest Vista College (NVC), part of the Alamo Colleges District, is designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution. The college opened in 1995 with 12 students and has grown to one of the largest institutions of higher education in San Antonio and the region with current enrollment exceeding 17,000 students. Located in Westover Hills, NVC’s expanding agreements with business and higher education partnerships provide a wealth of opportunities for students and the community.
NVC was the only community college in San Antonio and one of eight in Texas that was invited in 2021 to compete for the 2023 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation’s highest recognition in community college education. The Aspen Prize recognizes excellence in teaching and learning, certificate and degree completion, transfer and bachelor’s attainment, workforce success as well as equity for students of color and students from low-income backgrounds.