Understanding And Addressing Commuter Student Needs PDF Download

Several major studies have identified student commuters as being at particularly high risk for attrition from higher educational institutions. This report reviews the knowledge that exists about students-as-commuters in depth. Among the implications for educational policy makers is the need for commuter institutions to provide opportunities to increase students' involvement and to evaluate the institution's impact. Educators should assess how students think about important issues and how the environment of the commuter institution either challenges or supports their thinking. Ways that institutions can assess their effectiveness with their commuting students and create a sense of community for them within the institution are outlined. One model describes the development of a comprehensive institutional response to the student-as-commuter in three stages. In stage 1, institution merely removes obvious barriers like requirements for admission or housing. In stage 2, separate student programs specifically for commuters on residential campuses are developed. Finally, stage 3 involves the active use of the principles of justice and fairness to correct inequities in a system that de facto discriminates against one group in favor of another. Thirteen recommendations for developing a plan of action are provided. Contains 275 references. (GLR)