Research & Reports
At Achieving the Dream, we understand that today’s community college students are anything but traditional. They come from all walks of life, bringing with them unique strengths, goals, and challenges. To better serve this diverse population, we, in partnership with the Advising Success Network, are excited to announce the release of three new supplemental guides focused on parenting students, justice-impacted students, and adult learners — some of the most resilient and determined individuals on our campuses.
These new resources expand upon the foundation of our original Knowing Our Students guide, deepening our collective understanding of students’ lived experiences and offering actionable strategies to support their success. By amplifying student voices and showcasing proven practices from the field, these guides are essential tools for institutions seeking to create more inclusive, equitable learning environments.
Parenting students: Balancing education and family
Parenting students are managing dual responsibilities: pursuing their education while raising children — often without adequate support. More than one in four community college students has dependent children, yet many institutions are not fully equipped to meet their needs.
Our guide for supporting parenting students highlights practical, student-centered strategies, such as flexible course scheduling, access to affordable child care, and comprehensive wraparound services. These students bring remarkable resilience and a powerful sense of purpose. When colleges invest in their success, the benefits ripple through families and entire communities for generations.
Justice-impacted students: Building pathways beyond barriers
Students with justice-system involvement face steep challenges when pursuing higher education — ranging from limited access to resources to the stigma associated with past incarceration.
Our justice-impacted student guide offers insights into these obstacles and outlines how colleges can become gateways to opportunity. Through real-world examples and case studies, the guide presents a roadmap for creating safe, supportive, and empowering learning environments. By embracing education as a tool for reintegration and transformation, institutions can help break cycles of incarceration and expand pathways to a brighter future.
Adult learners: Returning to the classroom with purpose
Adult learners represent a significant and growing segment of the community college population. These students often juggle jobs, families, and other responsibilities while striving to improve their skills, change careers, or pursue long-deferred educational goals. In fall of 2021 alone, over 1.4 million adult learners were enrolled in community colleges.
Our guide for supporting adult learners delves into the motivations behind this population’s return to education and highlights institutional strategies that promote their persistence and success. By honoring their lived experience and providing flexible, relevant learning opportunities, colleges can help adult learners thrive, fueling workforce development and economic growth.
A commitment to equity and student success
As higher education continues to evolve, it’s crucial that we adapt our support systems to reflect the realities of our students’ lives. These new Knowing Our Students guides affirm our ongoing commitment to equity, access, and student-centered transformation. By intentionally addressing the specific challenges faced by parenting students, justice-impacted students, and adult learners, colleges can move beyond one-size-fits-all solutions — and instead build a future where every student succeeds.
Learn more about ATD’s expertise in holistic student supports and the related services we offer.