Stepping in and up to meet community needs: How community-based college access and success programs responded to COVID-19

The current study uplifts the efforts of community-based college access and success programs (CAS) to support the college preparation, matriculation, and persistence of underserved students during COVID-19. Fifty-eight CAS across the United States completed an online survey that gathered information about organizational demographics, COVID-19 challenges, responses to challenges, and communication with constituents and funding needs during COVID-19. Results suggested CAS faced multiple challenges due to COVID-19 that affected the organization, staff, and constituents. Results also revealed organizations of varying sizes, locations, and demographics responded to challenges by revising existing programming for students, creating new programming for students and caretakers, and updating staff policies to meet ongoing and emergent needs despite limited resources. CAS are essential service providers for students who are under- and mis-served in formal education systems. Recommendations are provided for how such organizations can be invested in and better prepared for future disruptions.