How Rural Colleges and Communities Can Support Postsecondary Learners

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Early themes from seven research projects funded by Ascendium’s Building Evidence to Increase Rural Learner Success Initiative

Financial aid is an important factor in helping rural postsecondary students succeed, but many of these students need additional support to address other challenges that can affect how they learn. This is one of the main early findings from the Building Evidence to Increase Rural Learner Success initiative, funded by Ascendium. Through a collaborative partnership between Ascendium and AIR, this initiative supports seven grantee research projects dedicated to understanding how to better serve postsecondary rural learners and the institutions that support them. 

While the research is ongoing, this blog post highlights some emerging themes for educators, policymakers, and community partners. 
 

Strengthening Support Through Wraparound Services

Early findings highlight how tailored wraparound services—provided directly by colleges and universities, through partnerships with local and state governments, or through community-based organizations—can have a significant impact. Below are categories of needed support and examples of how colleges and universities could provide wraparound services.

Basic needs

The research found that many rural learners face pressing barriers, such as housing and food insecurities. This both confirms prior research and expands our understanding of the scope of these challenges. These issues can affect both students and staff at rural-serving institutions.

Healthcare access

Limited access to healthcare is a growing concern Grantee research shows that physical distances to care have increased, compounded by already limited public transportation, leaving rural learners with concerns about their ability to access adequate services—especially mental healthcare. 

Caregiving responsibilities

Many rural learners balance their studies with caregiving roles for family members, including children, siblings, or elderly relatives. Early findings suggest that the lack of flexible and affordable caregiving services impacts academic performance and well-being.

Transportation and technology

In line with prior research, early findings reveal that reliance on individual transportation, long commutes, and associated costs create financial and logistical burdens that hinder rural students’ ability to focus on their studies, attend classes regularly, and complete their programs. While online learning could help, limited access to reliable internet and necessary technology remains a major burden for many rural students. 

Harnessing Existing Assets

Universities and colleges in rural areas can take advantage of the many unique assets of rural communities to inform more effective support strategies. These assets include: 

• Dedicated faculty and staff. In close-knit rural environments, faculty and staff members often work more collaboratively, allowing for more personalized attention to students.
• Community integration. In line with an emerging body of research, grantees’ early findings reveal that rural serving institutions often have strong, longstanding ties to their local community and local industries. These connections allow these institutions to understand and tailor programs, courses, and support services to local workforce demands and student needs, becoming integral to the region’s economic development.
• Mentoring and peer-learning. In rural areas, there is a strong potential for mentoring and peer learning to arise in close-knit environments. Students can form strong and meaningful connections with peers and faculty, collaborating and supporting each other, which can enhance retention and academic achievement as noted in prior research. Preliminary grantee findings suggest that matching mentors and mentees based on shared rural background or cultural values may be particularly effective.

The emerging findings from the Building Evidence to Increase Rural Learner Success Initiative confirm and add critical detail to the growing understanding of the challenges and assets of rural learners. Ultimately, fostering success for rural learners requires a nuanced approach that understands and addresses their specific needs, while also building upon the strengths of their communities.