Understanding and Addressing Commuter Student Needs

EDITOR S NOTES 1 J. Patrick Biddix 1. Enhancing Commuter Student Success: What s Theory Got to Do With It? 3 Barbara Jacoby This chapter offers theoretical and conceptual frameworks useful in understanding commuter students, institutional environments, and the nature of the interactions between them. 2. First-to-Second-Year Persistence Profile of Commuter Students 13 Terry T. Ishitani, Aileen M. Reid Built on Tinto s integration retention model, the chapter uses national data to focus on how academic and social integration influence persistence behavior for commuter students. 3. Nonacademic Commitments Affecting Commuter Student Involvement and Engagement 27 Mary Beth Burlison This chapter reviews the past decade of literature on nonacademic factors affecting commuter student success such as family, work, and time. 4. Exploring the Impact of Commuting to Campus on Psychological Well-Being 35 Georgianna L. Martin, Cindy Ann Kilgo The authors use a national data set to explore the role that commuting to campus plays in college students psychological well-being and other health-related issues. 5. Supporting Commuter Students of Color 45 Corinne Maekawa Kodama This chapter considers the experiences of commuter students of color and includes recommendations for supporting their success along with example programs. 6. Commuter Students With Disabilities 57 John L. Garland This chapter reviews related literature and highlights best practices for meeting the needs of commuter students with disabilities. 7. Commuter Students, Online Services, and Online Communities 69 Mark Kretovics This chapter discusses the importance of developing quality online student services, not only for distance education students, but for commuter students as well. 8. Lifestyle Challenges for Commuter Students 79 John J. Newbold This chapter outlines various coping strategies for managing stress factors faced by commuter students, coupled with implications for institutional practice. 9. Creating an Institutional Academic Advising Culture That Supports Commuter Student Success 87 Ruth A. Darling This chapter focuses on advising approaches and strategies that support commuter student success, persistence, and progress toward degree completion. 10. Strategies for Assessing Commuter Students 97 J. Patrick Biddix Assessment practices to help improve the institutional environment for commuter students are the subject of this final chapter. INDEX 109