Research Assignment
Here are possible research questions you can choose from. You may choose any one of these questions, or if you have another idea for a specific group you want to investigate, you can write your own research question.
What challenges do college students struggling with mental health issues face, and what programs or policies can improve their college experience?
What challenges do First Generation college students face, and what programs or policies can improve their college experience?
What challenges do students veterans/active military students face, and what programs or policies can improve their college experience?
What challenges do foster youth college students face, and what programs or policies can improve their college experience?
What challenges do college students with learning disabilities face, and what programs or policies can improve their college experience?
What challenges do undocumented (DACA) college students face, and what programs or policies can improve their college experience?
What challenges do LGBTQIA+ college students face, and what programs or policies can improve their college experience? (You can choose to narrow this down to focus on a more specific group, such as transgender students or LGBTQ students of color)
What challenges do college students of color face, and what programs or policies can improve their college experience? (You can choose to narrow this topic down even more, for instance, men of color, African American students, Latinx students, etc.)
What challenges do college students experiencing homelessness and/or food insecurity face, and what programs or policies can improve their college experience?
What challenges do returning students with children face, and what programs or policies can improve their college experience?
What challenges do college students with poor study skills face, and what programs or policies can improve their college experience?
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER AS YOU RESEARCH AND PLAN YOUR ESSAY:
How serious are the problems these students face? How common are these problems?
How are these students affected?
Have there been any recent changes that are helping to provide more support?
What can policymakers do? What statewide initiatives might be tried? Can more government funding help? Or can current funding be better used?
What can colleges do to better support these students?
