NASPA's Health in Higher Education Knowledge Community

Health Influences Academic Performance, Retention, Persistence and Graduation

Students’ academic achievement and progress toward completion of a degree are correlated with their health and health behavior. Common health problems that students believe affect their academic performance are identified through the National College Health Assessment.

Given the potential negative impact of the critical health issues affecting academic success, retention, persistence and graduation, it is essential that institutions of higher education create comprehensive services and programs that advance the health of students as they foster the learning and personal growth of students.

Developing a Plan for a Healthy Campus

Strategies to develop a healthy and safe living and learning environment must transcend traditional health-related services and programs that focus primarily on individual awareness, clinical care and education and use predominantly medical models. Health campus strategies must be multidimensional -- including educational methods, access to treatment when needed, enforcement, early intervention, and environmental approaches -- and must be integrated across multiple departments, campus locations, and student learning activities, both inside and outside the classroom. This socio-ecological approach is used in public health models, is endorsed by NASPA, and is described in the NASPA publication Leadership for a Healthy Campus.

To successfully address the health and well being of our students, Student Affairs professionals and members of the faculty in academic departments must plan and apply consistent educational methods and messages, policies and enforcement practices, and must promote meaningful utilization of campus and community resources for early intervention and treatment. Creating a healthy campus community may also require changes in admissions procedures, academic requirements, residential life options, recreational options, dining options and student activities.

Some examples of planning tools are highlighted in the power point presentation: College Health: Stretch Your Definition of the Core Concepts, Assumptions, and Practices.

Assessment and Benchmarks

The best-laid plans start with a good map. In planning a healthy campus, a good map is provided through assessment. Focus groups and survey assessment tools (especially using online methods) provide important information about the health status and health behavior norms of students. Utilization data from medical and counseling services support a focus on common health, health behaviors and experiences of students. What constitutes health? What environmental factors influence health? What programs and services will enhance the students experience in the campus learning environment? The answers to these questions lead to the development of better plans.

The National College Health Assessment (NCHA) is designed to assess population level health status, risk and protective behaviors, and related experiences of college students. Results of the NCHA offer a national perspective on the health of college students, and provide information on the effects of selected health conditions on academic performance. The NCHA was established in 1998. It has been administered to more than 140,000 students over the past 5 years at 80 different colleges and universities. Participating in the NCHA can provide important assessment data for health program planning.