This spring 2021 was no exception whereby a random selection of 7,000 students was made and a total of 1,291 students responded. This 18% response rate exceeds the 13% national response rate. The topics range from campus safety to physical and mental health to topics that impact students’ academic performance.

During the implementation of this past spring’s survey, a specific set of questions related to COVID were asked. These responses were shared with the President’s Cabinet earlier this month. The most alarming statistic showed that 27% of student respondents experienced a loss of a friend or loved one due to COVID. This is compared to a 16% loss rate nationally. Other COVID-related statistics showed the following (a question followed by the response):

Supportive/very supportive professors during COVID
Fresno State Students: 67%
National Reference Group: 89%

Agree/strongly agree that campus supported students during COVID
Fresno State students: 78%
National reference group: 71%

COVID made students’ financial situation more stressful
Fresno State students: 68%
National reference group: 60%

This loss and stress experienced by our students underscores the need for faculty and staff to be mindful and knowledgeable about our counseling and psychological services available to students as well as the Campus’s financial literacy program. Here are a few websites to visit for information to further support your students:

• Counseling and psychological services
• Project Hope
• Money Management Center

Another resource for students is You@FresnoState. It is a 24/7 confidential resource that provides personalized content centered on well-being and student success. The section called THRIVE focuses on mental and physical health among other pertinent topics. Should you want to obtain the NCHA data for your research needs or those of your students, contact Kathy Yarmo, NCHA survey principle investigator, at kyarmo@csufresno.edu.