COMMUNITY COLLEGE RE-ENROLLMENT AFTER HURRICANE KATRINA

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Psychology
• Education

Background:

• Hurricane Katrina caused significant disruption to educational pathways for many individuals.
• Community college re-enrollment is crucial for economic recovery and personal advancement.
• Understanding factors influencing re-enrollment is vital for supporting affected populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify predictors of community college re-enrollment among low-income women after Hurricane Katrina.
• To examine the role of pre- and post-hurricane factors, including educational optimism, psychological well-being, and resource availability.

Main Methods:

• A sample of 221 low-income women was surveyed.
• Data collected included pre- and post-hurricane educational optimism, psychological distress, employment hours, social support, childcare, and residential stability.

Main Results:

• High pre- and post-hurricane educational optimism significantly predicted re-enrollment.
• Lower post-hurricane psychological distress and fewer post-hurricane employment hours were also significant predictors.
• Increased residential moves post-hurricane showed a marginal association with re-enrollment.

Conclusions:

• Educational optimism is a key factor in community college re-enrollment following disaster.
• Psychological well-being and employment stability are important considerations for supporting student persistence.
• Interventions should address both educational aspirations and practical resource needs for disaster-affected students.