Student Health and the Community College.

Research and statistical surveys on student health services and problems at community colleges are reviewed to ascertain administrative attitudes, student health care needs, and areas for improvement. Providing health care for students is said to be generally overlooked by community college professionals who feel it should not be the college's responsibility. A lack of both medical treatment facilities and mental health programs on community college campuses is identified. However, data are presented indicating that because community college students frequently have low socioeconomic status, they cannot afford independent health insurance coverage, and further, that community facilities such as emergency rooms, free clinics, and referral services on which these students rely when they have health problems are inadequate in caring for them. Some innovative programs and practices of health planners on campus are described: cutting health costs by identifying the precursors of disease; adopting self-completed student health appraisal forms as a substitute for traditional physical examinations, generating comprehensive health assessments for students through computer analysis; promoting the "wellness" idea via campus health fairs; and developing and managing health programs with student participation. Suggestions for implementing comprehensive health care programs are offered. (TR)