Transitioning back to campus: resource needs and disparities among college and university members during the COVID-19 pandemic

Starting Autumn of 2020, many colleges/universities returned to in-person activities after the COVID-19 lockdown. Continued mental health distress has been noted among college/university members even after returning to in-person campus activities. However, little research has examined the access and desire for resources to assist college/university members as they transition back to campus. This cross-sectional study recruited 493 university members (undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty/staff) from an East Coast public university in the US. Participants completed a novel questionnaire designed to gauge their desires for and access to various campus and community resources. Results revealed that university members (especially undergraduates, and those from minoritised groups) reported a lack of access to desired resources to support them. Findings from this study point to common disparities in resource categories in higher education institutions, especially following a crisis event. Recommendations are made for supporting college/university members, particularly for those with less access to resources.