Examining Predictors of Academic Advising and Student Support Resource Engagement Among Community College Athletes

Community college athletes navigate intersecting of academic, athletic, and sociocultural demands that heighten the importance of support service engagement. Yet, limited work has examined predictors of resource usage. Using data from the Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE), we conducted three logistic regressions predicting advising, academic support, and student support among community college athletes (N = 3,053). An advisor-developed academic plan was the strongest predictor of advising use and positively predicted student support usage. Higher high school GPA predicted advising engagement, while college GPA was negatively associated with student support usage. Perceived institutional emphasis on student success positively predicted academic and student support usage. First-generation athletes and scholarship recipients were more likely to use student support services, whereas male and racially minoritized athletes were less likely to use academic support services. These findings underscore the importance of intentional advising, equitable campus climates, and targeted outreach for community college athletes.