ACD Selected for Statewide Initiative to Address Student Mental Health Needs

The Alamo Colleges District has been selected to participate in the Minding College Minds Learning Community, a statewide initiative launched by the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute in partnership with the Texas Success Center at the Texas Association of Community Colleges. 

This first-of-its-kind initiative aims to support the mental health needs of over 225,000 community college students across Texas, including the 77,000 students attending the Alamo Colleges District.

“Mental health and well-being are essential to student success, and we are proud to partner with the Meadows Institute and Texas Success Center on this vital initiative,” said Alamo Colleges District Chancellor Dr. Mike Flores. “By developing and implementing innovative mental health support systems, we will strengthen our capacity to foster environments where every student can thrive.”

This statewide learning community leverages the Meadows Institute’s Minding College Minds Framework for Postsecondary Mental Health, developed to address the increasing demand for student mental health support on higher education campuses.

While studies have shown that postsecondary mental health and well-being play a substantial role in student success and persistence in higher education, it has historically been challenging for community colleges to implement mental health support for students without a comprehensive guiding framework.

By aligning mental health and student success initiatives, the Alamo Colleges District is committed to developing a tailored action plan to improve student mental health and, in turn, boost student success across its colleges.

“The Minding College Minds Learning Community helps community colleges address important gaps in their mental health services for students. By providing a comprehensive framework, technical assistance, and curated opportunities for peer learning, member colleges will walk away prepared to build robust systems supporting campuswide mental health and wellbeing,” said Michelle Harper, the executive director of the Center for Child and Family Wellness at the Meadows Institute. “Our communities are strengthened when higher education institutions are equipped to foster environments where every student can thrive.”

The Alamo Colleges District is one of 13 institutions chosen to participate in this inaugural learning community, which includes urban, rural, and suburban colleges from across the state. 

In addition to the Alamo Colleges District, other participating members of the first-ever Minding Minds Learning Community include:

• Central Texas College
• Dallas College
• Del Mar College
• Grayson College
• Kilgore College
• Laredo College
• North Central Texas College
• Northeast Texas Community College
• Paris Junior College
• San Jacinto College
• Trinity Valley Community College
• Victoria College