College is a time of transition and development in the lives of many young adults. There are a multitude of preexisting theories that help to explain many of the factors associated with how students develop prior to, during, and even after their time at a university. During my time in the Higher Education and Policy Studies (HEPS) graduate program at the University of Central Florida (UCF), and through my own personal experiences I have developed a theory of my own. My theory of college student development focuses on the impact of personal crisis on the development of individual students. Mental health, hunger, homelessness, loss of a family member, medical emergencies, are all types of personal crisis that may affect a student’s development while they are in college. Personal crisis is not discussed in many student development theories used today.

 

A common criticism of the most widely accepted theories is that they do not necessarily explain the development of diverse students. Personal crisis may look different for everyone, but it does not discriminate based on a student’s color, ethnicity, religious/spiritual beliefs, socioeconomic status, ability status, gender identity, sexual orientation, etc. How a student processes personal crisis is highly individualized but there is one common factor across all identities. Everyone who experiences personal crisis needs support. This support can come from family, friends, mentors, faculty, and student affairs staff members. The level of support needed by students experiencing personal crisis will vary based on the prior experiences and severity of impact the crisis had on them. When a student experiences crisis they will either feel supported or feel isolated. After the crisis has occurred, and a student has had time to process, the amount of support they receive will affect how they proceed. The student will either continue their studies, take a leave for a semester or more, or drop out completely. Students who feel supported and choose to continue their studies may experience increased academic success as a form of coping. Students who take a temporary leave from the college who feel supported during their leave are more likely to return to the college and continue their studies. However, students who feel isolated while on their temporary leave may decide to withdraw from the college completely.