May 05, 2026, Durham, NC – iRT and Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) co-authored a newly released research brief entitled, Filling the Gap: Community College Students Expect Sexual Health Education on Campus.

Supporting Community College Student Success Through Research

Little is known about the sexual health of community college students compared to the extensive body of research on students attending four-year colleges or universities. For this reason, iRT researchers committed five years to conducting the Community College Health Study which examined the sexual and relationship health outcomes of community college students, how comprehensive sexual health programs may impact those outcomes, and barriers to implementing sexual health programs on community college campuses.

Addressing the Gap in Sexual Health Resources for Community College Students

Comprehensive sex education has been found to promote healthy relationships and reduce risk of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Despite research supporting the value of this type of education, few community college students report receiving access to comprehensive sex education since the 9th grade.

Infographic showing that only 15% of community college students report receiving comprehensive sex education, illustrated with a donut chart. The majority of students express concern about insufficient resources, with 86% concerned about STI prevention and 84% concerned about pregnancy prevention.

Nearly three out of four students believe their college should provide all incoming students with sex education. These findings point to a need for more high-quality, comprehensive sexual and relationship health resources to help community college students thrive.

Informing Policies and Practices

iRT is honored to collaborate with IWPR on this important initiative and to contribute to research that informs policies and practices supporting student health. As community colleges continue to explore ways to support their students, this research provides valuable insights into both the challenges students face and the opportunities to improve health and educational outcomes.

Background of this Brief

iRT researchers Drs. Reina Evans-Paulson, Christina Dodson, and Tracy Scull are collaborating with IWPR research and policy experts on a series of research briefs as part of IWPR’s Connect for Success Initiative. The initiative has the goal of expanding access to reproductive and sexual health resources for community college students and connecting community colleges with tools to promote student health.

To learn more or read the full research brief, visit https://iwpr.org/filling-the-gap-community-college-students-expect-sexual-health-education-on-campus/.