Equity and Resilience in Higher Education: An Examination of Environmental Injustices Affecting College Students from Marginalized Populations Amid Climate Crises.

Abstract

As climate crises become more severe, higher education institutions face unprecedented challenges in protecting and supporting their students. This conceptual paper explores the intersection of equity and resilience in higher education, emphasizing how structural inequities increase climate-related vulnerabilities among marginalized student groups, especially low-income, first-generation, and BIPOC students. Using the Social Ecological Model and the Whole Community Approach, this paper suggests that climate resilience in higher education must go beyond traditional emergency management to include multilevel, equity-focused, and community-driven strategies. These strategies should integrate institutional planning with cross-sector partnerships and student-centered support to improve preparedness, response, and recovery. This analysis highlights the importance of incorporating environmental justice, public health principles, and system-level collaboration into campus resilience planning to ensure fair outcomes and protect student success and well-being amid climate-related challenges.