Title: Addressing College Food Insecurity through Research, Advocacy, and Community Partnerships
Presenter(s):
Andrea Kalfoglou (she/her)
Nicole Holt ((she/her)
Faith Borras ((she/her)
Room: Benjamin Banneker 2212
Session Block(s): Session I
Time: 10:25 a.m. to 11:25 a.m.
Duration: 60 minutes
Program Abstract:
Campus food insecurity is a growing health and educational justice challenge that impacts student success and retention. Colleges and universities across Maryland are responding with community-engaged programs to support students’ basic needs. A regional community of practice can share best practices, reduce duplicative efforts, and be a source of innovative problem solving.
Program Description:
The total cost of attending college - tuition, room, board, and transportation – is rising exponentially. At the same time, federal programs, like the Pell Grant, that used to cover about 80% of the cost for low-income students in the 70’s now covers at most 20-25%. Impoverished students usually must work while they attend college, take out large loans, and cannot afford campus meal plans that average $7000 per year. This creates a growing health and educational justice challenge that impacts student success and retention because students who cannot meet their basic needs have trouble learning, have lower GPAs, and are more likely to drop out.
Community-based Research and Creating a Community of Practice
Our first speaker is a UMBC public health faculty member conducting research and advocacy on campus food insecurity. She is currently building a community of practice across Maryland’s 40 public and private undergraduate colleges. She will share findings from her research and advocacy work and highlight issues that need to be addressed to support at-risk college students.
Advocating on Behalf of Food Insecure Students
Our second speaker is a UMBC student with lived experience who will describe her experience applying for SNAP benefits and navigating food insecurity. She will then describe her advocacy work, including testifying before the General Assembly, on behalf of college students facing food insecurity.
Building Campus Resilience: Programs and Partnerships Addressing Food Insecurity
Our third speaker, the coordinator of basic needs programming at Towson University, will highlight educational programs that give students practical skills and support while building awareness within the campus community. She will also show how collaborations across the campus and throughout the community can create sustainable solutions to support students’ basic needs.