“There’s So Much That We’re Doing”: How Florida College System Institutions Address Basic Needs Insecurity Among Students

Abstract

Research Question: A sizable portion of college students experience food and housing insecurity, which poses a roadblock to fully and successfully engaging in higher education. In light of these complex challenges, we ask: How do Florida College System (FCS) institutions meet the basic needs of their students? Methods: To answer the question at hand, we conducted an embedded single case study of the FCS. Between 2014 and 2019, researchers traveled to 21 Florida colleges on one or more occasions to speak with college presidents, administrators, faculty members, advisors, academic support staff, and students. In total, we gathered data from 1,379 people through 213 focus group sessions and 20 individual interviews. Results: From these data emerged evidence of the extensive services and support programs provided by FCS institutions, ranging from food and housing assistance to clothing, transportation, and childcare. Such initiatives aim to meet the chronic, daily needs of students and their families, as well as acute needs that arise out of local disasters and crises. Contributions: The findings of this study contribute to the literature on the mission of community colleges. While these support programs address needs traditionally considered non-academic, participants suggest that they are essential to fostering student success. By meeting students’ physiological and safety needs, institutions can better accomplish their academic goals of remediation, transfer, vocational training, and contract education, particularly among students who have been traditionally excluded from higher education. The findings also highlight the importance of acknowledging the needs of students’ families when providing support.

Basic Needs Insecurity and College Students’ Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Cross-campus collaborations to establish a "single point of contact" resource center for students can ensure that students are better supported with wraparound services (Broton, 2021;Crutchfield et al, 2020;Nix et al, 2021). Many students have difficulty locating campus support services, are unsure if they are eligible for services, and are hesitant to ask for help when needed (Umaña et al, 2022).…”

Food and Housing Insecurity Among Adult Undergraduates During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…The results suggest that targeted outreach efforts to specific groups of adult undergraduates (e.g., those who formerly lived in the foster care system, first-generation students) may be beneficial to those who experience higher odds of food and housing insecurity. A "single-point-of-contact" resource center that features wraparound services may reduce burdens for adult undergraduates, who may need to navigate different offices and resources (Broton, 2021;Crutchfield et al, 2020;Nix et al, 2021). Additionally, institutions can set their on-campus housing or meal plan costs on a sliding scale based upon undergraduates' income, help undergraduates locate affordable housing and daycare, and implement programs such as Swipe Out Hunger (2022), where extra unused meal plans can be donated to dining plan cards and provide free meals for students (Soria, Kelling et al, 2022).…”

Teacher Competencies in Facing Limited Face-to-face Learning in the New Normal Era

“…Responsibility for children's education is a shared responsibility between the school, the community and most importantly the family. A study found that one way to maximize student learning and success is to often involve the basic needs of students and their families [23]. This involvement has a positive influence on children's development.…”