Hope Center: Nationwide Basic Needs Research, Projects, and Resources

 

 

The #RealCollege survey is the nation’s largest, longest-running annual assessment of basic needs insecurity among college students.  The survey is administered through the Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice by Sara Goldrick-Rab, founding Director of and Professor of Higher Education Policy & Sociology at Temple University.  Supporting students’ basic needs has many benefits for colleges and universities, especially in today’s difficult economic climate. Here are five key reasons why institutions are doing basic needs insecurity work:

  1. Addressing basic needs issues boosts academic performance, helping the institution and its students retain federal financial aid. It also promotes retention and degree completion, helping the institution generate more tuition dollars and improving outcomes about which legislators care.

  2. Addressing basic needs issues reduces the barriers that returning adults face, boosting enrollment.

  3. Addressing basic needs issues makes the jobs of faculty and staff easier, as students are more able to focus on learning.

  4. Addressing basic needs issues creates bridges between the institution and community organizations, bringing new relationships and resources to bear. It also creates a productive opportunity for the private sector to engage with the institution to help create the graduates that everyone wants to hire.

  5. Addressing basic needs issues generates new philanthropic giving and creates opportunities to engage alumni who do not have much but will happily contribute to emergency aid.

Recommended Research Reports and Resources from Hope Center include:

Keywords: basic life needs, basic needs insecurity, #realcollege, food pantry

Alternate Title
Hope Center for College, Community and Justice
Publisher
Date Issued
2020
Subject
Format
Resource Type
Language
Source
Content License
Add Comment

Comments

(no comments available yet)