UC San Diego Tackles Food Insecurity to Ensure Student Success
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Across California, many college students are struggling to afford or access food, and recent data shows just how pervasive the issue is. An estimated 33% to 50% of students across University of California (UC), California Community College and California State University (CSU) campuses are experiencing food insecurity.
At UC San Diego, roughly 42% of all undergraduate students, almost half, and 35% of all graduate students have reported experiencing food insecurity. The rate rises to 53% among underserved and underrepresented minority (URM) undergraduates and 51% of Pell Grant-eligible undergraduate UC San Diego students. These numbers further illustrate equity gaps that need to be addressed.
As students struggle with affording food, they also have the pressure to cover the many other costs of attending college, all while still striving to excel academically and often working as well. Food insecurity, however, is a threat to academic success and can exacerbate mental health and wellbeing struggles.
While these numbers are sobering, programs such as CalFresh, the California Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, can reduce food insecurity for students, but only if they apply and are enrolled in the program. CalFresh, which many students qualify for, provides up to $292 a month in free money on a debit card to buy food. But, a 2024 report estimated that only 22 percent of eligible UC undergraduates and 29 percent of eligible UC graduate students were enrolled in CalFresh.
UC San Diego, like many other campuses, is taking action and ensuring students are aware of and connected to the many resources available that address food insecurity. The Hub Basic Needs Center overseen by Student Affairs and Campus Life on the UC San Diego campus offers many food resources for both undergraduate and graduate students, including assistance with CalFresh, a free grocery shuttle, the Triton Food Pantry, Free food app notifications, a Food Recovery Network and connection to other off-campus food resources.
Beginning this fall, efforts to connect students to food security resources including CalFresh, will be bolstered with a campuswide CalFresh communications campaign that expands messaging to include faculty and staff. Faculty are being asked to include information on the Basic Needs Center and CalFresh in their course materials and peer trainings. This communications campaign is part of the Collective Impact initiative, led out of the Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor and spearheaded by the initiative’s Affordable Learning and Financial Support (ALFS) working group.
David Ruiter, co-chair of the ALFS working group and Faculty Director of the Teaching + Learning Commons, explained that the campaign has kicked off with great support so far. “I believe our faculty really cares about our students and their well-being. That said, I would guess that instructors may be as surprised as I was to hear how many of our students are struggling to access food. Honestly, how well can any of us learn and thrive when we don’t have enough to eat? As faculty become aware of this food security situation, they have already shown great enthusiasm to support the campaign and have provided additional ideas for sharing information with students.”
These efforts are part of a broader cultural shift on campus to identify all of the tools and resources students need to excel and complete their degrees and normalize this discussion among the entire campus community.
“Just as students need textbooks and other materials, they also need to have their basic needs met to be ready to learn,” said Executive Vice Chancellor Elizabeth H. Simmons. “By working collectively to ensure that every student has the support and resources they need to fully engage in learning, research, and community at UC San Diego, we can begin to close equity gaps that hinder students’ success,” said Executive Vice Chancellor Elizabeth H. Simmons.
This year the County of San Diego has created a CalFresh application link specifically for UC San Diego students. The Basic Needs Center staff will have access to track applications and their status to assist students who may encounter barriers to successfully completing their applications. The Basic Needs Center provides CalFresh application and recertification assistance and students are encouraged to connect with this resource if they have problems applying on their own.
“Many students have heard of CalFresh but are unsure if they qualify or what is required. If students have questions or don’t know where to start, we want them to know our team is available to help,” said Alicia Magallanes, director of The Hub Basic Needs Center. “It can be confusing understanding the eligibility and application requirements and students don’t have to navigate the process alone. Working with us they can feel seen, heard and valued.”
On October 9, the Basic Needs Center and the County of San Diego also hosted a CalFresh Live Well on Wheels Event on campus. County workers were on campus with their bus to offer CalFresh application assistance and students received immediate confirmation of their application status.
Learn more about food security resources and how to make an appointment for CalFresh assistance on The Hub Basic Needs Center website.
“It can be confusing understanding the eligibility and application requirements and students don’t have to navigate the process alone. Working with us they can feel seen, heard and valued.”
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