Student Food Insecurity : A comprehensive look at Arizona State University’s College of Global Futures

The Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice reported nearly 30% of students at four-year institutions experienced food insecurity in the Fall of 2020. College Student Food Insecurity (CSFI) is associated with negative health outcomes. Increasingly Institutions of Higher Education (IHE) offer emergency funding or campus support centers to struggling students, however program effectiveness may be impaired due to insufficient awareness or participation. In addition to institutional support, food-insecure students are often referred to local food pantries and government programs. Barriers to student use of these services and programs similarly compromise their efficacy toward reducing CSFI. This study surveyed 152 undergraduate and graduate students at Arizona State University's (ASU) College of Global Futures (CGF) about their experiences with hunger and food insecurity while enrolled. Interviews with institutional staff and faculty members revealed common themes and experiences among students struggling with food access. Our research found that almost 27% of CGF students experienced food insecurity in the last 12 months. Participant food insecurity was more prevalent among students who are queer, students who identify as Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), students with disabilities, students aged 20-30 years, and those not living locally on ASU's campuses. The key takeaway from our work is that students who are already disadvantaged or experiencing difficulties/hardships are more likely to be food insecure. This report contains an in-depth analysis of the data collected through the survey, ASU staff and faculty insights on institutional support, and our recommendations for institutional support going forward.