Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management

Addressing food insecurity is an important priority given its potential to widen disparities in students’ academic achievement, overall health, and future success. Results from the 2017 University of California (UC) Food Access and Security study showed the severity of UC student food insecurity. Forty-four percent of undergraduate students and 26% of graduate students reported having experienced food insecurity. The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines food insecurity as reduced food intake and a lack of food quality due to limited resources. The purpose of the study is to learn about the best practices in the UC education system in addressing food access for food-insecure students and to translate that knowledge into sensible policy recommendations to be implemented system-wide. The goals are to better understand strategies and systems to maximize efficiencies of university food pantries and to use the best practices as a way to increase direct donations that provide high quality, healthy food, and fresh produce to food-insecure students. Specific objectives include the determination of general satisfaction among food pantry staff and volunteers regarding service provision, dissemination of roles and responsibilities, proper documentation and communication, training and support, along with the establishment of the strengths and weaknesses of all the food assistance programs in the UC system. Participants will include UC food pantry coordinators, staff and volunteers. Up to thirty participants will be recruited with at least three individuals per campus across the 10 UC campuses. Both qualitative and quantitative research methods will be used. Socio-demographic data will be collected along with surveys and interviews to capture staff and volunteer strategies, experiences, perspectives, attitudes, and opinions regarding their basic needs programs. Quantitative and qualitative data will be analyzed using established statistical and analytical methods. After data analysis, a policy report will be issued capturing the best practices from UC food pantries and listing recommendations to be considered for adoption by UC campuses, other college campuses and food pantries elsewhere.