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A 2-Minute Read - Every 2 Weeks - Initiatives at Maryland's Community Colleges
March 12, 2021 - Hunger-Free Campus Grant Legislation - No. 74

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IN A CRAB SHELL

With nearly half the undergraduate population of Maryland enrolled at 16 colleges, on 22 campuses and 1000+ locations, it can be challenging to capture and share all that’s happening at Maryland’s community colleges.
-- However, with In A Crab Shell, we try. --
Similar to the more well-known phrase in a nutshell, -- In A Crab Shell provides a concise, bi-weekly discussion of issues important to higher education and the
State of Maryland.
Hunger-free Campus Grant 
Feeling Insecure?
Feeling Food-Insecure Feels Worse

Pandemic Effect
Food and housing insecurity was a problem for many community college students before the pandemic. But COVID-19 has made it worse. 

In a survey conducted by The Hope Center, almost 50% of two-year college students have experienced food insecurity. 

Definitions of food-insecurity vary but generally involve the inability, limited ability or uncertain ability to access nutritionally adequate and safe foods in a manner that is acceptable to society. Lack of transportation options can worsen food insecurity when people can't get to where free food is offered.


Academic Effect
Unsurprisingly, lack of food can impact academic performance as documented by multiple studies. Students who don’t get enough to eat may have lower grades, lower test scores, and a lower chance of completing college.* 
Some studies have found a correlation between GPA and food insecurity; students who had a 3.1 GPA or higher were 60% less likely to suffer from food security. Students experiencing hunger were less likely to attend and perform well in class, and were more likely to withdraw from courses.**


Hunger And Homelessness Are Widespread Among College Students, Study Finds, NPR, The Two-Way, April 3, 2018.
** Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, University of California Food Access and Security Study, July 2016.
Legislation
SB 767  /  HB 891 
 Hunger-Free Campus Grant Program

- MACC Position: SUPPORT -
 
SB 767 - Senator Mary Washington, sponsor
Hearing - Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee - March 9. 
HB 891 - Delegate Debra Davis, sponsor
Hearing - Appropriations Committee - March 12

Legislative Summary:
  • Would establish the Hunger-Free Campus Grant Program to address student hunger and basic food needs on campus,
  • Would require MHEC to administer the Program,
  • Would require the Governor to include a $150,000/year appropriation in the budget beginning in FY'23, and
  • Would develop administrative criteria and procedures for program management.
At-Risk
Common Risk Factors in Food-Insecurity

Students suffering food insecurity are more likely to: 
  • Have a minority background,
  • Have suffered food insecurity as children, and
  • Have suspended their education, at least temporarily, due to financial constraints.
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Community College Responses
Multi-pronged Response to a Multi-faceted Problem

Always eager to meet the needs of our communities, our colleges responded to increased food-insecurity among our students in a variety of ways to address the problem comprehensively. 

But, despite creative problem-solving efforts, student need outpaced college resources at all 16 colleges. A state contribution could be he
lpful in these efforts.

Community college responses included:
  • Food pantries - often drive-thru during pandemic,
  • Care packages - often with coordinated drop-off points to address transportation challenges,
  • Grocery e-gift cards, and
  • Emergency funds to students - sometimes through community college foundations
Leveraging of Community Partnerships 
Community colleges also connected students to a network of support resources. These included:
  • Maryland Food Bank,
  • Local food banks,
  • SNAP and SNAP community markets, and 
  • Hungry Harvest.
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ICYMI (in case you missed it) earlier versions of In A Crab Shell can be found here
 

Copyright © *|2018|* *|Maryland Association of Community Colleges|*, All rights reserved.


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