Silicon Valley Community College District Gives Students Free Meals, Tuition
Credit: Westend61 / Getty Images- West Valley-Mission Community College District will offer at least one free nutritious meal to all students starting this fall.
- The community college district also offers free tuition, parking, textbooks, healthcare, and childcare to students.
- Food insecurity affected 23% of all college students in 2020 and can disproportionately impact students from lower-income backgrounds.
All community college students in one Silicon Valley district will be able to eat at least one meal for free every day.
West Valley-Mission Community College District (WVMCCD) will launch what it believes is the first universal free meal program at a U.S. community college for all in-person students this fall at West Valley College and Mission College.
“The research is undeniable: Well-nourished students perform better academically, experience stronger mental health, and graduate at higher rates,” Chancellor Bradley Davis said in a press release. “By ensuring that no student on our campuses goes hungry, we’re investing in their futures — and in the skilled workforce that will drive our region forward.”
Research shows that college students who were food insecure were less likely to get their bachelor’s degrees than those who had regular access to food (21% vs. 36%).
Many community college students are students of color, first-generation students, student-parents, and adult learners who face more educational barriers than traditional four-year college students do. Some everyday needs and insecurities they may face are childcare services, food, housing, and transportation.
WVMCCD found that nearly a third of its students experience daily food insecurity — one of many community colleges facing this issue. And across higher education, around 23% of all college students were food insecure in 2020.
Rochester Community and Technical College (RCTC) in Minnesota received state grants to aid the 38% of college students facing food insecurity and 47% who struggled financially at the time of reporting.
In Oregon, 41% of students at 14 Oregon colleges were food insecure within 30 days of responding to a survey, and 52% were housing insecure within the previous year.
Colleges, college presidents, and lawmakers are helping students focus on finishing their education instead of when they can eat their next meal.
- RCTC offers “grab-and-go” meals across campus, a food pantry, gas aid, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit counseling.
- An Oregon community college president, Tim Cook, is running 1,500 miles in 50 days to raise money and awareness for housing and food insecurity for 17 community colleges.
- WVMCCD not only offers free meals but has also eliminated parking fees, health fees, childcare fees, textbook costs, and even student tuition.
“As a full-time student juggling three part-time jobs, the stress of figuring out where my next meal will come from is something I know all too well,” West Valley College student Gabriel Gutierrez said in the press release.
“This program means I can focus more on my coursework and less on whether I’ll have enough to eat. It’s life-changing.”