The pandemic has created extraordinary need for millions of people across the U.S. This is particularly acute, though often hidden, on college campuses, where students are sometimes left to choose between paying rent and having enough to eat.

During their college careers, far too many students lack reliable access to nutritious food, hampering their efforts to advance their education and skills.

Even before the pandemic, 43 percent of students at two- and four-year colleges reported facing food insecurity — defined as limited or uncertain access to adequate food — in the previous month, the nonprofit Hope Center found. Black, Latino and Native American students were at even greater risk. This inequality compounds systemic economic disparities.

A student wondering where their next meal will come from must overcome daunting obstacles when it comes to focusing on their studies — to say nothing of completing a degree.

To better understand the challenge facing students during the pandemic, I led a team of university administrators who interviewed hundreds of students, faculty and staff to identify the causes of hunger on campuses.

Drawing on these interviews, our research found that there are actions that institutions and policymakers can take to address students’ lack of access to nutritious food. These start with spreading the word about student needs and partnering with communities to expand resources beyond traditional food pantries. If we advance institutional change and public policy changes, colleges and policymakers can make immense progress in the fight against food insecurity on campus.

Read the full article about hungry college students by Christel Perkins at The Hechinger Report.