SNAP on College Campuses: Findings and Recommendations to Address Food Insecurity

Food insecurity and hunger are important issues that impact a significant number of students across the United States. Food insecurity refers to lacking reliable access to enough food to lead a healthy life.

This report provides evidence on effective campus-based and program practices in California for connecting students to CalFresh, the state’s version of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The evidence can inform multiple audiences including campus administrators and staff, CalFresh leadership, and policy leaders in California. Other states considering similar SNAP rule changes can benefit from the lessons learned in California.

The study team worked with basic needs offices at institutions in the three public higher education systems in California: University of California, California State University, and California Community Colleges. Authors recruited schools with on-campus basic needs programs that connect qualifying students to the CalFresh application process. In addition to the home institutions of the study team, UCLA and Cal State Fullerton, authors engaged the study sites of UC Davis, Fresno State, Los Angeles Mission College and Napa Valley College.

The authors identify effective campus-based and CalFresh program practices for connecting students to CalFresh and other food assistance programs and make recommendations for SNAP/CalFresh policy, administrative practice, and institutional programs.