SUNY Takes a Comprehensive Approach to Addressing Student Basic Needs

Strategic Insights -

State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. recently hosted the first-ever SUNY Basic Needs Summit, bringing together campus representatives, national experts, and state officials to address efforts to improve student access to essential resources like housing, food, transportation, and child care. The summit marked a significant step forward in SUNY's commitment to supporting students' basic needs, with a focus on ensuring that every student has the resources they need to thrive.

Key Takeaways:

  • SUNY has implemented programs across the state to ensure all students have access to basic and essential needs, including food pantries, stigma-free food access, and child care centers.
  • Every SUNY campus has a food pantry or stigma-free food access available to all students, with SUNY dedicating $1 million in ongoing operating expenses each year to support initiatives addressing food insecurity.
  • Through the Empire State Service Corps program, eligible SUNY students complete paid work on or off their campuses to support students or individuals through SNAP outreach or other basic needs supports.
  • Since 2023, every SUNY campus has been directed to appoint a homeless liaison, ensuring that students experiencing homelessness receive the academic, financial, and wraparound support they need to succeed.
  • SUNY has continued its partnership with SchoolHouse Connection and Pearl Strategies to address housing insecurity and homelessness among college students.
  • The State University of New York System Administration received a $60,000 grant from the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) for the Basic Needs Data Academy.
  • The Basic Needs Data Academy will create a cross-agency team with Governor Kathy Hochul's office and the New York State Office of Temporary & Disability Assistance to use basic needs data to improve policy and decision making and directly support students.
  • The SUNY Basic Needs Champions program recognizes faculty and staff who have made significant contributions to addressing barriers and supporting access to essential resources for students.
  • Lorie Brewer (SUNY Broome Community College), Steven Contreras (SUNY Upstate Medical University), Arie Drewes (SUNY Ulster), Robin King (SUNY Schenectady County Community College), Sofia Pineiro (SUNY Westchester Community College), and others were recognized as Basic Needs Champions for their dedication to supporting students.

Statistics:

  • Every SUNY Campus has a food pantry or stigma-free food access available to all students.
  • SUNY dedicates $1 million in ongoing operating expenses each year to support initiatives addressing food insecurity.
  • 47 SUNY campuses have child care centers for student-parents, faculty, and staff, with 4,115 spots available in the 2024-25 academic year.
  • 691 student parents utilized the child care centers in the 2024-25 academic year.
  • Since 2023, every SUNY campus has appointed a homeless liaison to support students experiencing homelessness.
  • SUNY has received a $60,000 grant from SHEEO for the Basic Needs Data Academy.

Sources:

  • State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr.
  • SUNY System Administration
  • State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO)
  • SchoolHouse Connection
  • Pearl Strategies
  • State Senator Robert Jackson
  • State Senator Lea Webb
  • State Senator Patricia Fahy
  • State Assemblymember Sarah Clark
  • State Assemblymember Gabriella Romero
  • State Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal
  • Rachel Sabella, Director of No Kid Hungry New York
  • Barbara Duffield, Executive Director of SchoolHouse Connection
  • Christina Whitfield, Senior Vice President & Chief of Staff at SHEEO
  • Sean Miller, Northeast Regional Director at Young Invincibles