Assessment of Prevalence and Perceptions of Food Insecurity in College Students Attending Private Universities

Teri Burgess-Champoux, Assistant Professor of Nutritional Sciences, was awarded $875.00 for Assessment of Prevalence and Perceptions of Food Insecurity in College Students Attending Private Universities. Food is considered one of the most basic human needs, yet in 2013, 14.3% of U.S. households were affected by food insecurity. Food insecurity is defined by the USDA as having a reduced quality of diet or reduced food intake due to lack of resources. The negative effects of food insecurity are especially detrimental in the college student population. Many studies have explored the role of a college education on upward social mobility and have concluded that acquisition of a college education plays an essential role in ending financial instability. It has been stated that “food insecurity has the potential to affect academic performance, student behavior, and engagement for college students”. A previous study on food insecurity in college students noted a small likelihood of food insecure students achieving a GPA of greater than or equal to 3.1. The number of low-income and minority students attending college has been on the rise, along with the overall cost of college tuition. Previous studies that have examined food insecurity prevalence in college student populations have found rates of food insecurity to be higher than national or state averages. Currently, no research exists that evaluates the prevalence of food insecurity in private institutions. The purpose of this project is to assess th