The University of Hawaiʻi has launched the UH Student Basic Needs site intended for UH students at the 10 campuses statewide to access basic needs—both on and off campus—including food and housing, childcare, mental health services, financial resources and transportation, among others.
Student basic needs security is critical for ensuring strong academic performance, persistence and graduation and overall student well-being. Recent research indicates (PDF) that U.S. college students have been particularly hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic with nearly 60% experiencing some form of basic needs insecurity.
UH is partnering with findhelp.org to provide students with access to community, state and federal basic needs resources.
Formed in 2019, the UH System Basic Needs Committee, composed of representatives from every campus, was created to better understand and address food insecurity and other forms of basic needs insecurities in the student population. Among other priorities, the committee is working to develop a basic needs master plan to guide future planning decisions for the UH System.
- Related UH News: Committee on basic student needs building clearinghouse of resources, December 8, 2020
The UH Student Basic Needs site includes resources for administrators to help target basic needs insecurity among students. To increase basic needs security in the student population, permanent hyperlinks will be added to the footer of every Laulima page, and UH faculty members are encouraged to alert students to this resource and include the following “Basic Needs Statement” in course syllabi:
- Basic needs include food and housing, childcare, mental health, financial resources and transportation, among others. Student basic needs security is critical for ensuring strong academic performance, persistence and graduation and overall student well-being. If you or someone you know is experiencing basic needs insecurity, please see the UH System Basic Needs website.
Students are also encouraged to download Surviving COVID-19: A #RealCollege Guide for Students, by The Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice.
