The challenge of addressing student basic needs is persistent. Now, the scale, focus, and actionable impact of the Real College California Coalition (RCCC) survey are redefining the conversation. Through a Spark Grant, RCCC will amplify their efforts to gather data on food, housing, and financial insecurities among students at California’s community colleges. Two years ago, the survey gathered over 66,000 responses, marking a milestone in helping all students thrive. This year, we’re excited to see the survey and its impacts continue to grow.

An Innovative Approach to Addressing Student Basic Needs

The Real Experience of College Students survey stands out for its innovative approach to data collection and its focus on equity. By surveying tens of thousands of students from 88 community colleges, RCCC captures unprecedented insights into the struggles students face in meeting their basic needs. The survey goes beyond identifying problems—it tracks trends over time, allowing for a dynamic, real-time understanding of how the needs of students evolve.

RCC’s data highlights disparities across racial and socioeconomic lines. It allows colleges and policymakers to identify which student populations face the greatest challenges. The equity-focused approach is essential for creating interventions that are targeted and effective. By surveying students every two years, RCCC also ensures that the data it provides remains relevant and reflective of the most pressing issues students face at any given time.

“By collecting data in a way that highlights disparities, we’re not just identifying problems, we’re setting the stage for systemic change,” said Dr. Queena Hoang, Senior Program Manager for Student Basic Needs. “The Spark Grant allows RCCC to further expand their work and help colleges implement effective solutions.”

Scalability and Long-Term Impact

One key aspect of the RCCC survey is scalability. The survey’s methodology is designed to be easily adaptable to different institutions while maintaining consistency and prioritizing data quality. The scalability ensures that RCCC can expand the reach of its findings by extending the survey to additional colleges and students.

With each iteration, RCCC refines the survey to meet the evolving needs of students and institutions, fostering continuous improvement. The integration of professional development and advocacy equips colleges with the tools and knowledge needed to act on the data. Through this model, RCCC ensures that its impact will grow, offering a roadmap for a more inclusive, student-centered approach to addressing basic needs in higher education.

A Broader Impact on Student Basic Needs

In addition to its scalability, the survey’s findings are powerful tools for advocacy. They provide evidence that can inform decision-making at both the institutional and governmental levels. Ultimately, they will lead to better resource allocation, policy reforms, and the development of targeted interventions that help students succeed.

Additionally, RCCC’s collaborative approach fosters partnerships among colleges, advocacy groups, and policymakers. The partnerships with organizations such as the RP Group and the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office allow RCCC to amplify its reach, ensuring that the survey’s findings lead to concrete action. By working together, these organizations are creating a shared vision for a future where all students can succeed, free from the burden of unmet basic needs.

Moving Forward with a Vision for Change

RCCC is helping every student have the opportunity to thrive by providing colleges with the tools to implement data-driven solutions and advocating for systemic change. We look forward to sharing key findings from the 2025 survey!

About the Michelson 20MM Foundation

Michelson 20MM is a private, nonprofit foundation working toward equity for underserved and historically underrepresented communities by expanding access to educational and employment opportunities, increasing affordability of educational programs, and ensuring the necessary supports are in place for individuals to thrive. To do so, we work in the following verticals: Digital Equity, Intellectual Property, Smart Justice, Student Basic Needs, and Open Educational Resources (OER). Co-chaired and funded by Alya and Gary Michelson, Michelson 20MM is part of the Michelson Philanthropies network of foundations.

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By Dr. Queena Hoang

Supporting Student Fathers

A key highlight from the conference was a panel discussion centered on student fathers. While student mothers often receive more visibility in research and reports, student fathers make up nearly 30% of the student parent population. Limited data and insufficient support often cause their experiences to be overlooked. This is especially true for Black, Native American, and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander men, who are statistically more likely to be parenting while pursuing their education.

The conversation emphasized the importance of amplifying the voices of student fathers to ensure they are included in policy decisions, resources, and support systems. According to one student panelist, student fathers are not the exception—they are actively engaged in their children’s lives, and it’s time we normalize and uplift that reality. Naming and addressing “student fathers” directly in our work is a critical step toward building more inclusive and responsive support systems.

Our Children Are Not the Barriers, the Systems Are

Power in Partnership: The Impact of Collective Philanthropy Through the California Collaborative Pooled Fund

Together with Amber Angel of the ECMC Foundation, Jessica Lee of The Pregnant Scholar, and Theresa Anderson of the Urban Institute, Michelson 20MM co-hosted a panel discussion highlighting the power of collective philanthropic action to drive equity and systemic change for student parents. Panelists shared insights into the California Student Parent Pooled Fund, a collaborative initiative that supports student-parent advocates and addresses fragmented efforts across California. Grounded in a multi-generational approach, the fund helps the whole family by working with both children and adults in accessing resources and building skills.

By continuing strategies from early childhood and higher education, the fund drives impact at multiple levels. These include family transformation, state-level systems change, and education policy improvements. During the session, panelists discussed how the pooled fund model promotes sustainable, collective action. It does so by aligning philanthropic stakeholders to advance equity for student-parent families. They emphasized how this approach helps break down silos, reduces duplication of efforts, and fosters strategic alignment across funders working toward a shared mission.

Student Parents Are at the Intersections of Many Issue Areas

As the conference came to a close, one message rang clear: Supporting student parents is not a side issue—it’s central to achieving equity in education. Whether it is addressing economic mobility, workforce development, or student basic needs, student parents are part of our populations. Their success creates ripple effects that uplift entire families and communities. 

Now is the time to take action. Whether you’re a policymaker, educator, funder, or advocate, we each have a role to play in building systems that recognize and respond to the realities of parenting students. Let’s continue to elevate their stories, challenge systemic barriers, and work together to ensure that student parents and their children not only succeed—but thrive.

About the Michelson 20MM Foundation

Michelson 20MM is a private, nonprofit foundation working toward equity for underserved and historically underrepresented communities by expanding access to educational and employment opportunities, increasing affordability of educational programs, and ensuring the necessary supports are in place for individuals to thrive. To do so, we work in the following verticals: Digital Equity, Intellectual Property, Smart Justice, Student Basic Needs, and Open Educational Resources (OER). Co-chaired and funded by Alya and Gary Michelson, Michelson 20MM is part of the Michelson Philanthropies network of foundations.

To sign up for our newsletter, click here. 

One in three college students face food insecurity. This insecurity disproportionately affects historically underrepresented student groups, including international students. Additionally, more than one million international college students live in the U.S., making up six percent of the total student body. Recognizing this, we proudly award a Michelson Spark Grant to Swipe Out Hunger who, over the next year, will develop a toolkit and virtual training to help campuses support international students navigating food insecurity. 

How Swipe Out Hunger’s Toolkit Empowers Campuses to Support International Students

This Spark Grant will create a comprehensive toolkit outlining the international student experience and best practices. The toolkit is particularly needed because international students cannot receive most U.S.-based public benefits. Swipe Out Hunger will also offer monthly educational panel discussions, called Swipe Sessions. These sessions will feature staff and students, who will share insights and real-world examples from campuses across the country. By the end of the year, more than 860 campuses, administrators, and advocates will have access to the knowledge and resources to help international students meet their basic needs. 

Addressing the Growing Need for Targeted Support for International Students

Swipe Out Hunger’s data shows that international students are 14% of the students who use their on-campus food resources. This project responds to the growing demand for support of international students, who face unique barriers to obtaining their next meal. “Many campuses see firsthand how crucial it is to address the needs of international students,” said Dr. Queena Hoang, Senior Program Manager for Student Basic Needs. “This toolkit will equip institutions to meet those needs effectively, fostering a more inclusive and supportive campus environment.”

The project will also aid other student groups who cannot access public benefits. These students include undocumented students as well as those with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)mented/Dreamers status. The toolkit will help campuses provide a wider range of services and resources to students who are often left behind by traditional aid systems. In doing so, Swipe Out Hunger will directly help thousands of students across the country.

How Swipe Out Hunger Leads the Way in Food Insecurity Solutions

With years of experience working directly with students and administrators, Swipe Out Hunger has built a robust network of nearly 1,000 campuses. This national network allows the organization to identify the emerging needs of students and tailor impactful solutions. Through its Student Advisory and Leadership Council, Swipe Out Hunger ensures that student voices are at the heart of its initiatives. 

“Food insecurity doesn’t discriminate. It affects students from all backgrounds, including international students who fall through traditional aid systems,” Dr. Hoang shared. “This project empowers campus leaders to address gaps and ensure all students, regardless of status, have the resources they need to succeed.” By improving support systems, Swipe Out Hunger is setting a precedent for campus communities to rethink how they address basic needs.

About the Michelson 20MM Foundation

Michelson 20MM is a private, nonprofit foundation working toward equity for underserved and historically underrepresented communities by expanding access to educational and employment opportunities, increasing affordability of educational programs, and ensuring the necessary supports are in place for individuals to thrive. To do so, we work in the following verticals: Digital Equity, Intellectual Property, Smart Justice, Student Basic Needs, and Open Educational Resources (OER). Co-chaired and funded by Alya and Gary Michelson, Michelson 20MM is part of the Michelson Philanthropies network of foundations.

To sign up for our newsletter, click here. 

By Dr. Queena Hoang

March is National Nutrition Month, a time to highlight healthy eating’s critical role in our lives. For college students, nutrition isn’t just sustenance—it fuels the mind for academic success and bodily well-being. Food insecurity—defined as limited or uncertain access to adequate food—plagues many college students. It makes nutritious meals harder to access. A new study by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research (CHPR) found:

• 50% of surveyed California college students experienced food insecurity, including 28% who skipped meals due to cost.
• Over 70% of students at California community colleges reported food insecurity, followed by >50% of Cal State students and 42% of UC students.
• Among food-insecure students who heard of CalFresh but never used it, the main reasons were believing they were ineligible (50.3%), not knowing how to apply (27.8%), and lacking time to apply (14.4%).

Food Insecurity on College Campuses

Not only during National Nutrition Month but also throughout the year, food insecurity—the lack of consistent access to healthy foods—has impacted college campuses for years. Recently it has worsened due to rising prices. Good nutrition may be affordable for some, but healthy choices come at a hefty price for others. UCLA also found that hunger and food insecurity are significantly higher among college students (44%) than U.S. households (13%). Stress over not knowing where their next meal will come from can lead to poor academic performance. It can also cause increased mental health issues, and the tough choice between food and a college degree. Without proper nutrition, students struggle to concentrate, retain information, and sustain the energy to succeed. 

The Importance of SNAP Benefits

CalFresh, California’s version of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), plays a crucial role in addressing food insecurity. It provides monthly electronic benefits to low-income households to purchase food. CalFresh benefits help students buy fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and other essentials for a balanced diet. By easing grocery expenses, CalFresh enables students to focus on their studies instead of their next meal.

California has worked to help more eligible students receive CalFresh, such as by funding Basic Needs Centers for sign-up. However, efforts are hampered by a lack of understanding about eligibility and participation. Researchers from the California Policy Lab found that among students who were estimated to be eligible for CalFresh benefits, 26% of community college students received CalFresh benefits in the Fall of 2019. That is compared to 22% of UC undergraduate students and 27% of UC graduate students. This means about 100,600 students received CalFresh benefits, while an estimated 297,400 eligible students missed out on benefits, based on the California Policy Lab’s research. 

Advocacy and Awareness

In the last few years, California has provided funding for county human services agency liaisons to increase campus-county collaboration (Assembly Bill 1326). The state has also required colleges to provide information on CalFresh as part of their new student orientation (AB 543). Additionally, there is a mandate for a uniform template for colleges to use to notify students of their eligibility for CalFresh (SB 20). The state has also funded basic needs centers at community colleges (SB 129) and expanded the set of programs that count toward the “local programs to increase employability” exemption (AB 396), as the California Policy Labs reported. 

Despite the benefits and efforts, many eligible students remain unaware of CalFresh or hesitant to apply due to stigma or the belief that others are more in need. Higher education and community organizations can raise awareness, simplifying the application process, and advocate for policies that expand eligibility. Campus food pantries, nutrition workshops, and peer support programs can complement CalFresh benefits, creating a holistic approach to food insecurity.

This National Nutrition Month, let’s commit to ensuring all students have access to the nutrition they need to succeed. Supporting CalFresh and other food security initiatives invests in the future of our communities—one well-nourished mind at a time.

About Michelson 20MM

Michelson 20MM is a private, nonprofit foundation working toward equity for underserved and historically underrepresented communities by expanding access to educational and employment opportunities, increasing affordability of educational programs, and ensuring the necessary supports are in place for individuals to thrive. To do so, we work in the following verticals: Digital Equity, Intellectual Property, Smart Justice, Student Basic Needs, and Open Educational Resources (OER). Co-chaired and funded by Alya and Gary Michelson, Michelson 20MM is part of the Michelson Philanthropies network of foundations.

To sign up for our newsletter, click here.