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Addressing Food Insecurity, Financial Wellness, and More: Insights from the UC Basic Needs Convening

This blog post contains highlights from the Basic Needs Initiative convening at UC Irvine in early March 2023: 1) retreat overview, 2) CalFresh for Graduate Students, 3) UC Basic Needs Annual Report, and 4) UC legislative advocacy presentations.

UC Basic Needs Systemwide Retreat Overview

The UC Basic Needs March 2023 Systemwide Convening consisted of workshops that were led by various campuses within the University of California system. In Session 2, workshops were conducted on money, financial wellness and student crisis, food, social services/case management, and outreach. The first workshop highlighted the importance of holistic support structures grounded in compassion, empathy, and partnership. The second workshop discussed UCSC’s food access model, which centers on students directly engaging in organic fruit and vegetable production, multi-site distributions, a free market, and CalFresh outreach and support. The third workshop presented UCB’s Case Management team, focusing on a more holistic assessment of basic needs and identifying the best fit with resources. The fourth workshop discussed marketing and scaling strategies, specifically utilizing social media to elevate Basic Needs services and resources to students and creating visibility for campus partners and leadership. The second part of the convening, Session 3, had two workshops on money: “The Story of the Financial Aid & Basic Needs Collaboration at UCB” and “Streamlining Basic Needs and Financial Aid.” Both workshops aimed to highlight the partnership between financial aid and basic needs, including its challenges and highlights over time, staffing, funding, and strategies for equity-based and proactive student awards. The workshops also presented how offices have transformed and adapted to meet the needs of the student community in the face of the pandemic. Overall, the UC Basic Needs March 2023 Systemwide Convening aimed to deepen the impact and student intervention and services support of basic needs across the University of California system.

UC students, did you know that the UC Graduate and Professional Council (UCGPC) is working hard to support the Basic Needs Initiative on campuses? By opting into the $7 UCGPC fee, you can help us continue our efforts to address issues such as food and housing insecurity, mental health, and financial wellness. Join us in making a difference in our fellow students’ lives and supporting our campus community’s basic needs.

CalFresh for Graduate Students: CalFresh: Graduate Student FAQ 

This FAQ document provides an overview of basic needs resources available to graduate students at the University of California, particularly about the CalFresh program. The post includes information on Local Programs that Increase Employability (LPIEs) and why some graduate programs may not qualify. It also explains what counts as income for CalFresh eligibility, what resources can be excluded, and how GSI/GSR income is treated. The post includes information on other student resources, such as food pantries and emergency financial assistance. Finally, the document answers common questions about CalFresh eligibility criteria and how to apply and provides a link to additional support.

UC Basic Needs Initiative Report

The executive summary discusses the annual report on student basic needs, summarizes outcomes from the academic year 2021-22, and provides progress updates on recommendations. The report includes significant changes that have occurred in the ecosystem of student basic needs over the last seven years, such as the investment of $18.5 million in ongoing funding through the State Budget Act of 2019 that enabled campuses to establish permanent basic needs services and provide essential services and direct aid. The University of California has initiated and sustained conversations, built relationships, and advocated for change in students’ basic needs. The collective efforts of policymakers and advocates, UC leaders and campus practitioners, student service practitioners, researchers, and UC students have elevated the dialogue about basic needs. The report also highlights the close collaboration between statewide partners and University subject-matter experts to research, evaluate equity gaps, and improve access to services. Lastly, national leaders have recognized the financial needs of students, as well as the reality of food insecurity among college students. 

Read the report here: Basic Needs report 2022 v6 (1).pdf

UCGPC, UCSA, and UC FGR presented at the UC Basic Needs Initiative Retreat at UC Irvine on March 1-2, 2023

Here is the presentation: https://www.canva.com/design/DAFgEBmn_eY/watch

UC Basic Needs Chairs Tim Galarneau and Ruben Canedo organized a panel presentation by directors from the UC State Government Relations Office, UC Student Association, and UC Graduate and Professional Council to discuss how the three organizations in the UC engage with legislative processes at the state and national levels. The panel description is below. You can read the presentation slides in the link above. 

• Title: Advancing Policy and Advocacy across the UC: Perspectives and Experiences from SGR, UCSA, & UCGPC
• Facilitators: Tyler Aguilar, Legislative Director, Academic & Student Affairs, SGR; Patriccia Ordonez-Kim, CFO and Executive Director for UC Graduate and Professional Council & Ph.D. Candidate in Education, UC Riverside; & Alia Sky, UCSA State Government Relations Director.
• Description: Come learn more about how the UC engages the state policy and legislative process from the perspectives of UC State Government Relations and our two student associations, UCSA and UCGPC. This session will introduce you to key leads across SGR, UCSA, and UCGPC, who will share how they operate a timeline for informing and proposing legislative policy and action in California. Attendees will learn current proposed legislation and strategic requests related to basic needs and explore what priorities are emerging for future legislative sessions that may be informed by students, staff, and affiliates during the work. Your voice is welcome at the table!