Food Insecure Students’ Perceptions of Campus Climate: Implications for Social Work Educators and Practitioners

ABSTRACT

An increasing number of college students are experiencing food insecurity. This study seeks to examine food insecurity through a campus climate lens. The campus climate lens is particularly relevant since extant literature indicates a positive correlation between perceptions of campus climate and academic outcomes. Survey data was collected from 1,295 students at one Midwestern university in order to measure experiences with food insecurity and campus climate. Findings indicate that food insecure students have significantly less favorable perceptions of campus climate as compared to their food secure counterparts. These less favorable perceptions could place food insecure students at risk for compromised academic outcomes. Universities are encouraged to address food insecurity. Social work educators/practitioners in universities are well-positioned to lead this charge, thereby promoting the social and economic well-being of the increasingly diverse student body. Current and proposed social work efforts related to this topic are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Higher education
• campus climate
• food insecurity
• poverty
• social work education