An Audit of Food Security, Perceptions, and Experiences of Students at Montclair State University between 2022 and 2024, organized by Dr. Lauren Dinour, DrPH, RD, CLC and Andrea Uguna, MS.
Introduction
The Hunger Free Task Force
In 2016, a preliminary student-led survey identified a notable student need for food and other household necessities. As a result, in 2016, Montclair State University became the first four-year university in New Jersey to open an on-campus food pantry: the Red Hawk Pantry. In 2019, University researchers Chris Snyder and Dr. Lauren Dinour initiated the first administration of a standardized food security survey to the University’s student population. This survey was intended to inform program developments to projects overseen by Snyder and Dinour. Information from this survey highlighted areas of student need, and contributed to the formation of the Montclair State University Campus Hunger Free Task Force. The Hunger-Free Task Force is composed of University organizations and staff dedicated to addressing the issues adult students face while pursuing higher education at Montclair State University.
This report was authored for the Montclair State University Campus Hunger-Free Task Force, and its constituents:
- Auxiliary Services
- Food Recovery Network
- Gourmet Dining
- Hunger Free Campus Taskforce
- Office of the Dean of Students
- PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies
- Red Hawk Pantry
- Residence Life
- Student Development and Campus Life
- University Facilities
It is intended to provide guidance to these University organizations in identifying and addressing student food needs, including, but not limited to: food insecurity; lack of access to culturally, religiously, allergically, or nutritionally appropriate food; and emergency food needs. This report provides necessary updates to the University statistics on student food security, including the prevalence of student food insecurity and student perceptions of the campus food environment. This report also sets, and contributes to, a baseline measurement which has been standardized to allow for comparison between this and other populations (i.e., by utilizing a modified version of the standardized USDA Household Food Security Survey Tool), and allows for follow-up surveys to be performed in order to measure progress made towards addressing student food security by the above mentioned campus entities and others, as identified.
Timeline
Below is a timeline of events related to the Montclair State University Campus Hunger Free Task Force and its component organizations.
- 2016
- Student-led research, as part of a capstone project, investigated student difficulty in purchasing household necessities, toiletries, and food.
- Montclair State University opens the Red Hawk Pantry, an on-campus food pantry for student use.
- 2017
- The Montclair State University chapter of the Food Recovery Network is established, with Dr. Lauren Dinour as Faculty Advisor.
- 2018
- The Montclair State University Campus Community Garden was established, led by Chris Snyder as garden coordinator.
- 2019
- Chris Snyder and Dr. Lauren Dinour administered the USDA household food security survey. All enrolled students were invited to participate, and results indicated that 44% of respondents were experiencing food insecurity during the Spring 2019 semester.
- Later that year, the campus established the Hunger-Free Task Force, composed of representatives from Dining Services, Student Development & Campus Life, Dean of Students Office, faculty, and students.
- 2020
- Beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
- Students leave campus for remote learning.
- 2021
- Montclair State University designated by the State of New Jersey as a Hunger-Free Campus, in acknowledgement of University’s dedication and progress towards addressing student food needs.
- Montclair State University received its first grant from OSHE to expand hunger-fighting efforts.
- As part of the grant, Swipe Out Hunger was introduced on campus, allowing students enrolled in a dining block meal plan to donate up to two block swipes per semester to support other students struggling with food insecurity.
- 2022
- Students return to campus for in-person instruction.
- Further efforts rolled out, such as the establishment of a Hunger-Free Campus website, hiring of a case manager to assist students in applying for NJ SNAP, and provision of weekly shuttles to and from local supermarkets.
- 2023
- Second OSHE grant received.
- Record demand at Red Hawk Pantry.
- 2024
- Third OSHE grant received.
- Food Recovery Network provides meals for Red Hawk Pantry.
Interpreting the Audit
Several terms with specific programmatic definitions are used within this report, and are defined below. Please refer to the appropriate definition for each of the referenced data sources.
According to the United States Census Bureau, a household includes all the people who occupy a housing unit (such as a house or apartment) as their usual place of residence. A household includes all of the related family members and all of the unrelated people, if any, such as lodgers, foster children, wards, or employees who share the housing unit. A single person living alone in a housing unit, or a group of unrelated people sharing a housing unit such as partners or roommates, is also counted as a household.
For the purposes of allocating nutritional support services, the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service defines a household as all the people who live together, and who purchase and prepare meals together. Households will include some members (such as spouses and most children under age 22) even if they purchase and prepare meals separately. If a person is 60 years of age or older and unable to purchase and prepare meals separately because of a permanent disability, the person and the person’s spouse may be a separate household if the others they live with do not have very much income.
The United States Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service categorizes household food security status into four ranges, defined below:
High Food Security — Households had no problems, or anxiety about, consistently accessing adequate food.
Marginal Food Security — Households had problems at times, or anxiety about, accessing adequate food, but the quality, variety, and quantity of their food intake were not substantially reduced.
Low Food Security — Households reduced the quality, variety, and desirability of their diets, but the quantity of food intake and normal eating patterns were not substantially disrupted.
Very Low Food Security — At times during the year, eating patterns of one or more household members were disrupted and food intake reduced because the household lacked money and other resources for food.
An individual that identifies experiencing high food security or marginal food security is considered to experience food security, or be food secure; an individual that identifies experiencing low food security or very low food insecurity is considered to experience food insecurity, or be food insecure.
Montclair State University Student Food Security to Date
Audit Methodology
To assess food security, we utilized an anonymous, online, cross-sectional survey conducted via Qualtrics. Surveying started 30 days after the semester began and continued until the last day of classes. All enrolled students were invited to participate though participation rates varied by semester, with 12.1% of enrolled students responding to the survey in Fall 2022, 10.1% in Spring 2023, and 5.9% in Spring 2024. The survey included demographic questions and the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) 18-item household food security measure. Descriptive statistics and logistic regressions were used to determine the prevalence and predictors of food insecurity each semester.
Demographics
Survey participants largely consisted of students aged 18-23 years, with a majority identifying as female and White or Latino/a/x. About half of participants were employed, many working 20+ hours per week. Just under half of participants were first generation college students, and about two-thirds had been in school for more than a year. Most students reported that their grade point average (GPA) was at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Additionally, one of every four to five participants indicated that they did not have enough time to eat before class.
Student Food Security Status To Date
Across the three semesters (Fall 2022, Spring 2023, and Spring 2024), food insecurity affected nearly half of students surveyed. Food insecurity includes both low food security and very low food security, the latter of which is the most severe. At Montclair, very low food security was consistently reported by over a quarter of participants. These levels greatly exceed national averages (in 2023, 13.5% of U.S. households were food insecure).
High-Risk Groups
Students at the highest risk of food insecurity consistently identify as:
- Genderqueer
- Black or African American
- First-generation college student
- Report not having enough time to eat before class
Additionally, students living at home with a parent or guardian were at lower risk of food insecurity across all three semesters.
Food Insecurity Solutions at Montclair
Montclair State University has implemented several initiatives to combat food insecurity, including:
- Hunger-Free Campus Task Force: A collaborative campus effort to address student food insecurity
- Red Hawk Pantry: Supplies food and personal care items to students, faculty, and staff in need
- Food Champion Program: Alerts participants of surplus food from catered meetings and events
- Food Recovery Network: Recovers excess food from campus dining and provides to the Pantry
- Swipe Out Hunger: Allows students to donate two meal swipes to peers facing food insecurity
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): On-campus assistance with SNAP enrollment
- Supermarket Shuttle: Free transportation from campus to local supermarkets that accept SNAP
Recommendations for Additional Efforts
Food insecurity remains a pervasive issue at Montclair State University, affecting a substantial portion of the student body. High rates of food insecurity, especially very low food security, highlight the need for continued and enhanced efforts. The association between student food insecurity and various demographic and socioeconomic factors suggests that interventions must be targeted and multifaceted.
- Increase Awareness: Utilize multiple communication channels, including social media, university platforms, and information sessions to raise awareness about available food security resources.
- Targeted Support: Develop programs specifically designed for high-risk groups, such as genderqueer students, Black or African American students, and first-generation college students.
- Expand Food Access: Implement mobile pantries and satellite locations across campus to increase food assistance accessibility.
- Financial Literacy and Meal Planning: Offer workshops to help students manage their resources effectively and make health and informed food choices.
- Cultural Sensitivity: Collaborate with local community organizations to provide culturally-appropriate food options for international and minority students.
Next Steps
The ongoing prevalence of food insecurity at Montclair State University calls for a sustained and integrated approach, ensuring all students have access to the resources necessary for a healthy and successful academic career. Food insecurity trends will continue to be monitored through regular surveys, with consideration of expanding data collection efforts to include more qualitative insights into students’ experiences. Collaboration with other institutions to adopt innovative food security initiatives could also enhance the effectiveness of current programs. Additionally, Montclair should explore further funding opportunities and partnerships to support new and ongoing food security efforts.
By implementing recommendations detailed in this report and learning from other campuses, Montclair can make significant strides in reducing food insecurity and improving the well-being of its students.
Past Audits
The Montclair State University Campus Community Garden, and its partner organizations, are working to better understand the nature of the need of students attending Montclair State University.
During the Spring 2019 Semester, students were invited to participate in research about food security on campus. A total of 628 students completed the survey. The survey included a modified version of the USDA Adult Food Security Survey, modified to better address an audience of university students; the survey asked questions that are intended to identify food security during the duration of the Spring Semester. The data suggest that over 4 out of every 10 students who responded to the survey may be Food Insecure during the academic semester, and may not have access to enough food, or have only low quality foods, on a regular basis.
The Montclair State University Foodscape Audit
A Summary of Food Security of Students Within the Campus Foodscape, organized by Chris Snyder, MPH and Dr. Lauren Dinour, DrPH, RD, CLC
Introduction
This audit was authored for the Montclair State University Campus Community Garden, the Montclair State University chapter of the Food Recovery Network, and the Red Hawk Pantry, in order to provide guidance to these campus organizations in identifying and addressing student food needs. This audit provides necessary updates to the campus statistics on student food security, including the prevalence of student food insecurity and student perceptions of the campus foodscape.
To conduct the audit, students were invited to participate in an anonymous online survey during the Spring 2019 Semester. The survey asked questions that were aimed at identifying food security during the duration of the Spring Semester, and during the duration of the prior Winter Session / Winter Recess Period. A total of 628 students responded throughout the course of the Spring ’19 semester.
Please see the definitions used in the audit to refer to food security below. According to the USDA, the varying levels of food security are defined as the following:
- High food security
- Students had no problems, or anxiety about, consistently accessing adequate food.
- Marginal food security
- Students had problems at times, or anxiety about, accessing adequate food, but the quality, variety, and quantity of their food intake were not substantially reduced.
- Low food security
- Students reduced the quality, variety, and desirability of their diets, but the quantity of food intake and normal eating patterns were not substantially disrupted.
- Very low food security
- At times during the semester, eating patterns of students were disrupted and food intake reduced because the respondent lacked money and other resources for food.
An individual that expresses high food security or marginal food security is considered to experience food security, or be food secure; an individual that expresses low food security or very low food insecurity is considered to experience food insecurity, or be food insecure.
Please note that some definition text has been adapted for this audit to better refer to a single student respondent, as compared to a household of more than one individual.
Student Food Security
Spring 2019
During the course of the Spring ’19 Semester, 354 (56.4%) students were food secure.
Specifically, 243 (38.7%) students suggested having high food security and reported no issues with accessing food; 111 (17.7%) students suggested having marginal food security and reported at least one issue with accessing food, but are still considered to be food secure.
During the course of the Spring ’19 Semester, 274 (43.6%) students were food insecure.
Specifically, 120 (19.1%) students suggested having low food security and reported reducing the quality of the food that they eat; 154 (24.5%) students suggested having very low food security and reported reducing the amount of food that they eat.
Figure 1. Spring 2019 Student Food Security (n = 628)
Winter 2018 Recess
During the course of the Winter ’18 Recess, 401 (63.9%) students were food secure.
Specifically, 245 (39.0%) students suggested having high food security and reported no issues with accessing food; 156 (24.8%) students suggested having marginal food security and reported at least one issue with accessing food, but is still considered to be food secure.
During the course of the Winter ’18 Recess, 227 (36.1%) students were food insecure.
Specifically, 156 (24.8%) students suggested having low food security and reported reducing the quality of the food that they eat; 71 (11.3%) students suggested having very low food security and reported reducing the amount of food that they eat.
Figure 2. Winter 2018 Student Food Security (n = 628)
Key Takeaways
Of the 628 students surveyed, 274 (43.6%) of them reported experiencing food insecurity during the Spring 2019 Semester.
Students experiencing food insecurity were more likely to be younger than their food secure peers. It is possible that younger college students have less experience in successfully navigating a foodscape on their own, compared to their older peers.
Students experiencing food insecurity were more likely to have exhausted their meal plans if they had purchased one, and meal plan exhaustion may be correlated with, or a potential indicator of, student food insecurity.
Similar to observations of other academic grade levels (i.e., K-12), academic performance is significantly reduced for students experiencing food insecurity.
The overall low rate of use of the Red Hawk Pantry requires further investigation, as only half of all respondents (54.6%) were aware that the service was available, and less than 1 in every 10 respondents had used the service (9.3%).
Students experiencing food insecurity reported having a more difficult time preparing meals to eat during the school day, purchasing meals off campus to eat on campus, and purchasing meals on campus. They also reported not having enough time to eat meals during the school day due to class schedules, and having to eat during class time.
Higher academic institutions are not invited, nor eligible, to participate in the Free / Reduced Price School Breakfast and Lunch programs; as a result these institutions do not receive any support to increase student access to meals, nor are the institutions required to follow the federal nutritional standards that come with program participation.
Students experiencing food insecurity were significantly more likely to report that the food available on campus was too expensive; they also reported a greater level of dissatisfaction with the quality and variety of foods available to purchase, compared to their food secure peers.
Student perceptions of the campus foodscape may be different based upon their level of food security, with students experiencing food insecurity having a more negative perception of the foodscape as a whole.
Differences in other perceptions of the foodscape however, may suggest that there is a lower level of self- efficacy experienced among students experiencing food insecurity.
Conclusion
The data suggest that presently over 4 in every 10 students who responded to the survey may be experiencing food insecurity during the academic semester, and that student food security may be worse for students during the academic semesters, when compared to their food security during the academic recess.
This audit sought to update and standardize the rudimentary data collected in 2016 prior to the opening of the Red Hawk Pantry. As a function of this standardization, results from the 2016 survey at Montclair State University may not be directly comparable to results from this 2019 survey, as different measurements were used; however, this data can be compared to other data using this standardized tool, and progress against this standardized baseline can now be measured.
Conservatively, if we are to count all respondents of the 2016 survey who indicated being in need of food at least once per month as food insecure, we might compare the 37% food insecurity prevalence in 2016 to 43.6% food insecurity prevalence in 2019. Conversely, we may more reliably compare persons who reported no food insecurity; 46% of respondents reported no problems with food access in 2016 as compared to 38.7% with no problems with food access in 2019. It may be difficult to determine if food insecurity has indeed gotten worse for students at Montclair State University, or if the data now just more accurately reflect the needs of our students.