In response to the food insecurity survey results, Chancellor C. Mauli Agrawal formed a Food Security Taskforce in January 2020 to address the issue of food insecurity within our community, with participants representing varying units and disciplines as well as community members. Through the work of the task force, UMKC has identified and acted on key recommendations to combat food insecurity.
After the task force had completed its work, the Chancellor established a Food Security Advisory Committee in September 2020 to implement some of the recommendations and continue the university’s response to food security. As a university, we are committed to both a culture of care and to maximizing student success.
UMKC students participated in the Hope Center’s #RealCollege survey in Fall 2020. The results showed that 51% of students experienced at least one form of basic needs insecurity and 29% experienced food insecurity within the prior 30 days of taking the survey. These levels of basic needs insecurity are consistent with other four-year institutions in the US, and show the importance of continuing the efforts to address basic needs insecurities at UMKC.
To support our students, the university created the Office of Basic Needs, housed within the Office of Student Involvement. The Center provides resources related to food, housing, and finances.
The university hired Taylor Blackmon as the first Basic Needs Coordinator. This is a newly established position that exists to encompass all basic needs at UMKC.
