Prioritize Student Hunger at the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, & Health

Dear President Biden:

Thank you for your leadership in the discussions on hunger, nutrition, and health through the upcoming conference this Fall. We, as students and administrators across the country, are excited to be a part of this conversation and move toward a future where food insecurity and health are properly addressed for all students on and off campus.

We ask that you include college student hunger at this conference as it is a significant issue in this country, though severely underlooked.

Recently, the higher education community was affirmed by the inclusion of college students and eradicating college hunger as priorities in the “Ending Hunger In America” efforts led by House Committee on Rules Chairman James P. McGovern (D-MA). It was presented that: 

(i) One in three college students experience food insecurity, with disproportionately higher rates of insecurity across first-generation college students, pell grant recipients, students with disabilities, students with dependents, and other intersectional identities. 

(ii) We have research and existing effective models that can be amplified as transformative solutions for college students across our country. 

(iii) A bipartisan commitment could eradicate college hunger. With that, it is time to eradicate hunger on college campuses across the country. 

College students are our future, and should not have to worry about where their next meal comes from, or if their health is at risk due to poor nutrition. This is a solvable issue, but we need our government to shed light on college student hunger, and support policy to end it. 

Sincerely,