Students around the nation face one of the most challenging times in their pursuit of a post-secondary degree. Alarming food and housing insecurity rates exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic combined with widespread inequality and existing gaps in student support utilization, particularly access to public benefits, demand new approaches to connect #RealCollege students with timely on-campus supports to improve their ability to succeed in college.
The infusion of new pandemic-relief funding offers higher education institutions an opportunity to restore their financial health and allocate funds to implement initiatives that integrate support services to help students effectively access them. This guide reviews prominent approaches that colleges around the nation can consider based on their unique circumstances and existing regional and system-wide ecosystems.