Snacks for Success
Organization
:
Miami University
Organization Type
:
Research / Doctoral U
Organization Size
:
4 Year: Large
Summary
:
This Miami University Libraries project seeks to create an equitable, hunger-free learning environment for students participating in library and information literacy instruction in King Library.
There is a growing movement to support students’ basic needs in higher education, and academic libraries are increasingly getting involved. Libraries and librarians are well positioned to contribute to campus efforts in support of students’ basic needs, as libraries provide many points of connection between students and staff, including in the library classroom in information literacy sessions.
College students’ basic needs include food, housing, mental health, sleep, and encompass other needs expanding beyond traditional definitions. Basic needs insecurity is associated with poor academic performance and can impact student persistence, with the most affected being nontraditional student populations.
While the Miami University Student Success Center operates a food pantry and offers a program for students in need of meal plan assistance, the act of seeking out support can cause students experiencing basic needs insecurity even more stress. Groups experiencing higher rates of time poverty, such as working students and student parents, may already struggle to arrange a visit to the pantry or dining halls. This proposal seeks to streamline support for students facing food insecurity by embedding free food options in the library classroom.
Food is stored in a space accessible to librarians leading instruction. Librarians who opt in to offering this support pick up and transport food from the storage space with one of the provided tote bags. Librarians share with students the availability of food and/or place food in a noticeable location in the classroom.
There is a growing movement to support students’ basic needs in higher education, and academic libraries are increasingly getting involved. Libraries and librarians are well positioned to contribute to campus efforts in support of students’ basic needs, as libraries provide many points of connection between students and staff, including in the library classroom in information literacy sessions.
College students’ basic needs include food, housing, mental health, sleep, and encompass other needs expanding beyond traditional definitions. Basic needs insecurity is associated with poor academic performance and can impact student persistence, with the most affected being nontraditional student populations.
While the Miami University Student Success Center operates a food pantry and offers a program for students in need of meal plan assistance, the act of seeking out support can cause students experiencing basic needs insecurity even more stress. Groups experiencing higher rates of time poverty, such as working students and student parents, may already struggle to arrange a visit to the pantry or dining halls. This proposal seeks to streamline support for students facing food insecurity by embedding free food options in the library classroom.
Food is stored in a space accessible to librarians leading instruction. Librarians who opt in to offering this support pick up and transport food from the storage space with one of the provided tote bags. Librarians share with students the availability of food and/or place food in a noticeable location in the classroom.
Contact
Laura Birkenhauer