Colorado College is now a designated Hunger Free campus. The Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) conveyed the designation on its Social Determinant of Student Success site in October, after CC met all of the criteria from the organization’s Hunger Free Campus Checklist.

The Checklist is a statewide initiative to address disparities in food insecurity on college campuses to ensure all higher education students in Colorado have the resources they need.

The distinction comes on the heels of CC’s collaborative effort to create The Pantry, a Campus Activities resource that supports students facing food insecurity by providing nutritious fruits, vegetables, and shelf stable meals. The Pantry is part of the CC Pantry Exchange, where students can also pick up gently used clothing or other items for free.

If transportation is the barrier rather than funding, students may utilize Safe Ride, where Campus Safety team members give free rides to community pantries or grocery stores.  Eligible students may also enroll in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Food insecurity, defined as “the condition of limited or uncertain access to food,” impacts over 45% of college students in the United States. A student’s job, expenses, social network, and financial resources all impact their access to food. When students are concerned about where their next meal is coming from, it can lead to a lower GPA, poor mental health, and a limited social life. The full scope of the number of students impacted is relatively unknown, leading to student food insecurity being an under recognized issue with limited infrastructure to address it.  

CC is one of 22 colleges and universities in the state designated as Hunger Free campuses.