SLCC earns Hunger Free Campus designation

South Louisiana Community College has joined the ranks of 31 public and four private Louisiana higher education institutions awarded the Hunger-Free Campus designation.
This initiative, established through Act 719 of the 2022 Regular Legislative Session, reflects SLCC’s unwavering commitment to student welfare and academic success, the community college system said in a press release.
To earn the Hunger-Free Campus designation, SLCC fulfilled specific criteria, including establishing a Hunger-Free Task Force, informing need-based financial aid recipients about potential eligibility for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, hosting anti-hunger awareness events and assessing the need for on-campus and off-campus food distribution.
A 2020 national study revealed that approximately 29% of students at four-year colleges and 38% at two-year institutions experience food insecurity, with even higher numbers among students of color. In a survey conducted at SLCC in 2021, 52% of participating students noted there was a time when they did not have enough food for themselves while attending SLCC.
The results of this survey led to the creation and expansion of The Pantry at SLCC, which aims to address food insecurity among students and provide assistance to those in need.