Data & Research
Understanding the total impact
From survey data to studies and reports, UC's data and research efforts provide greater transparency and awareness around University operations and the experiences of UC students. Data collection, survey data, research initiatives and reporting all serve as valuable resources to help identify areas of strength and opportunities for improvement within the UC system.
Page contents:
Data
Student Basic Needs Dashboard
The Student Basic Needs Dashboard is the product of the university's Global Food Initiative (GFI), which sought to better understand food security among UC students. The dashboard provides information on basic needs and illustrates the relationship between food insecurity and/or homelessness on student learning, engagement, satisfaction and outcomes. Data are from the 2016, 2018 and 2020 UC Undergraduate Experience Survey (UCUES) and the 2016 Graduate Student Well-Being Survey (GSWBS).
View the Student Basic Needs Dashboard
Student Services Dashboard
The UC Office of the President now requires campus basic needs centers to report annual data about their services, including the number of students served by food and housing services each year. The Student Services Dashboard is currently under development and will be shared on this website when public.
Research
Helping College Students Get Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Facilitators of and Barriers to Students Accessing the Federal Nutrition Assistance Program
Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, February 2022
Campus Food Pantry Use Addresses a Gap Among California Public
University Students
Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, August 2021
Redefining Basic Needs for Higher Education: It's More Than Minimal Food and Housing According to California University Students
American Journal of Health Promotion, February 2021
Redefining Student Basic Needs for Higher Education: a Study (PDF)
Global Food Initiative, July 2020
"It's a Feeling That One Is Not Worth Food": A Qualitative Study Exploring the Psychosocial Experience and Academic Consequences of Food Insecurity Among College Students
Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, October 2019
Pathways from Food Insecurity to Health Outcomes among California University Students
Nutrients, June 2019
No food for thought: Food insecurity is related to poor mental health and lower academic performance among students in California's public university system
Journal of Health Psychology, June 2018
A systematic review of food insecurity among US students in higher education
Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition, June 2018
Food insecurity in California's public university system: What are the risk factors?
Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition, November 2017
College students identify university support for basic needs and life skills as key ingredient in addressing food insecurity on campus
California Agriculture, September 2017
Student Food Access and Security Study (PDF)
Global Food Initiative, July 2016
Infographics
UC Basic Needs 2022–23 Survey Results
Long version (PDF) | Printable Version (PDF)
UC Systemwide 2018–19 Pantry Survey
Long version (PDF)
UC Systemwide Graduate Students' Basic Needs During COVID-19 Survey: Effects on Academic Life
Long version (PDF) | Printable version (PDF)
UC Systemwide Graduate Students' Basic Needs During COVID-19 Survey: Effects on Basic Needs
Long version (PDF) | Printable version (PDF)
Reports
Housing Insecurity Fact Sheet
2024
Graduate Student Food Security Fact Sheet (PDF)
2024
The University of California's Next Phase of Improving Student Basic Needs (PDF)
Regents of the University of California Special Committee on Basic Needs, November 2020
UC Basic Needs Legislative Report (PDF)
July–December 2020
UC Basic Needs Legislative Report (PDF)
June 2019–20
UC Hunger Free Campus Report (PDF)
June 2018–19
Toolkits
In 2024, Governor Newsom established a set of workgroups as part of his Master Plan for Career Education. The Completions Support Workgroup developed the Campus-County Partnership Toolkit to help schools increase students’ access to critical social services, including CalFresh.
Guidance Memos
Assembly Bill 2881: Public Postsecondary Education Implementation Guidance for Students with Dependent Children (PDF)
July 12, 2023
Letter from President Drake: CalFresh Allocations (PDF)
April 12, 2021
Letter from President Drake: Basic Needs Innovation Grant Funding (PDF)
January 8, 2021
Cookbooks
UC Recipe Booklet: Low-cost & minimal prep recipes for UC students.
UC Basic Needs by the numbers
48K
Students served by campus basic needs centers in 2019–20.
213
Staff and students (undergraduate and graduate) who supported campus basic needs efforts in 2019–20.
Advocacy
Add your name to the Double the Pell Grant petition
Join the University of California, the UC Student Association and other higher education partners in calling on Congress to restore the purchasing power of the Pell Grant by doubling the maximum award.
Contact
Any questions? Connect with a basic needs campus center near you.