O7 More for Your Money? Understanding Campus Meal Plan Choice in Relation to Food Insecurity Risk at a Rural Liberal Arts Institution

Abstract

Background Nationwide, college campuses have increased food insecurity awareness to provide solutions. However, few colleges have sought long-term systemic change in food insecurity prevention among students, especially with campus meal plans. Objective To examine food security prevalence among students with varying meal-plans at a rural liberal arts institution. Study Design, Settings, Participants This cross-sectional study utilized an online survey distributed near the end of term. Participants were full-time, undergraduate students. Five hundred and thirty two responses (16% of total enrollment) met inclusion criteria. Most respondents were female, Caucasian, living on-campus, and purchased some type of campus dining meal plan. Measurable Outcome/Analysis The survey inquired about demographics, financial and living status, food security, stress, and campus dining. The 6-item Household Food Security Survey (HFSS) was used to assess food security status both in the 30 days prior to the survey and over the entire semester. HFSS scores between two and six indicate food insecurity. ANOVA and t-tests were used to compare means. Results Based on HFSS scoring, 20.3% (n = 108) and 19.2% (n = 102) of participants reported low or extremely low food security over the semester, respectively. Upperclassmen respondents (n = 224) had significantly higher HFSS scores than underclassmen (2.47 + 2.42 and 1.28 + 1.88, respectively,= P Conclusion Most students at liberal arts colleges purchase a meal plan. Students on an unlimited-access meal plan are more likely to be food secure. However, many students cannot afford the cost of an unlimited meal-plan and that may play a contributing role to food insecurity risk. Funding Carneige Mellon “Becoming Community” Grant.