Student Basic Needs Research
School of Social Work Professor Kathi Trawver and Assistant Dean for the Division of Population Health Sciences Travis Hedwig conducted two surveys to identify how many students are struggling
to meet their basic needs in 2017 and 2019. More than 500 students from UAA’s main campus responded.
survey ReSults
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10.4% have experienced homelessness at some point while being a student at UAA
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More than 37% of students said they were unsure of their current ability to pay rent on time
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36% of students have experienced some form of food insecurity while attending university
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46% of respondents at UAA feel their current housing or ability to pay for housing negatively impacted their education
Impact of basic needs insecurity on student success include increased rates of stress, anxiety, depression as well as lower attendance, lower GPA and lower overall completion rates. Marginalized and underrepresented populations experience basic needs insecurity at significantly higher rates.
That includes community college students, part-time students, LGBTQAI+, females, students of color, first generation, foster youth, people with disabilities, justice involved, parents and Pell grant recipients. The data reveals a pattern of creating and reinforcing continued inequities in higher education.
Student basic need are linked to students financial security including their access to financial aid:
- 65% reported that it DID NOT cover educational expenses
- 79% reported that it DID NOT cover living expenses
- 27% of all participating students reported that they have incurred credit debt to pay
for education and/or living expenses
Learn about resources for UAA students
Read the full research article
Lean more about housing and food insecurity from Travis Hedwig's book, Housing, Homelessness, and Social Policy in the Urban North.
Thank you to the students who participated in the survey and the leadership, staff, faculty and students who supported the research!