News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
A new Tennessee Higher Education Coalition report shows at least 30 percent of Tennessee college students deal with food insecurity.
That number is higher than the national average. Tennessee Tech Vice President of Student Affairs Cynthia Polk-Johnson said the issue stems from rising food costs and a lack of financial resources.
“Students are juggling many different obligations, financial obligations in the sense of tuition and fees, buying textbooks, other materials for their classes, personal hygiene items, and just basic necessities,” Polk-Johnson said.
Polk-Johnson said Tech offers services like its food pantry which often feeds over 100 students and staffers each week. She said the school has a care team that works alongside students who need extra help with food costs.
“We know that physiologically, they want to feel safe and nurtured, but also having access to those things that will help them be successful,” Polk-Johnson said. “Food plays a critical role in that. It all boils down to our students being successful in higher education.”
She said with grocery prices soaring, students are affected just like everybody else. Polk-Johnson said meal plans offered by the school offer students affordable and nutritious options. She said the school wants to be a resource for students to have everything they need to be comfortable and successful.
“We have many ways that students can tap into the services that we offer and we can provide information on our website, we have provided information on our website,” Polk-Johnson said. “So any time a student may need some additional assistance, they can go out there and look for transportation needs, and housing needs, and food needs.”
She said it can also be difficult today for students to secure employment, another cause of students struggling to juggle the financial responsibilities of college life. She also said that some students are relied upon to support family members back home, adding to the financial burden.
