About six months ago, I happened to read an article about
the rise of college students in poverty.
The article was so troubling to me, I decided I had to blog about
it. You can read my thoughts and your
fellow students comments at the time, here: http://historicalandpoliticalissues.blogspot.com/2016/08/educated-and-homeless.html
The cost of attending college usually focuses on the
tuition and fees; rarely does the conversation ever include the cost of
living. Now we all know that most college students would say they were
poor. I know there were weeks in college where I subsisted on Ramen
noodles, Kool-Aid and McDonalds – which also happened to be where I worked.
However, looking back, I realize I really wasn’t that poor. Yes, I worked
a low-paying job, and yes, I incurred a large amount of student loan debt, but
I had a roof over my head and food in my belly – even if it wasn’t high quality
food. What’s more, even though my parents couldn’t help me much
financially, they lived right down the street. There was no chance of me
ever becoming homeless, and I knew I could always stop by for a home-cooked
meal. Most of you know my entire career has been focused on the complex issues
related to poverty, which is why I find this issue so troubling. So, when I heard this same issue being
discussed on NPR this week, I knew I needed to blog about it again.
Students are working more and taking out record breaking
amounts of loans, however many are still falling short of having all their
needs met. According to a study at the University
of Wisconsin, 20% of college students reported going hungry and 13% report they
are homeless. Some states, like Massachusetts
have implemented food assistance programs on their public university campuses,
in order to make sure students get their most basic needs met. These statistics just break my heart, and I’m
interested to know what you think. So, my question
this week is, “Do these numbers seem high to you – or is this what you would
expect? Do you think schools and
universities have a responsibility to help address these issues – and if so,
how?” Answers are due no later than
Wednesday, February 15, 2017.
P.S. If you are having trouble with
homelessness or food insecurity – please reach out! I may have resources that can help!
With poverty the way it is and how much the average poor American makes the college statistics on how many go hungry is not very surprising. There have been a few times I have gone my whole day without eating and it is not a fun experience. My family doesn't really have much of a financial issue but from time to time money can become tight.
ReplyDeleteWhen you go a whole day or even days it can certainly have an affect on your day to day task performance. It can begin to affect you school grades and work. For schools that can afford it i believe the best solution to this problem would be to establish some type of food program like the public schools provide. For those struggling to feed themselves day to day offer free breakfast and lunch. That way at least they are getting some type of nutrition in them. Or even possible a designated type of food credit card that can be used at a campus cafe; a card that has a certain amount that is reset each month. It could possibly be covered in the tuition cost.
Side Note: I have posted last weeks, that was due yesterday, and the week before blogs. I will be sending you an email regarding this information as well. This is just in case you see this first. Some teachers seem to have trouble receiving my emails.
I'll agree with Mariah. While the number of students going hungry and homeless are increasing, it's not suprising. College expenses are getting really out of hand. The only time if you are going to be able to go through college without any issues is if you were paying for the whole thing immediately. I got an email the other day that its possible that the Media Arts and Animation program is losing its federal funding and we would have to find other ways to pay for it. I know for a fact that this is going to affect so many people in my program as we do not have the necessary funds.
ReplyDeleteI do think that number could be a lot lower. College isn't supposed to be the most financially comfortable time in our lives but people should't be going homeless and starving over it. Schools should have some kind of back up plan or resources students can reach out to so that they dont have to starve. It's hard to focus on schoolwork if you're starving all day.
ReplyDeleteThese numbers are outrageous. I do not think it is right that these students who are trying to further their education and better themselves, are almost being persecuted by the means of insane interest rates and tuition fees. The universities should most definitely help their students if they care about staying open. How can you expect a students full attention when they are overwhelmed with bills, worried about how they are going to eat, or thinking of where they might sleep that night? You simply can not get that drive out of the student when they are facing such immense stress. Most primary through high schools in the nation have programs that feed the impoverished, why should the college level be any different? Especially with all of the money coming in, I see no reason they can not take care of the poverty stricken student.
ReplyDeleteAlthough those statistics do seem pretty high, it is definitely not surprising. I see some of my friends on Facebook joking about how 'broke' they are & how they have to eat poorly on a regular basis but in reality, it's not a joke. When people go to college, it's already confusing enough. You're practically thrown out on your own and have to just figure things out like on a video game without a tutorial. College expenses are already sky high and OUTRAGEOUSLY infuriating but for students to be going homeless and starving themselves just because they are trying to get an education is just ridiculous. In my opinion, it's almost as if the school system now-a-days- is setting you up for failure. Universities should definitely be doing everything they can to help their students out whether it be through tuition grants, emotional or suicide hotlines, or whatever else. They should have an area designated specifically to making sure they're students are taken care of in regards to shelter and food. (That's why AI is awesome because they give us free food all the time (; )
ReplyDeleteIn conclusion, I do think that schools need to take more responsibility when it comes to the well being of their students, whether it be what they do here at AI (having pizza every once in a while) or giving students meal (credit) cards or provide even the most basic of adequate shelter, they need to do something.
These numbers are really high. I feel like everyone should have their basic needs met, but thats costly, since there are so many people on this planet. Colleges should make better programs to help feed and shelter students. One of the main reasons I chose this school over Ball State was housing. There housing is way more expensive and you live in a closet. Its a one room dorm with public bathrooms down the hall. Most do not have air conditioning. Ball State's housing was more expensive than AI's housing, and we live in actual apartments, with the opportunity of becoming a Resident Assistant and getting to live in housing for free. College is expensive, but it shouldn't be so expensive that our basic needs are stripped just so we can better our future. We have no idea what the future will hold. I believe we can create better programs and maybe reduce the cost of college a little, especially if college degrees don't go as far as they use to.
ReplyDeleteI feel like these numbers are high, but i believe that this may also stem from a problem that not everyone is entirely ready financially or mentally for college. I'm not sure that its the schools responsibility to lower these numbers, but have a better idea of jobs in the city or being able to put students to work in their own fields though self funded projects to provide workplace experience for their field of study while also providing some small form of income while the student has the opportunity to pursue a part time job to cover the rest of the costs of living.
ReplyDeleteThis is Kaeli
ReplyDeleteI'd expect this from a college student that's living in a dorm or away from their family's house. If this number still applies to those living with their family, then yeah, count me as surprised. The number is pretty high and completely unfair for those who go hungry and homeless. I do think colleges should address this situation. I'm not sure if the problem is finding a job or not, but perhaps better chances in scholarships. (I always feel intimidated by scholarships, that only a select few or one person can have a scholarship; it makes me feel obsolete in a way) Also, financial aid isn't entirely explained thoroughly enough to where I can understand how to manage my money, it's like I'm totally relying on my parents to do this stuff for me. Colleges just need to know how to help and be ready for it; I really don't know how to fix this.
These numbers do seem high, but they also make sense. I believe that students who plan on attending college should know what they are getting themselves into. Yes there will be days where it may be difficult to acquire food, and there will be late nights, and there will be times where you are financially unsure. I feel like some students just jump into the college life without knowing what to expect, and that's what leads to students becoming hungry and or homeless. If you just stay prepared for life's speed bumps, then you won't even hardly notice them. I know there are some things that are just absolutely uncontrollable, but you can still stay prepared and ready for most of life's middle fingers.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who has gone to another college before attending AI, I can imagine these numbers being correct. This is my first college where I live in student housing, which is dramatically different than attending a community college and living at home. With no meal plans and many students not being able to afford a car, they seek cheaper options of living or decide to cut costs where-ever they can. As someone who is now considered "independent," I rely more on myself and less on my family for school assistance. I believe meal plans should be required for colleges, specifically for on-campus students.
ReplyDeleteThese numbers seem very high to me. Students that attend college are paying so much to the school to make their future better, but are not eating because of these payments. I believe each school has to have a meal plan for their students. College is expensive, yes we all know this, but the fact that people are starving because they are paying these college expenses is a little bit ridiculous to me personally.
ReplyDelete“Do these numbers seem high to you – or is this what you would expect? Do you think schools and universities have a responsibility to help address these issues – and if so, how?”
ReplyDeleteThese numbers may not seem like much, but they're incredibly high to me. Poverty levels for college students are insane. College students often go hungry because they're afraid of spending money on the foods available to them. College debts and current living expenses are top priority for them.
EVERY school should provide free food and affordable housing for students, which they can do, considering how much money they absorb from students per year. Schools should be responsible for providing for their students if need be.
When i think of prices of higher education i tend to think back to high school and elementary school. I look at the fact that you're provided lunch and breakfast. Not to mention public school is FREE. When i think of this i tend to also think of countries that provide free higher education. most of them may have higher tax rates than we do but you also have to think about the fact that with free higher education also improve the ability to earn a degree and higher paying job. Where as without higher education job availability is far more limited. Basically in most cases to be successful in life you require a education higher than a high school diploma. With the food situation i don't see why if they can provide food in high school and elementary school's why they can't provide meal in colleges and universities.
ReplyDeleteYes, this number does seem high. In a way, I would sort of expect it because of the economy being what it is and the rising cost of tuition. And with the number of debt students rack up, it's no wonder there are alot of issues that need to be resolved. As far as the responsibility of the schools to handle student poverty...I feel it's a gray area to even discuss because I believe there are many programs to help students with food and utilities and etc., well at the same time, most students don't utilize these resources which is why they take up a job or even two.
ReplyDeleteWell that sucks, seems pretty accurate though because education is expensive. Being an adult is expensive clean water isn't free and the people in Flint Michigan still doesn't have clean water but you know Trump wants to build a wall. But it'll be ok though because at least he's making america great, right?
ReplyDeleteI think it sucks but also shows that we need to take a school serious. I did hear that 75% of rich people today didn't even go or finish collage. I just hope I get a well paying job to I can pay off my debt before I die or maybe I can fake my death to get out of paying loans.
ReplyDeleteYeah numbers seem pretty high to me, but I mean things are most likely gonna get worse either way in my opinion. I think schools and universities should have a slight responsibility or at least concern to help address these issues. The schools could give basic supplies and have the people pay it off later but I honestly don't have a concrete answer.
ReplyDelete