Oregon State University Food Security Study Executive Report (2021)

Food insecurity (FI) is a growing concern on college campuses. Upon request from the Oregon State University (OSU) Food Insecurity Taskforce, this report outlines findings from the first formal assessment of the prevalence and patterns of FI among OSU students on the three campuses—Corvallis, Cascades, and Ecampus—during Fall and Winter terms, 2020-2021. FI was measured using the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) 10-item Food Security Survey Module (FSSM) with a 2-item food sufficiency screener. At Corvallis and Cascades campuses, two sampling strategies were employed in an effort to improve upon existing sampling methods commonly used for estimating FI among college students. Findings from this assessment can be used to inform OSU’s plan to ensure equitable food access among all students.