Basic needs insecurities among Rutgers students: A university wide survey (2023)
This report describes the first study to invite all matriculated students from every Rutgers Chancellor-led Unit (Unit) to participate in a survey on basic needs insecurities. It is also the first study to measure Rutgers students’ basic needs insecurities beyond food and housing.
Methods:
· The survey was conducted online from November 15 to December 14, 2022.
· A total of 7,094 students responded, for a 10.7% response rate. Response rate by Unit ranged from 8.6% to 13.5%.
· The respondents were generally representative of the Rutgers student body.
Top line Results:
· University wide, almost 1 in 3 undergraduates (31.2%) and 1 in 4 graduate students (26.5%) reported experiencing food insecurity in the past 30 days.
· Graduate students were more likely than undergraduates to report having been housing insecure over the past 12 months, 46.7% vs. 31.0%, respectively.
· Homelessness was the least frequent basic need insecurity, as 7.6% of undergraduates and 8.2% of graduate students reported experiencing homelessness in the past 12 months.
· Many students reported having difficulty affording other needs that can affect their well-being and education. Some of the most pervasive needs were difficulty affording technology (42.8% of undergraduates and 47.2% of graduate students), books (43.8% of undergraduates and 40.1% of graduate students), and mental healthcare (35.8% of undergraduates and 41.6% of graduate students).
· As expected, given the different student populations of each Unit and degree level, there were disparities in the rates of basic needs insecurities across Units and degree level.
Recommendations:
· Continue to support innovative efforts to meet students’ basic needs and share best practices across Units.
· Tailor programming and policies to Unit-level student profiles and needs rather than adopt a one-size fits all, universitywide approach.
· Streamline service delivery whenever possible. Benefit hubs such as basic needs centers help connect students with Unit-based and community-based services and programs across multiple types of needs. Units should consider adopting a benefit hub model that is tailored to the needs of their students.