Emporia State University has officially unveiled the results of a survey involving basic needs for students throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. And the results –highlighted recently on KVOE’s Talk of Emporia — are sobering.
Nearly 60 percent of ESU students experienced at least one form of basic needs insecurity over the past year. Dr. Jasmine Linabary, the co-founder and director of Emporia State’s EAT Initiative, says basic needs insecurities are a major concern on campus.
Emporia State tracks along with the national average on hunger insecurity, but it’s above the national average when it comes to housing insecurity. Nealy half of Emporia State’s surveyed students experienced housing insecurity over the past 12 months, above the average of 43 percent. ESU is also above the average for overall insecurity, with 59 percent of ESU students having one form of insecurity issues — above the average of 53 percent.
COVID-19 has also had a significant impact on general student life at ESU. Six percent of surveyed students had lost a loved one to the virus. Close to half the surveyed students reported moderate to severe anxiety. Another 41 percent reported moderate to severe depression due to COVID’s impact.
Basic needs concerns include insecurity for food and housing, including homelessness. Linabary says there is also a concern about educational equity, which hits some students much harder than others.
Emporia State has been battling food insecurity for nearly a decade. Corky’s Cupboard, one of the first college food pantries in the state, has been in place since 2014. Here’s ESU Director of Student Activities and Community Service Blythe Eddy:
ESU also has put a greater emphasis on emergency financial aid, but less than 20 percent of students have used that — citing concerns about leaving that option available for others in need or embarrassment about their own personal need.
Emporia State was among 200-plus colleges and universities participating in the #RealCollege survey, the nation’s largest collegiate basic needs assessment, through Temple University. Nearly 200,000 students participated this fall, including close to 500 Emporia State students or nearly 10 percent of the student population.
For information on how to help ESU students with basic needs, go online to www.emporia.edu/basicneeds or www.emporiastrong.com.
