How Graduate and Professional Students Are Combatting Food Insecurity: Inspiring Solutions and Community Impact

The Graduate and Professional Students Senate (GPSS) and the Graduate Student Assembly (GSA) at Yale are focusing on a serious issue this academic year: food insecurity among graduate students.

A recent report revealed that about 30% of Yale’s graduate and professional students face food insecurity. This rate is more than double the national average, which stands at 13.5%. GPSS President Alex Rich emphasizes the importance of the university providing better support, particularly by subsidizing on-campus dining options. He believes that access to adequate food is essential for student well-being.

To gather data, the GPSS conducted three surveys with students from different schools, including the School of Medicine and the School of the Environment. However, a university spokesperson cautioned that the survey results might not represent the entire student body, as only a small fraction participated.

In response to the university’s remarks, Rich acknowledged the need for caution but urged for proactive measures. He expressed a desire for university administrators to conduct their own assessments to understand the issue better.

Currently, the GSA operates a food pantry in the McDougal Graduate Student Center. This pantry helps identify food-insecure students and works toward inclusive solutions, like subsidized meal plans, to tackle food insecurity.

One initiative that sprung from these efforts is the Grad Plus plan, which offers meal options at a low cost. For instance, the Grad 30 plan provides limited meals for $385 per semester. Yet, some believe these options do not fully address the needs of students struggling with food access.

Various factors contribute to food insecurity, including the distance to grocery stores, transportation issues, and high food prices. Efforts are underway to understand and address these challenges. Rich advocates for additional support, such as subsidized meal points and a more accessible grocery store in the area. He highlighted the difficulty many students face in obtaining affordable food.

As part of their ongoing research, the GPSS recently gathered specific information on food security amongst students. Their findings showed that lack of access to affordable grocery stores is a recurring problem.

Both Rich and his colleagues believe that the university can take more decisive actions, like increasing shuttle services to grocery stores and considering options like free meals for students, which have been successfully implemented at other institutions.

The GPSS has a rich history, having been established in 1972. Their current initiatives showcase a commitment to ensuring that all students can focus on their studies without the burden of food insecurity.