Students At 2 Mercer Colleges Face Food Insecurity. NJ Steps In To Assist

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — Between paying rent, tuition and other expenses, many college students in Mercer County wonder “will I have enough to eat?”

It may seem counterintuitive since many campuses have dining halls. But not all students have the money to pay for meals. The state has stepped in to provide relief for these students.

A survey conducted by New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education in Spring 2024, suggests that more than one in three New Jersey students lack consistent access to adequate food resources.

This causes an impediment to learning, with students at risk to drop out.

“The modern-day student experience looks very different than in the past. While pursuing educational opportunities that can change the trajectory of their lives, students are balancing jobs, supporting families or simply facing precarious circumstances that can force them to make difficult decisions between paying for food, rent, tuition and other needs,” Mark Dinglasan, Executive Director of the New Jersey Office of the Food Security Advocate said.

The OSHE recently announced a grant of $1.2 million after noting that applications for the Hunger-Free Campus Act grant increased by 150 percent this cycle.

The grant will go to 34 institutions in NJ, including two in Mercer County - Mercer County Community College and The College of New Jersey.

“We want every college student to have the support they need to reach their full potential, and addressing food insecurity is essential to achieving that goal,” Gov. Phil Murphy said.

“I am proud of New Jersey’s leadership in creating a model that serves our diverse campuses and builds on the foundation laid by New Jersey’s Hunger-Free Campus Act.”

For many Mercer County students, food insecurity is a reality. Several state leaders have understood the problem and are determined to address it.

“We know college students facing food insecurity are significantly less likely to graduate than their food-secure peers,” Secretary of Higher Education Brian K. Bridges said. “By ensuring the availability of resources for students attending our state’s institutions, we are working so that hunger is never a barrier to their success.”

To maximize the impact and reach of available funding, OSHE employed an equity-focused distribution model to support all 34 institutions that met the Hunger-Free Campus designation requirements under the Hunger-Free Campus Act (P.L. 2019, C.89).

Funding was awarded by taking into account the institution's efforts to address the issue, implement sustainable solutions, raise awareness of available resources, and connect students with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), among other initiatives.

Although many students would quality for SNAP, state officials found more than half – 57 percent – at-risk students were not participating in the program.

The state is taking steps to address the issue with the Department of Human Services changing the rules to allow income-eligible students enrolled in career and technical education programs to qualify.

“When we decided to address hunger on college campuses, the decision was simple – because hunger should never stand in the way of education,” Assemblyman Benjie E. Wimberly said. The Hunger Free Campus Act was sponsored by Wimberly back in 2018.

“We worked tirelessly in the Legislature to find solutions that meet students’ immediate needs, ensuring they can access this support without the stigma associated with food insecurity.”

With the recent grants, lawmakers are hopeful more students are able to concentrate on learning, especially first-generation college students.

“When we passed the Hunger-Free Campus Act, we made a commitment to addressing food insecurity across our college campuses,” Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin, a champion in the fight against food insecurity, said.

“No student should have to choose between education and essential needs like food. We have seen how these grants have made difference for students across our state, enabling them to focus on their studies and achieve their academic goals.”

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