Hungry for Knowledge: Assessing the Prevalence of Food Insecurity at the University of Guelph

There is growing evidence that significant numbers of university students in Canada experience food insecurity, potentially undermining the health, well-being and educational success of students. The University of Guelph has joined a handful of other Canadian universities in responding to this issue. CESI, Meal Exchange, Universities Fighting World Hunger and graduate students working with Dr. Laura Forbes partnered on research to better understand the experiences and prevalence of food insecurity amongst students at the University of Guelph. The goal of this research was to contribute to and foster action locally and nationally, in part by bringing attention to this important issue.

This report summarizes the data from a survey of students at the University of Guelph. It reveals risk factors for food insecurity and exposes some of the realities many students experience, and will contribute to a wider discussion of the issue of student food insecurity and guide further action to address the issue. Addressing this issue on campus will involve both short-term action (e.g. supports for food provision) as well as exploring wider questions related to income, costs of living, work (on and off campus), financial aid, access to culturally appropriate foods and deeply held cultural ideas about the student experience.

Read the Hungry for Knowledge Report and Infographic on food insecurity in Guelph and Canada. 

For more information on CESI's partnership with Meal Exchange, see the CESI and Meal Exchange: Working Together to Address Student Food Insecurity blog post.