Faculty and Staff Resources
Did you know?
More than 1 in 4 Cal Poly students experience food insecurity or inadequate access to food
More than 1 in 10 experience homelessness
Since 2016, Cal Poly food pantry usage increased by 500% to nearly 10,000 visits in AY 2021-2022
In AY 2022-2023, the Cal Poly CalFresh Outreach team helped 1,635 students apply for CalFresh benefits
For every 1,000 Cal Poly students who participate in CalFresh, $6 million in economic activity is generated for the State of California per year
How can I support Cal Poly students?
Add a basic needs statement to your syllabus
Review the list of approved majors which make students potentially eligible for a CalFresh food grant
Post, upload, or print CalFresh flyers
Visit and refer your students to the Cal Poly Basic Needs website
Syllabus Statements
Include a short statement introducing Basic Needs on your syllabus as a complement to the other suggested resources, such as ones for DRC, Health and Wellbeing, and academic integrity statements.
Copy and paste these versions onto your syllabus.
short version
If you or someone you know is having difficulty accessing enough healthy food or stable housing, please know that Cal Poly offers a number of free and effective resources. Visit www.basicneeds.calpoly.edu for more information.
long version
27% of Cal Poly students experience food insecurity, or inadequate access to food. 12% experience homelessness. These challenges are common among college students and they lead to severe consequences for physical, mental, and academic wellbeing. If you or someone you know is having difficulty accessing basic needs like enough healthy food or stable housing, please know that Cal Poly offers a number of free and effective resources. Visit www.basicneeds.calpoly.edu for more information.
CalFresh Flyers
Cal Poly Basic Needs Website
The website includes information about the Cal Poly Food Pantry, Cal Poly Cares Grant, CalFresh Outreach, emergency housing and more: www.basicneeds.calpoly.edu
What does CalFresh mean for students?
spring 2019
“I didn’t think I’d qualify for something like that [CalFresh benefits]…it’s such a simple process...and I had that freedom to buy enough food.”
Megan, Former Cal Poly Student