Meet the Basic Needs of All Students & Employees

This initiative proposes to meet the basic needs of all campus community members and eliminate barriers to accessing food, clothing, housing, transportation, childcare, and other basic needs. Research indicates that unmet basic needs significantly impact success, with students and staff facing difficulties in concentration, academic achievement, and mental health. To improve student and staff well-being, the university should enhance support services such as establishing affordable grocery access, improving transportation options, expanding basic needs services, and increasing access to affordable childcare. Actionable items include:

• Collaborate with the City of Tucson to ensure continued fare-free public transit for all and explore additional alternative transportation options.
• Centralize resources such as the Basic Needs Center and a potential on-campus thrift store, and improve access to these services
• Establish an on-campus childcare center to support students and employees with children, improving their ability to work and study effectively.
• Implement these services campus-wide by distributing information about basic needs services and offering support for public assistance program applications.
• Include language in contracts with private developers to increase access to basic needs, such as grocery stores, within a truly walkable distance from campus.