South Louisiana Community College (SoLAcc) is proud to announce that it has been selected as one of the six Louisiana institutions awarded the prestigious Hunger-Free Campus Award by the Board of Regents. This recognition underscores SoLAcc's ongoing commitment to addressing food insecurity among its student population and fostering an environment of academic success and overall health.
The Hunger-Free Campus Award aims to support higher education institutions in their efforts to combat food insecurity among students. SoLAcc, along with five other institutions, will receive $8,000 in funding to bolster their initiatives dedicated to eradicating hunger on campus.
Dr. Vincent June, SoLAcc Chancellor, expressed his gratitude and excitement about receiving this award: "We believe that our students cannot fully succeed at our college if they are hungry or are unsure where their next meal will come from. We have to consider our students’ holistic success, and these funds will help us continue providing needed wraparound services for our students.”
SoLAcc's Hunger-Free Campus designation is a result of the college’s proactive measures, including the establishment of a Hunger-Free Task Force, raising awareness about Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for eligible students, hosting anti-hunger awareness events, and conducting regular assessments of food insecurity needs both on and off-campus.
A national study conducted in 2020 highlighted that a significant percentage of college students face food insecurity challenges, with higher numbers among students of color. Recognizing this issue, SoLAcc has implemented initiatives such as The Pantry, which provides essential food items to students in need. SoLAcc is honored to be part of the statewide effort in creating hunger-free campuses and remains committed to enhancing its support systems for its diverse student community.