Understanding Postsecondary Students’ Perspectives on Basic Needs Insecurity Initiative

The Understanding Postsecondary Students’ Perspectives on Basic Needs Insecurity initiative is a multi year research and learning effort funded by ECMC Foundation and administered by Ithaka S+R, a nonprofit research organization that works to improve access to education and knowledge. The initiative is designed to address a persistent gap in higher education: while many colleges and universities offer services to support student basic needs such as food, housing, and financial stability, many eligible students do not access these services. The program is grounded in the premise that differences between institutional definitions of need and students lived experiences can limit the effectiveness of outreach and support systems. The primary purpose of this initiative is to develop a deeper, student informed understanding of basic needs insecurity and to translate those insights into improved institutional practices. The research focuses on how undergraduate students define need, how perceptions such as stigma and trust influence help seeking behavior, and how institutions can better align communication and service delivery with student realities. The project is structured to generate both institution specific insights and broader findings that can inform national higher education practices. Funding for participating institutions is provided in the form of a subgrant of 5000 dollars to offset the time and resources required to participate in the research activities. The funding is not intended for program implementation or capital expenditures but rather to support engagement in research coordination, student recruitment, and participation in collaborative activities. Institutions are expected to dedicate approximately 40 hours of staff time over the duration of the project and to actively contribute to research and learning activities. Eligibility is limited to public and private two year and four year colleges and universities located in the United States. Institutions must demonstrate a commitment to supporting undergraduate student basic needs and have the capacity to participate in research activities, including data sharing and student outreach. Applicants are also required to identify institutional project liaisons and provide a letter of support from senior leadership, indicating institutional commitment to the initiative. The application process is conducted through a Request for Proposals submitted via an online platform. Applicants were required to submit a statement of interest describing alignment with project goals, current institutional efforts related to basic needs, and capacity to support student participation. The application also required identification of up to two institutional liaisons and submission of a leadership endorsement. There were no pre application requirements such as letters of intent or concept papers specified. The timeline for the initiative began with a planning and recruitment phase from January through July 2026, during which institutions applied and were selected. Applications were due on March 6 2026, and selected institutions were notified by April 1 2026. The full project spans approximately three years, including research activities from August 2026 through July 2028 and a final phase of communication strategy development through December 2028.

Ensure strong alignment with project goals and clearly demonstrate institutional commitment to student basic needs and research participation