Does Food Matter for Student Success? The Causal Impact of Meal Vouchers on Academic Attainment (Poster 2)

• In Event: Promoting Student Success in Higher Education

Abstract

Given growing awareness of the high prevalence of food insecurity among college students, higher education leaders are implementing various programs to address this issue on their campuses. However, there is little research on the efficacy and impact of these initiatives. Using data from a longitudinal mixed-methods field randomized control trial, we find that a relatively modest financial investment in campus meal cards, coupled with pro-active outreach, improved community college students’ academic outcomes. The Meal Voucher Program (MVP) increased the number of credits students’ attempted and completed in the first year, when program messaging was clearest and the provision of meal dollars was largest. Moreover, data show that MVP students were more likely to have earned a credential in two years.

Authors

• Katharine Broton, University of Iowa

• Milad Mohebali, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

• Sara Goldrick-Rab, Temple University