UNC Wilmington is joining a national effort to strengthen support for undergraduate students experiencing basic needs insecurity.

The Understanding Postsecondary Students' Perspectives on Basic Needs Insecurity initiative is a three-year research project that will examine how students experience challenges related to essential needs and identify ways to improve access to campus and community resources.

Led by Ithaka S+R and supported by ECMC Foundation, the initiative brings together 15 colleges and universities from across the United States. The national project aims to center student perspectives and help institutions make more informed decisions about outreach, communication and service delivery.

Research activities led by Student Affairs and Academic Affairs will include student interviews and focus groups, followed by a student-informed survey. National experts and student advisors will contribute to the research design, interpretation of findings and dissemination of results.

Participating institutions will receive campus-specific insights, cohort-wide findings, practical communication guidance and support for translating results into action.

“Participating in this study will help us better understand how students perceive basic needs, reduce the stigma associated with seeking support and identify opportunities to improve how we connect students with available resources,” said Jaime L. Russell, director of Student Community Engagement.

The initiative aligns with goals outlined in UNCW’s Soar Higher strategic plan, including assessing student food insecurity, expanding financial support resources and strengthening programs that promote student success. Findings from the research will help the university incorporate student voices as it continues to develop new and existing services and support systems for Seahawks.