A Household-Based Food Security Survey of Western New York College Students to Determine Its Prevalenc

In 2014, 14.1 % (17.4 million) United States households were classified as food insecure or having limited or uncertain access to adequate quantities and quality of food. This study documents the percentage of college students in the western New York area that are food insecure. This study also assesses the students' level of food security. A modified U.S. household food security questionnaire was used to assess the students' food security status. This study surveyed 387 students from both private and public colleges in western New York. The collected surveys were coded using the USDA's Food Security Scoring scale. Data were analyzed using nominal and descriptive statistics. The study found that 13.4 % of all students surveyed had a very low food secure status. The study found the percentage of very low food secure students to be 12.3 % at four-private colleges, 19.4 % at four-year public colleges, and 11.8 % at two-year public colleges. Students in the western New York area were found be more than twice as likely to be food insecure than the national average. This study found that the rates of food insecurity differ by school type. Further research is needed in order to assess the need of aid on all campuses. This study provides a model for future research on food insecurity to be conducted on college campuses.