How college students can cut living expenses
COURIER LIFE, J PS ULY 26-AUG. 1, 2019 29
EDUCATION
The cost of college tuition is a concern for many
college-bound students and their families. The
cost of a college education continues to rise, but
it’s not just tuition and room and board that students
and their families must account for.
College students may underestimate cost-of-living
expenses when planning their school-year budgets.
But such expenses can be substantial, catching
even the most well-prepared students off guard. Fortunately,
there are several ways for college students
to save money on living expenses and still make the
most of their time on campus:
Venture off campus. Local businesses, including
bars, restaurants and entertainment venues like
mini-golf facilities or bowling alleys, may offer student
discounts to entice kids to leave campus. Students
can take advantage of these offerings to save
on food and entertainment, which tend to be among
the more pricey cost-of-living expenses college students
As the president of Kingsborough
Community College (KCC),
I want nothing more than to
see all KCC students succeed in
their studies. With this in mind,
I’m aware that there is a silent
epidemic that undercuts their
chances for success. It’s food insecurity.
Students who experience food
insecurity become distracted in
the classroom with their focus
drifting from the day’s lesson to
thoughts of where their next meal
will come from or the stomach
discomfort from hunger pains.
Food insecurity in higher education
institutions is a problem
that has been recognized for some
time, especially in community
colleges where a large portion of
the student body includes adult
learners with young children of
their own. They live on a fixed
incomes and their resources are
limited.
It’s important to know that
food insecurity is not the same
as hunger. According to the Committee
on National Statistics
(CNSTAT), “food insecurity is a
household-level economic and social
condition of limited access to
food, while hunger is an individual
level physiological condition
that may result from food insecurity.”
(USDA ERS, 2014b, p. 2).
Students who are food insecure
have irregular access to
meals. And, when available, the
meals may not be nutritious or affordable.
I’m proud that KCC is able to
assist students experiencing food
insecurity through a campusbased
food pantry that has served
families since 2012. Initially created
to meet the needs of KCC students
and the community following
devastation from Super Storm
Sandy, today, the KCC food pantry
is still an essential resource,
and a part of our Single Stop Office,
where student get connected
to government benefits and resources
like childcare, SNAP,
clothing and transportation. Last
year, the food pantry served 2,818
families – mostly students.
Prior to the pantry, we broke
ground on KCC’s Urban Farm in
2011, in collaboration with Project
EATS, a nonprofit that partnered
with us to produce fresh produce
that’s distributed free to students
and used for select KCC classes.
However, after Super Storm Sandy
in 2012, the nonprofit could no longer
sustain the farm, so Kingsborough’s
Workforce Development
team took over the management
of the Urban Farm. Every Thursday,
we provide free organic
vegetables to Kingsborough students.
We alternate pick up sites
between the farm and the Single
Stop offices, we see roughly about
40 students per week. The distributions
run from June – November,
during our harvest season.
Last year 1,147 students attended
vegetable distribution.
Whether individually or as a
family unit, students experiencing
food insecurity are urged to
ask for assistance. Through our
Single Stop office, we offer comprehensive
supportive services to
ensure students have a successful
college experience and are able to
complete their degree. In addition
to free assistance with SNAP and
WIC benefits screening, students
receive weekly food vouchers for
cafeteria meals, free tax prep, free
financial counseling and free assistance
with financial aid.
KCC is not the Lone Ranger of
combatting food insecurity. Many
other institutions of higher learning
across the country are doing
what they can to help students.
We know that students who don’t
have to worry about food pay better
attention in class, are more
likely to graduate, have higher
self-esteem and go on to obtain career
success.
Dr. Claudia V. Schrader is
president of Kingsborough Community
College (KCC), a 72-acre
academic oasis located in beautiful
Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn.
Kingsborough Community College
is committed to enhancing
learning opportunities for the
Brooklyn community. Visit www.
kbcc.cuny.edu to learn about the
classes, certifications and degree
programs offered at KCC.
EDUCAT I O N PROFI LE
Combating Student Food Insecurity on Campus
contend with.
Buy secondhand furnishings. Rather than
purchasing brand-new furniture they are likely to
discard after moving out or graduating, college students
can purchase secondhand items from local
thrift stores or used furniture retailers that offer
sturdy furnishings at low prices.
Become a resident advisor. Resident advisors,
often referred to as “RAs,” typically receive free or
reduced room and board in exchange for living in
the dorms and monitoring the fl oors they live on.
Competition to be an RA can be competitive, but
students can save thousands of dollars on room and
board costs over the course of their time at school.
Make your own meals. Meal plans may be
ideal for college students during their freshmen
years, when students may still be adjusting to campus
life. But older college students can skip the
meal plan in favor of preparing their own meals.
Doing so can save students substantial amounts of
money, and some students may even prefer the variety
available at the local grocery store over the
more limited offerings available at dining halls or
other campus eateries.
Move off campus. Some schools do not permit
freshmen and sophomores to live off-campus, but
older students may fi nd that private housing is more
affordable than on-campus apartments or dormitories.
Cost-of-living expenses at colleges and universities
can be considerable, but savvy students can fi nd
various ways to save money.
/www.kbcc.cuny.edu
/www.kbcc.cuny.edu
/kbcc.cuny.edu