Student Advocacy & Resource Center Financial Support Programs

Using the student services fee balance, the Student Advocacy & Resource Center (SARC) developed the Archer Meals Award to provide food-insecure students access to one hot meal each day through our food vendor and the Basic Needs Award to provide direct funding and financial literacy to students with unmet basic needs. SARC partnered with several departments and the college’s food vendor to create operating procedures, application materials, evaluation rubrics, and communication templates, plus protocols to verify eligibility, track awards, and transfer funds to students. These collaborations repurposed existing systems to track and award meals, prevent misuse and refund unspent funds to the college, and automate student success and retention data. The SARC financial assistance programs are designed to be user-friendly, data informed, secure, and sustainable. The programs holistically serve the unmet needs of under-resourced students so that they have the stability and capacity to continue their education. Students who receive these awards are more likely to successfully complete the term and reenroll to continue their education.

Innovators

• Danielle Lusk, Coordinator, Student Advocacy & Resource Center
• Mayuko McGuire, Coordinator, Student Advocacy & Resource Center
• Keith Robinder, Vice President, Student Support Programs
• Candice Swink, Coordinator, Student Advocacy & Resource Center