Over the last decade, college and university leadership, staff, and faculty have increasingly recognized the urgency of student basic needs.
Basic needs include a student’s essential requirements for health and well-being that must be met in order for them to succeed in college. When students cannot meet their basic needs, it is often (although not always) because they are experiencing short- or long-term financial instability. Examples of basic needs include, but are not limited to:
Students who cannot meet their basic needs often cope with these challenges by dropping classes, working more hours, or skipping semesters, all of which puts them at risk for dropping out or not transferring (Dubick et al., 2016; Sackett et al., 2016; Chaplot et al., 2015).
Much of the research on basic needs among college students has focused on hunger and homelessness, and researchers have found that rates of food and housing insecurity are much higher than previously believed—especially in two-year institutions. Food and housing insecurity can create a cognitive, physical, and financial burden that interferes with students’ ability to learn, to achieve a high GPA, or even to remain in college and to learn (PattónLopez et al., 2014; Maroto et al., 2014).
Porterville College is committed to our student and community needs and looks forward to assisting with students’ educational needs on the path to success.
Location: FIT-722 Basic Needs Center/Pirate Pantry
Phone: 559-791-2281
Hours:
Monday - 8:30am - 11:30am
Tuesday - 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Wednesday - 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Thursday 11:00am - 1:00pm
Friday 8:30am - 11:30am
Homeless students may use the PC locker room showers Monday-Friday 8:00am - 10:00am *Check-in required AC-103 Financial Aid office*
Eligibility:
