Welcome to the UC Essential Needs Research, Training, and Promising Practices Consortium!

Across the state of California and nationally, university students experience significant basic needs challenges. The University of California considers basic needs as encompassing an “ecosystem that supports financial stability by ensuring equitable access to nutritious and sufficient food; safe, secure and adequate housing (to sleep, study, cook and shower); healthcare to promote sustained mental and physical well-being; affordable transportation; resources for personal hygiene care; and emergency needs for students with dependents.” 

Beginning with the establishment of the UC Global Food Initiative (GFI) in 2014 and continuing today, campuses across the University of California are working to address students’ basic needs, strengthen campus basic needs resources, and launch innovative, new programs.

Established in 2023, the UC Essential Needs Consortium builds on the innovative work being done across the UC system to address basic needs challenges and ensure that all students’ essential needs are met. We use “basic needs” and “essential needs” interchangeably but encourage using the term “essential needs” to emphasize their foundational importance to well-being, thriving, and student success. At the Center for Economic Justice and Action, we:

• Foster innovative UC essential needs research and evaluation that can inform practices, programs, and policies
• Amplify the impact of UC’s essential needs programs
• Provide UC campuses with essential needs education, training, and technical assistance tailored to their needs
• Showcase UC essential needs best practices and effective programs
• Nurture a robust UC learning community of researchers and practitioners
• Advance UC’s basic needs, student success, and equity goals

CEJA’s crucial work is made possible by funding from the University of California Office of the President. Learn more about us in this recent story about the Consortium.