Tuesday, July 29, 2025 11:00 AM PST

In 'What It Really Takes to Serve Student Basic Needs: Housing'

Moderator
Ian Wilhelm, deputy managing editor, The Chronicle of Higher Education

Panelists
Keith Curry, president, Compton College
- says he is concerned for his students regarding financial aid. Did learn about the budget reconciliation process including with help from association of community college trustees.
- is focused on impact and success as things happen with trump executive orders, because people are going to look to him about how well his students are performing and succeeding.
- participated in surveys. he learned about dealing with homelessness in graduate school such as development. he reached out to dr tracy morris for help and insight from her dissertation.

Tracy Morris, president, Illinois Valley Community College
- says her duty is to do things right when it comes to housing by giving students a place to live revolved around their experience. says she created a food bank to help students with food needs, which increased over 200% in activity. says overcharging taught her not to do that when it comes to housing.

Rashida Crutchfield, professor, School of Social Work, and Executive Director, Center for Equitable Higher Education
California State University, Long Beach
- works at a center that studies issues such as housing and homelessness. says they do have data on who needs help who receive an award letter. she seeks to dismantle competing theories that affect her college related to student struggling.

Torence Powell, president, Napa Valley College
- second largest housing project. receives state subsidies from the state of California. works with foundations and nonprofits to help students meet their basic needs including transportation. has an endowment from two sources which has generated $200,000 in student aid. seeks to bridge the gaps so the student can focus on their education and allow loans to be used later as needed. says mental health services have doubles since being implemented, which shows a strong need for students. created a room for kids, while parent students are in class.

Poll
43% strongly agree housing big problem facing students on my campus, 41% somewhat agree. 9% somewhat disagree, 1% strongly disagree, 6% unsure.

Jay Allen, president, Itawamba Community College
- Looks to create a sense of community. lives on campus, which is a neat experience for him. Charges $1000 for bed, $100 for meal plan, affordable. It helps solve problems. Jay extended an offer for Keith to come see how their housing is done as we all learn from one another. says his legislature passed a student need for foster students who receive housing and meals, which is a great model to have more of it. his college does match students who are homeless with those who have housing. he said that students needs like food will be placed in a locker, so the student will not feel embarrassed. says his college is a different animal as it does not have any family lifestyle rooms.