Student Experience

UC Santa Cruz joins national research initiative on student basic needs

UC Santa Cruz joins a national research initiative to better understand students’ basic needs challenges and improve access to support.

October 5, 2026

By Division of Student Affairs and Success

UC Santa Cruz is joining 14 colleges and universities across the country in a three-year research initiative focused on better understanding how students define and experience basic needs insecurity and what influences their decisions to seek support.

The Understanding Postsecondary Students’ Perspectives on Basic Needs Insecurity initiative, led by Ithaka S+R with support from ECMC Foundation, will help participating institutions better align communication, navigation, and support strategies with students’ needs. Through the project, UC Santa Cruz will receive student-informed insights and practical guidance while contributing to research that can inform colleges and universities nationwide.

“This work is an important part of creating the conditions for students to pursue their own goals and expand what is possible for them,” said Dr. Ebonée Williams, associate vice chancellor for Student Success and Equity. “It is so important that we understand how to reach students who need support whether they know about it or not.” The initiative will also provide UCSC with a deeper understanding of how students experience basic needs challenges and navigate available resources.

“To strengthen our support for students, we need to understand not only what their basic needs are, but how students themselves experience those needs and make decisions about seeking help,” said Mariah Lyons, associate dean of students. “Listening directly to students can help us identify barriers, improve how we connect them with resources, and make support easier to navigate and access.”

Williams is leading UCSC’s participation alongside a campus team with staff and faculty from Student Support Programs, Basic Needs, Hispanic-Serving Institution Initiatives, and the Center for Economic Justice and Action.