Campus Basic Needs Committee (2020-22)

Committee Goals

The University of Pittsburgh is committed to supporting all students in meeting basic needs, including access to adequate food, safe housing, and other necessities. Basic needs security supports student physical and mental health, academic performance, and professional development.

The University of Pittsburgh understands the importance of students’ health and well-being.  Founded in 2020, the University’s Basic Needs Committee was formed to ensure that all students have access to access to clean air and water, food, housing, clothing and hygiene, health care, technology, academic and career success services, and transportation — while continuing to address systemic barriers and disparities in access to these resources. . The Basic Needs Committee helps fulfill University Equity and Access commitments established in the Pitt Sustainability Plan, which include creating a resource net for students’ physical, social, financial, & mental health needs.

In 2024, the Campus Basic Needs Committee officially folded into the Campus Well-Being Consortium.

2020 Campus-Wide Basic Needs Assessment

To build a foundation for change—and especially during these exceptionally challenging days—Pitt’s Campus Basic Needs Committee is gathering data on students’ current levels of basic needs security. In Fall 2020, we partnered with the Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice at Temple University to implement their nationally recognized Real College Assessment. The data collected via the assessment will allow us to identify gaps, strengthen existing student support services, and identify and create additional community-based connections to ensure you have the resources you need to thrive both inside and outside the classroom.

In Spring 2021, The Committee will receive a comprehensive Pitt basic needs report in that will be used to increase equity and access on campus!

Basic Needs Resources

• The Pitt Pantry provides food for all students, faculty, and staff with a Pitt email experiencing food insecurity.
• The Meal Scholarship Program offers students an additional way to ensure food security.
• Check out Pitt’s comprehensive list of basic needs resources from the University of Pittsburgh Library System.
• For clothing, check out:
  • University of Thriftsburgh, an affordable, sustainable on-campus thrift store in the O’Hara Student Center.
  • Student Affairs’ Career Closet, which ends suits, blazers, shirts, ties, and other professional accessories to students in order to help them look their best!
• Emergency Assistance
  • The Pitt Student Emergency Assistance Fund is available for undergraduate, graduate, and professional students with unanticipated and insurmountable expenses related to emergency situations that may result in students facing financial hardship.
  • The Joan Harvey, MD, School of Medicine Student Emergency Fund is designed to provide temporary, short-term financial assistance to students enrolled in the Medical School program who are confronted with unanticipated or emergency financial situations

• Pitt Virtual SNAP Map: Find places participating in the SNAP program

Interested in getting involved? Contact us!