BILL 2024-F6-3003

Addressing Campus Food Insecurity and Re-establishing the Meal Swipe Donation Program

Chief Sponsor(s): Chief of Staff Tereza Progri, Director Pranav Nair, Vice President Dilay Heybeli
Co-Sponsor(s): President Haider “Asa” Asad, Director Trish Georgiou, Representative Estrella
Almendras, Representative Sajal Shukla
WHEREAS, food insecurity is a pressing issue that affects a significant portion of students on campus,
with a #RealCollege national survey finding that 39% of college students struggle to access adequate
and nutritious meals; and,
WHEREAS, research has shown that food insecurity negatively impacts students’ academic
performance, mental health, and overall well-being, which undermines their success and retention in
higher education; and,
WHEREAS, to address food insecurity, Resolution 2023-S13-2004 was passed and successfully secured
annual meal swipes for food insecure students in the UIC Dining Services contract, as well as called for
the establishment of a Meal Swipe Donation Program; and,
WHEREAS, other institutions, like The University of Iowa, have established successful models of meal
share programs (Hawkeye Meal Share Program); and,
WHEREAS, in the Fall 2023 semester, the USG worked with the former dining services vendor,
Chartwells, to implement a pilot Meal Swipe Donation Program that collected 98 donations from 41
students in a single 3 hour event despite no prior promotion to the Student Body, demonstrating
on-the-spot interest from students to donate and help their fellow Flames; and,
WHEREAS, UIC Dining Vendor Sodexo Magic has expressed a willingness to collaborate with the
USG on campus initiatives aimed at improving student access to resources; then,
LET IT BE RESOLVED, that the USG will work in collaboration with Sodexo Magic to re-establish the
Meal Swipe Donation Program, hosting routine tabling events, enabling students with meal plans to
donate unused swipes to peers facing food insecurity.
LET IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED, that the USG will partner with the Office of the Dean of Students
to ensure that meal swipes are disbursed to students in need in an equitable and confidential manner,
prioritizing those most at risk of food insecurity.