East Tennessee State University is partnering with Ithaka S+R on a three-year national research initiative examining how undergraduate students understand and experience basic needs insecurity and how their perspectives can help institutions strengthen student support.

The study brings together 15 colleges and universities from across the United States with support from ECMC Foundation. The initiative seeks to better understand how students define basic needs insecurity, what influences their decisions to seek support, and how colleges and universities can improve communication, navigation and access to resources.

The project centers the perspectives and experiences of students, recognizing that factors such as stigma, trust, perceived eligibility and institutional language can shape how students understand their needs and whether they seek assistance.

Centering student perspectives

The initiative is designed to understand basic needs insecurity from the student perspective rather than evaluate individual programs or institutional performance.

"Students are the experts on their own experiences, and we need to listen to them to understand not only what basic needs challenges they face, but also what might prevent them from seeking support," said Heidi Marsh, coordinator of ETSU's Center Engagement and Vital Support Services.

As a participating institution, ETSU will contribute to the national research effort while gaining student-informed insights to guide its approach to basic needs communication and support. The research will include student interviews and focus groups, followed by a student-informed survey.

The project has three areas of focus:

  • Understanding basic needs insecurity: How do students define and experience basic needs challenges, and what circumstances prompt them to seek support?
  • Understanding help-seeking: How do stigma, trust, perceived eligibility and institutional language influence whether and how students seek assistance?
  • Improving institutional support: How can colleges and universities better align communication, services and resource navigation with students' experiences?

A national collaboration

Ithaka S+R leads the research and analysis, while participating institutions contribute local context and support student recruitment and research initiatives. National experts and student advisers will also contribute to the research, interpretation and dissemination of findings.

Qualitative research through interviews and focus groups will explore student perspectives and inform the development of a national survey. Survey findings will provide additional insight into students' experiences, awareness of resources and approaches to navigating support.

Findings from each phase of the research will be made publicly available through Ithaka S+R, contributing to a broader understanding of how higher education institutions can better respond to students' basic needs.

By participating in the initiative, ETSU is contributing to a national effort to listen to students, understand their experiences and identify student-informed approaches to connecting them with the support they need to succeed.

"Having resources available is only part of the equation. Students also need to know what is available, feel comfortable accessing it and be able to navigate the process," said Marsh. "At ETSU, our cross-campus partnerships and Basic Needs Advisory Team help us bring people and resources together, and this research offers an important opportunity to strengthen that work by centering students' voices and experiences."

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