Food Insecurity
The College and University Food Bank Alliance, an organization that runs food banks, started in 2012 with 13 members; as of 2020, they have over 700 members (CUFBA, 2021). Students can’t afford textbooks because of competing priorities: food insecurity, cost of daycare, supporting family members, etc (CUFBA, 2021). According to Student Public Interest Research Groups, 11% of students skip meals in order to purchase textbooks (2021).
Food insecurity is affecting UTSA students as well, as evidenced by the creation of the Roadrunner Pantry (UTSA Roadrunner Pantry, 2024).
The UTSA Libraries partnered with UTSA Student Government to host a textbook awareness event; at the event, many students reported that they have paid $300 or more for a single UTSA textbook.
We asked UTSA students to share the highest price they have ever paid for a textbook and what they would have done with the money otherwise. Food was the most cited need that students neglected in order to purchase textbooks.