NOEP College Initiative- Best Practices

Here are a few things to consider when beginning a collaboration with a college in your service area:

1.) SUNY schools and community colleges may have more potentially eligible students than private universities. Community colleges in particular often have many returning students who are adults with children.

2.) For some schools, the best place to contact about a potential collaboration is the student body government. This was the case with Hudson Valley Community College. The student body government needed to “vote” to collaborate with NOEP. (The vote was a unanimous YES!)

For other schools, the best place to contact will be the administration of the school, such as an administrative department that oversees student activities.

3.) Consider upfront how you would like to collaborate. Would you like regular visits to the campus? If so, how frequently given your other commitments, such as weekly or monthly? Also consider what these visits may include, such as presentations to a group of students and/or individual prescreens.

4.) To Intern or Not to Intern? Many students need internships for their studies, or may just want the experience of supporting an anti-hunger program. Consider if you would like and/or need a student intern or volunteer to assist you with coordinating your collaboration. For example, a student intern could distribute outreach materials for you on campus, or assist in setting up prescreening appointments for you prior to your campus visit. An intern or volunteer could also assist with ensuring that students have gathered any important documents prior to an appointment with you, or assist in following up with students after you have referred them to the LDSS/HRA.

5.) If you are going to prescreen on campus, think about what you will need, such as a confidential space for prescreening, access to a copy machine, etc.

6.) Colleges often have rules and regulations regarding outreach materials that are distributed on campus. Discuss upfront what they require, such as a stamp of approval from the school. Also, you may decide that the basis of your collaboration will be primarily to distribute outreach materials to the students. If this will be the case, who would be the best point person for you to contact, and what are the best locations on campus to distribute and/or post outreach materials?

7.) You may be asked to fill out some paperwork so that you have approval to make regular visits to the campus.

8.) Remember, proper nutrition and healthy foods mean better grades and academic successes. For athletes, good nutrition means stronger bodies and better performances. Lastly, for all students, the economic benefit of NOEP and food stamps is a great lesson to learn!