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Aggie Compass Basic Needs Center offers services and resources to all UC Davis students, and encourages individuals who face food or housing insecurity issues to contact the Center staff in any of the four ways listed below:
 
· Through its Virtual Front Desk Monday-Thursdays from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. or Fridays between the hours of 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
· By e-mail at compass@ucdavis.edu.
· Calling (530) 752-9254.
· Visiting the Aggie Compass office, located in the East Wing of the Memorial Union, next to The Market (Campus Map) during the times and days listed above.
 
 
A 2015 study commissioned by University of California Office of the President reported that up to 42% of students throughout the UC system experience high levels of food insecurity, which adversely influences students' educational success. To address food insecurity and the challenges faced by UC Davis students, campus launched the Aggie Compass Basic Needs Center to address the complicated issue of food security, recognizing its context within associated issues of housing security. 

This is what prompted leadership from the student-athlete resource group Coalition of African Diaspora Student-Athletes to determine how food and housing insecurity impacted student-athletes and their undergraduate experience. 

"When this organization was founded on campus in May of 2019, we wanted to lay the groundwork for things that could improve the student-athlete community," said Xochitl Bryson, CADSA's president.

"We had a couple of our board members share that finding food or housing during breaks was really hard, so we conducted our own student-athlete survey to collect additional information. CADSA members visited teams during their practice as a way of publicizing this survey, which ultimately received responses from all 25 teams," she added.

Initial conversations that first took place between CADSA, Aggie Compass and UC Davis Athletics focused on student-athletes' situations regarding academic breaks and challenges faced regarding food and housing.

Said Dwight Smith, executive director for athletics diversity, equity, and inclusion regarding the main points that were brought up during that initial set of meetings, "how can we better address this issue for individuals who are impacted right now, and how can we better prioritize this as a department moving forward?"
 
It was that pair of questions that led Athletics and CADSA to forge a unique partnership with Aggie Compass, an on-campus basic needs center that provides financial, mental wellness, housing and food security resources.

"CADSA developed a survey instrument and received information that validated the presence of food insecurity in the student-athlete community," said Smith, who also serves as the student-athlete resource group's staff advisor.

Shortly after CADSA wrapped-up its survey, the SARG worked with Smith to summarize the results, share them with then-Director of Athletics Kevin Blue and the senior administrative team. 

"One of the immediate actions identified through this dialogue focused on how the department could strengthen its connections with existing campus partners and highlight available resources that address basic needs. Both CADSA and ICA approached Aggie Compass to align our efforts to address education and awareness around the resources that do exist," said Smith. 

Aggie Compass is an on-campus resource center that provides students with nutritious food, basic necessities, and assists individuals with the CalFresh application process — a state-operated program that helps individuals receive healthy food.

"We also talked to Aggie Compass about creating opportunities that increase awareness of their basic need services to the student-athlete community, which includes helping individuals understand the CalFresh program. 

"This situation highlights the power of student-athletes' voices," said Smith. "We are all here to serve our student-athletes and bring unique perspectives. When they are empowered to engage with department leadership and share their personal experiences, powerful collaboration opportunities are created." 


Finding long-term solutions while addressing current needs  

"In the past, Aggie Compass was the one who reached out to other departments on campus and initiated conversations. This situation is unique because it was Athletics and student-athletes who reached out to us," said Nubia Goodwin, coordinator for the Aggie Compass Basic Needs Center. 

Goodwin added, "A major part of my role, and part of Aggie Compass' role on campus, is illuminating basic needs struggles among all students — including student-athletes — and finding ways to let everyone know about the services we provide."

Last fall, ICA and Aggie Compass organized a fall quarter education session with Student-Athlete Outcome advisors, Compliance, Sports Medicine and Sports Psychology staff since these individuals work closely with student-athletes throughout the academic year. 

During this training, Aggie Compass shared information about the program, introduced its staff members, highlighted their roles, explained the referral process which allows student-athletes to take advantage of services offered and shared useful tips and strategies to determine if student-athletes are experiencing food or housing insecurities, in case they choose not to disclose information about their current situation.

Since coaches spend the most time with student-athletes on a year-round basis, they will receive the same information in an educational opportunity that will take place during the spring. 

The second educational element of ICA's partnership with Aggie Compass involved organizing sessions with the student-athlete community. What started last fall continues today with ongoing dialogue between all three groups since the ultimate goal is to help everyone understand available resources and services.

"We are creating awareness opportunities. This year's conversations involve piloting and executing those educational sessions so this becomes a normal process that involves student-athletes," Smith said.


Beyond education and providing needed resources

CADSA leadership collaborated specifically with Aggie Compass to find additional ways during COVID to support student-athletes during spring break. This lead to specific spring break resource options offered to all students, but coordinated for times student-athletes could pick up fresh produce between practices.

"The response received from student-athletes was enthusiastically positive, they were grateful to know that organizations on campus care about their situation and are working hard to support them," said Bryson. 

With the spring quarter underway, ICA and Aggie Compass staff will conduct are meetings throughout the quarter to determine what worked best, and how to improve this menu of resources in the future. 

Said Smith: "The 2020-21 academic year is a great case study that promotes student-athlete leadership, powerful conversations, as well as listening to and understanding the student-athlete community's needs."

"Looking back throughout the process, I am proud to see how much everyone was able to accomplish in a short period of time," said Bryson. 

"CADSA is not just for student-athletes, our goal is to improve the overall experience for everyone at UC Davis. We encourage all students to take advantage of the resources and opportunities that are available for everyone, especially if you are facing food or housing insecurity."





ABOUT UC DAVIS
Centrally located between San Francisco and Lake Tahoe, over 700 student-athletes across 25 teams enjoy an unrivaled undergraduate experience at the fifth-ranked public school in the country. 

Ranked annually in the nation's top 10 in diversity and students' social mobility, UC Davis and its innovative Aggie EVO System helps student-athletes develop passions, connect with a comprehensive network of alums and industry leaders, gain real-world experience and thrive as a young professional following a successful launch to full-time employment or graduate school.