Texas, one of the largest and most diverse higher education systems in the country, has invested in helping its colleges and universities better meet student basic needs. Doing so is essential for meeting the state’s ambitious goals for attainment of postsecondary credentials, laid out in Building a Talent Strong Texas.  

We’re excited to gather the leading organizations supporting these efforts in Texas. Organizations collecting data on and providing technical assistance to colleges focused on basic needs, mental health, and emergency aid will connect for rich dialogue, sharing, and exploring. We’ll discuss: 

• Current efforts in Texas
• Whom is being served and who is not?
• Avenues for better integrating and connecting basic needs, mental health, and emergency aid efforts
• Ongoing needs and opportunities for collaboration

Program Materials

• Program Book
  • Meeting agenda
  • Description of organizations and initiatives providing training and technical assistance to Texas colleges focused on basic needs, mental health and emergency aid
  • Summary data on college participation in these efforts
• A Compendium of Basic Needs, Mental Health, and Emergency Aid Work with Texas Colleges and Universities (2020-2024) - compiled with your data (download for full view)
• Relevant Resources and Reports from Participating Organizations 
  • The Hope Center - Accelerating Student Success at Texas Colleges Through Supporting Student Basic Needs: A Report on The Hope Center's Efforts in Texas in 2022-2023
  • Breakthrough Central Texas - Student & Family Support Fund Report
  • CCCSE – Mission Critical - The Role of Community Colleges in Meeting Students’ Basic Needs
  • Ed Trust Texas - For Student Parents The Biggest Hurdles to a Higher Education Are Cost and Finding Child Care
  • Ed Trust Texas - Who Received Federal Emergency Aid Funding in Texas A Closer look at the Pandemic Funding Awarded to Postsecondary Students
  • Generation Hope - FamilyU Seal, Student Parent Success Core Competencies, and Transforming Campus Communities for Student Parents (3 documents)
  • Greater Texas Foundation - Small Dollars For Big Impact - How Texas Community Colleges are Creating Effective Models for Emergency Aid
  • Texas Schools Project & RAND - Understanding How Texas Community College Campuses Are Supporting Student Mental Health
  • Texas Success Center - Basic Needs Insecurity in Texas Community Colleges Landscape Analysis
  • Young Invincibles - More Than Self Care: Students
  • Speaking Out for Mental Health

Note: Presented information is based on what was submitted by participating organizations. We are interested to continue to update, grow, expand, and adapt these materials. Please reach out if you would like to submit additions, contribute to this effort going forward, or have ideas about how the information can be most useful.

We're grateful for the participation and collaboration of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Texas Success Center, Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, Trellis Foundation & Trellis Strategies, Ed Trust Texas, Center for Community College Student Engagement, several funders, and others. We hope you’ll join us!  

Texas Success Center/Texas Association of Community Colleges 

1304 San Antonio St. 

Austin, TX 78701

Many thanks to the Prentice & Alline Brown Foundation and Trellis Foundation for providing funding in support of this event and to the Texas Student Success Center for hosting.  

For those wishing to spend the night, we recommend Hotel Ella or Double Tree Suites by Hilton (both within walking distance) 

Questions? Feel free to reach out to hcevents@temple.edu.