Whether you’re starting college right after high school or after years in the workforce, you should know about a wide range of services that will help you be successful. Often called basic needs services, these services include food pantries, counseling, and more. Many colleges, like Austin Community College, have all of their services in one place, making it easy for students to access the support they need.
All of these services have the same goal: to help students do well in their classes, graduate with a degree or certificate, and be prepared for their future.
What Are Basic Needs Services?
Basic needs services cover physical well-being (housing, food, access to medical care) as well as mental health counseling services. They are designed to support the whole student so they can focus on schoolwork and not lose momentum toward earning their degree.
Here are some ways students can get help from their college:
- Many colleges and universities have emergency funds to help students with a one-time bill.
- You can borrow textbooks at no charge. You may also borrow technology that helps you participate in online classes, such as cameras and microphones.
- Students can get assistance connecting with housing services. Most colleges offer mental health counseling services or connect students with providers.
These are basic needs services. They are meant to support college students so they can focus on schoolwork and not lose momentum toward earning their degree.
Who Should Get Services?
Every student is eligible for some or all of these basic needs services, no matter their income or personal situation. They are just as much a part of your college experience as your classes.
College is stressful, even if you’re acing all your classes. As the semester goes on, the pressure can feel overwhelming. Maybe at the beginning you had a handle on everything. But now it’s midterms, you have a paper due, and the homework is getting harder.
Then you get a flat tire. Or your job cuts your hours so now you can’t make rent.
Or you’re not sleeping, and you’re missing classes.
Or your computer is no longer connecting to the Wi-Fi.
Any of these things can derail you, but they don’t have to. Part of being a college student is knowing when to ask for support.
Here are some of the ways that ACC steps in.
1. Food Security
As many as 2 in 5 college students go hungry. Most college students can relate.
You’ve been on the go since 8 a.m., maybe with your part-time job or with family obligations. Then you were in class at 2 p.m. Now, dinner time is approaching, and you’re hungry.
At Austin Community College, you can go to the Riverbat Bites Food Pantry on any campus, pick up free groceries for your family, and head home, knowing you’ll be able to have a meal tonight.
ACC’s food pantries let you “shop” for groceries, so you can cook healthy meals for yourself and your family. You can pick up vegetables, protein, and easy-to-prepare favorites like macaroni and cheese, noodles, and more.
For students who are eligible, ACC’s CARE Coordinators help you sign up for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits, so you can make sure you’re getting the nutrition you need to fuel your active life.
All of these services come with being an ACC college student. Consider it as much a part of your college experience as classes, internships, and club activities.
2. Housing Security
College students come from all backgrounds. While many community college students live at home with their parents and families, their classmates may be housing insecure. ACC’s C.A.R.E. Network works with local agencies and nonprofits that provide housing or connect students with housing resources.
For example, ACC partners with the tech nonprofit Housing Connector, whose goal is to streamline access to affordable housing, provide rent support, and offer stability.
Even though ACC doesn’t have dorms, it has a partnership with St. Edward’s University to let ACC students rent a room at the Casa, one of the dorms on the St. Edward’s campus.
Finding a secure place to live while you get your degree can help take the pressure off and let you concentrate on your classes.
3. Mental Health Care
College is a stressful experience even if students may be thriving in their new environment. Classes are challenging. Making new friends can be difficult. Navigating new relationships such as romantic connections, or just the dynamics of study groups, can be tough.
It’s not surprising then that 46% of college students said their mental health was poor, according to this report by Best Colleges.
Common mental health concerns for college students include anxiety and depression, and may lead to substance abuse, burnout, sleep issues, and other symptoms.
At ACC, students have options. ACC’s mental health counseling team works with students in person or virtual counseling sessions. In addition to ACC’s counseling team, students also have access to round-the-clock support from TimelyCare, a virtual mental health services provider for students in college.
Mental health still carries a stigma, and many students don’t seek help because they see it as a sign of weakness. But all mental health providers say over and over again that looking for help is a sign of strength.
And the good news is that counseling will pay off. Students who take care of their mental health are more likely to do well in their classes and graduate. And that’s what it’s all about, after all.
Think of the counseling team as your support system. That’s what they’re there for.
4. Financial Resources
Going to college can be expensive, but there are ways to limit the costs so you can make the most of your investment in your future. ACC, like most community colleges, can help you make the right financial choices with customized financial advising.
Here are some of the ways that college can be affordable.
Explore community colleges. Whether you plan on a two-year degree or certificate, a four-year bachelor’s degree, or a master’s or higher, look into starting at a community college. Tuition is more affordable than a four-year college, and you qualify for financial aid, saving even more on costs.
Financial aid. Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is your key to financial aid, Pell Grants, and scholarships. ACC offers financial aid workshops throughout the year to help students understand what they’re eligible for.
Check out free tuition. ACC’s Free Tuition Program is for high school, homeschool, and GED® students who graduated between 2024 and 2028 in the ACC service area. If you qualify, you can use financial aid and scholarships to pay for other college expenses.
Apply for scholarships. ACC offers hundreds of scholarships. All you have to do is fill out a single application. ACC does the rest, matching students with potential scholarship opportunities. Scholarship advisors help students with writing a personal statement and can also advise on any application questions.
Job training. If you are taking continuing education classes for workforce training, ACC also helps with identifying grants and job training for certain high-demand jobs.
Emergency funds. Another resource is the Student Emergency Fund (SEF). When an unexpected expense becomes a barrier, the SEF may be able to help eligible students with short-term financial assistance.
Veteran benefits. ACC’s Veterans Services team helps veterans through the process of enrolling in college and applying for their VA and Hazlewood benefits. Veterans can talk to advisors in person or via a phone call with any questions.
Money management. Learning how to manage your money, whether that comes from student loans or a part-time job, is a skill like any other. ACC’s Student Money Management Office helps students open a bank account, create a budget, and save for the future. It may feel like that isn’t something you need right now, but the sooner you start, the sooner you will be able to plan for the future.
Childcare scholarships. ACC offers eligible parenting students childcare scholarships as well as evening childcare.
5. Academic Support
College is supposed to be challenging, no matter your degree plan. After all, you’re learning something new. Your professors expect you to ask for help. Like all other colleges, ACC offers academic resources, whether that is help with homework, extra time in labs, or writing support.
Here are some ways you can get help with your classes.
Professor office hours. This is your first line of defense. Every professor holds office hours, whether in person or virtually. Students can drop in or schedule time to discuss classwork and homework. Students who make the time to meet with their professors are more likely to have a better understanding of the material.
Tutoring. Colleges have tutoring services. Check the schedule at your college to find tutoring times that work for your schedule.
Academic advising. If you have questions about your degree plan, or need to register for a course because your first choice is full, or any other question about your academic goals, your academic advisor is where you go first.
Career advising. College is the first step toward a career for most students, whether they choose an academic or career path. Colleges offer career advising as part of a student’s time at school. Using career services is the best way to prepare yourself for job seeking with a solid resume and cover letter, recommendations, interview prep, and more.
ACC’s Career Life Design Services connect students with these and many other services, such as career exploration and professional skill development.
Transfer advising. Transfer advisors help students navigate the sometimes complicated world of university transfer. Get help in finding the right school to transfer to, understand how many of your credits transfer, and even how to design a degree plan to ensure that most or all of your credits transfer. ACC offers a wide range of transfer services. The ACC Bats to Cats program is designed so that all of your ACC credits transfer directly to Texas State, saving you time and money on getting your bachelor’s degree.
Explore the ACC C.A.R.E. Network for College Resources
Everyone can use a little help sometimes. College resources are benefits that all students should look into. You may not need assistance right now, and that’s fine. These services are available to you throughout the semester and your degree program. Visit the C.A.R.E. Network and find out how ACC supports your college experience.
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