From Food Security to Mental Health: RRCC Recognized for Expanding Student Support

Last school year, students visited the Red Rocks Community College Food Pantry more than 4,000 times. Those visits translated into more than 11,000 meals. This week, the state took notice.

Colorado Department of Higher Education’s (CDHE) new Basic Needs Campus Designation recognizes institutions that are committed to supporting students’ essential needs around food, housing and mental health.

Providing basic needs supports to students experiencing challenges is crucial to supporting students to be able to not only show up to classes, but to succeed and feel supported in their community.

The new designation labeled RRCC as a Cornerstone Campus which recognizes institutions that have established key foundational supports for student basic needs including for health and food security.

“We started with an isolated pantry that’s now grown so much,” Whitney Heaton, RRCC’s Student Life Operations Coordinator said. “Through our partnerships, grants and connections, we’ve learned a lot about how to better organize and support our students.”

Grants and contributions supporting the efforts to meet the basic needs of our students include: The Food Security grant with Colorado Gives Foundation; Connect for Success Initiative with Institute for Women’s Policy and Research; the RRCC Foundation Emergency fund; Staff, faculty, and other personal donations.  

In the past year, RRCC's food pantry has grown significantly with work from new dedicated staff like Whitney who is fostering community partnerships. As part of that work, RRCC’s food pantry is now actively engaged with several other local food security partners, making it easier to provide referrals and more meals to students in need than ever before.

Students at RRCC who are experiencing housing insecurity can be referred to several community resources, but also have access to apply for emergency funding from the RRCC Foundation.  

The new partnerships have also boosted RRCC’s ability to provide resources and information workshops to students.

RRCC has also hosted Know Your Rights seminars and is the only community college in the Colorado Community College System running its own health center on campus. This year, the campus health center expanded its ability to offer free and confidential STI testing to all students.  

RRCC is committed to helping find ways to support students.

“Student needs are always evolving,” Whitney said. “This work demands our continued care, attention, and commitment to showing up for them every step of the way.”

Learn more about community resources and the student Food Pantry on the Student Life page.