In-person students at West Valley-Mission Community College District will receive a weekly meal allowance equivalent to four meals to address student hunger. The credit is usable anytime during the week. High-need students may qualify for additional support.
The 2023 Real College California Survey found that about 21% of the approximately 20,000 students attending West Valley-Mission Community College District experience food insecurity. In response, the program is being developed with student groups, staff and a food provider to ensure quality and equitable access.
The district will invest $2.5 million annually to build food security, boost retention and support equity.
Chancellor Bradley Davis emphasizes that the effort is about more than just meals. “It’s about equity, access and reimagining what community college can be,” he says.
What’s on the menu
Building a quality meal program started with securing the right food service partner. “We got 12 of the country’s biggest food providers responding to our RFP because they want to be associated with institutions that are addressing students’ basic needs,” Davis explains.
Thomas Cuisine, the winning partner, will manage all campus dining, coffee and vending venues, with point-of-sale systems fully integrated with the district’s student information platform. Purchases will be automatically deducted from students’ updated meal-plan balance in real time.
Students can use their free-meal cards at all campus dining halls, coffee shops and Byte smart vending fridges. Dining halls feature options like Mediterranean grill, Asian fusion and farm-to-table menus. Coffee shops offer brewed and espresso drinks, pastries and grab-and-go salads. Campus venues provide options for common dietary needs.
Unique funding enables student investment
A stable local revenue base has allowed West Valley-Mission to prioritize student needs in innovative ways. Specifically, the district is fully funded by local property tax revenues, a benefit of its Silicon Valley location. As a result, Davis says several factors have enabled the district to reinvest in student-focused initiatives.
“We’ve maintained a streamlined operation in terms of our organizational structure and spending decisions that don’t have a direct and immediate impact on the student experience,” he says. “That allows us to focus the majority of our revenue directly on removing barriers that students face.”
Those barriers include the cost of living, student debt and limited access to career pathways.
Widespread support and smooth rollout for free meal program
Meanwhile, the free meal program is receiving widespread support. “When we were able to demonstrate to our community that we had done the financial modeling and planning, and that it wouldn’t detract from other components of the institution, everybody was on board,” Davis says.
Lean staffing, long-term planning
Operationally, the program’s success depends on difficult staffing decisions. “About 90% of any educational institution’s costs are related to staffing,” Davis notes.
The district carefully hires staff who align with its mission. By requiring administrators and staff to take on additional responsibilities, the district directs more resources toward students—and their meals, Davis explains.
Beyond free meals
Looking ahead, the free meal initiative is part of a broader strategy that includes free tuition and fees, parking, childcare and health services, Davis notes. The district is also expanding academic offerings, including a state-approved bachelor’s degree program in emergency services management.
As the district launches its marketing campaign, Davis is optimistic. “Community colleges are the best kept secret in California,” he says. “We want to shatter that myth. This is your best first step toward the educational journey of your dreams.”
