Deanne DeCrescenzo, Ed.D., Assistant Vice President for Student Advocacy and Engagement
You have likely taught this student.
They were strong for the first few weeks. Then the reading slips, attendance becomes uneven, and two emails go unanswered. When you finally talk, the reason has little to do with your course. Their transit pass ran out. Their work schedule changed. The refrigerator is empty until payday.
Faculty often see these challenges before anyone else at Temple. You see them in the missing assignment, the empty seat, or the student who is physically present but clearly somewhere else.
Those moments matter because students cannot fully engage in learning when they are struggling to meet their basic needs.
What happens outside the classroom matters inside it.
We often separate academics from student support, but students do not experience the university that way.
A student who has not eaten since yesterday may have difficulty focusing on your lecture. A student who spent the weekend moving out of an apartment may not be able to finish a paper. A student without a working laptop cannot complete an online assignment, no matter how motivated they are.
These are not simply problems of effort or preparedness. They are conditions that affect students’ ability to learn.
That is one of the reasons why Temple created the Essential Needs Hub in the Howard Gittis Student Center. The Hub brings together resources designed to help students address the challenges that can get in the way of their academic success in one place, reducing the need for students to navigate multiple offices or determine on their own where to begin.
Students can start at the Hub with whatever challenge they are facing. They can access food through the Cherry Pantry, clothing and household goods through Temple Thrift, technology support and lending, benefits navigation, emergency assistance, housing and off-campus living support, and spaces to rest and recharge. Students can also connect with staff who can help them identify and navigate additional campus and community resources. Students do not need documentation to visit the Hub, and they do not have to know which resource they need before they walk through the door.
What we learned from students
Research from Temple’s Hope Center for Student Basic Needs found that more than half of college students nationally experienced at least one form of food or housing insecurity in 2024 (The Hope Center for Student Basic Needs at Temple University, 2025). Before opening the Hub, Temple gathered input from more than 100 students, faculty, and staff to better understand how students experience and access essential needs support. One finding stood out: 65% of Temple students who participated reported being unaware of available support.
Temple has resources. The challenge was making those resources easier to find and navigate when students needed them most. The Hub was created to meet that challenge by making it easier for students to find and access support. Students can start in one place, talk with someone about what they are experiencing, and connect to the resources that make sense for them. Faculty play an important role in helping students know where to start.
How faculty can help
You do not need to become an expert in essential needs or even know which resource a student needs.
A few simple actions can help students find support when they need it:
- Mention the Hub. Hearing about a resource directly from a faculty member can make it easier for students to remember and use when they need it. Consider mentioning the Hub during the first week of class and again when students may be experiencing increased academic or financial pressure.
The Essential Needs Hub helps students navigate challenges that can affect student success by connecting all Temple students with the resources and support they need to thrive both inside and outside the classroom. Located on the lower level of the Student Center, the Essential Needs Hub offers access to food and hygiene products at the Cherry Pantry, clothing and essential items, off-campus housing support and connections to additional campus and community resources. Students are encouraged to access these resources whenever they need support during their Temple experience.
- Refer early. If you are concerned about a student, you do not need to diagnose the problem. Encourage the student to connect with the Hub. Early connections can prevent a challenge from becoming a crisis.
- Connect students with existing academic resources. The cost of course materials can be a challenge for students, but faculty should not have to solve that problem alone. Encourage students to check with the Temple University Libraries for textbook alternatives, including course reserves and other available materials. Students who are having difficulty accessing a computer or other technology can also connect with the Hub for technology support and lending options.
- Bring your class to the Hub. The Hub can be a useful teaching and learning space, particularly for courses exploring topics such as public health, social work, education, sociology, business, or community well-being. Faculty can hold class sessions in the Hub and incorporate the space and its work directly into the learning experience. Connect with our team to explore opportunities to bring your class to the Hub.
- Invite us to your department meeting. We can provide a brief overview of the Hub and the ways faculty can connect students with support.
Come see the Hub in action
The Essential Needs Hub is open (hours), and we invite you to visit. Walk through the space, meet our student employees, and learn first-hand about the resources and support available to students.
And please remember: Our students do not experience Temple by department or division. They experience it as one university. You are a big part of that.
Faculty are often among the first people to recognize when something outside the classroom may be affecting a student’s ability to succeed inside it. You do not have to solve the problem to make a difference. Helping a student know where to start can be enough. The Essential Needs Hub gives students that place to start and gives all of us another way to support their success at Temple.