{"id":2,"date":"2024-07-02T15:09:24","date_gmt":"2024-07-02T15:09:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/studentlife-wds-prd.utk.edu\/basic-needs\/?page_id=2"},"modified":"2026-04-15T13:12:53","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T17:12:53","slug":"center-for-basic-needs","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/basic-needs\/","title":{"rendered":"Home"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content reg\">\n<p class=\"lead\">The Center for Basic Needs provides comprehensive basic needs resources, advocacy, and support with the vision that all students have their essential needs met in order to learn, lead, and serve at the University of Tennessee and beyond.<\/p>\n<p>College students\u2019 basic needs encompass essentials crucial for their personal well-being and academic success. Specifically, these include secure housing, reliable food access, healthcare services, transportation options, financial resources, academic support, and personal safety<em>.<\/em> Meeting these needs is paramount in creating a supportive environment that enables students to focus on their studies, personal growth, and overall success at the university.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-circle alignright wp-image-86 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/basic-needs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/10\/273332_20191028_Homecoming_Carnival_022-1.jpg\" alt=\"Two female students pose for portrait during a Homecoming Carnival at the Student Union Plaza on October 28, 2019. Photo by Steven Bridges\/University of Tennessee \" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/basic-needs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/10\/273332_20191028_Homecoming_Carnival_022-1.jpg 300w, https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/basic-needs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/10\/273332_20191028_Homecoming_Carnival_022-1-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"orange-mark\">Consultations<\/h2>\n<p>Our team provides one-on-one consultations with students as they navigate basic needs insecurity challenges. Through these consultations, students work closely with a member of our team to access and utilize both campus and community resources. Our goal is to ensure long-term basic needs security by empowering each student with the necessary support and tools to thrive. Additionally, <strong>consultations can be requested directly from a student or made through referral.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cm.maxient.com\/reportingform.php?UnivofTennessee&amp;layout_id=30\" class=\"btn btn-default btn-orange btn-lg\">Schedule a consultation<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content reg\">\n<h2 class=\"orange-mark\">Volunteer with Us<\/h2>\n<p>Our volunteers help keep our doors open! Interested in volunteering at the Center for Basic Needs? If so, please visit the <a href=\"https:\/\/leadserve.utk.edu\/serveutk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jones Center for Leadership and Service\u2019s \u2018Sign Up to Serve\u2019<\/a> website. All individual volunteer opportunities with us are made available through the ServeUTK platform. However, please note that opportunities fill up quickly, so we recommend signing up in advance. For questions regarding volunteering with us, please contact us via email at <a href=\"mailto:BasicNeeds@utk.edu\">basicneeds@utk.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"one-third column \">\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-87 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/basic-needs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/10\/437909_20230823_First_Day_Classes_SB_002.jpg\" alt=\"A student smiles while walking across the Ped walkay bridge during the first day of Fall classes on August 23, 2023. Photo by Steven Bridges\/University of Tennessee. \" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/basic-needs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/10\/437909_20230823_First_Day_Classes_SB_002.jpg 300w, https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/basic-needs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/10\/437909_20230823_First_Day_Classes_SB_002-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"one-third column \">\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-85 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/basic-needs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/10\/408149_20230323_Amphitheatre_Afternoon_011.jpg\" alt=\"A student smiles for the camera while working on a laptop and laying on a UT blanket at the Humanities Plaza-North lawn on March 23, 2023. Photo by Steven Bridges\/Steven Bridges\/University of Tennessee. \" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/basic-needs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/10\/408149_20230323_Amphitheatre_Afternoon_011.jpg 300w, https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/basic-needs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/10\/408149_20230323_Amphitheatre_Afternoon_011-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"one-third column \">\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-88 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/basic-needs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/10\/370751_20220823_MSL_Welcome_Back_044.jpg\" alt=\"Students walk along Ped walkway by Fred Brown Hall on August 23, 2022. Photo by Steven Bridges\/University of Tennessee. \" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/basic-needs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/10\/370751_20220823_MSL_Welcome_Back_044.jpg 300w, https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/basic-needs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/10\/370751_20220823_MSL_Welcome_Back_044-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Big Orange Meal Scholarship<\/h2>\n<div class=\"half \">\n<p>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Center for Basic Needs, in partnership with Vol Dining and Family Experience, is providing several meal plan scholarships for students who are facing financial barriers to attaining a meal plan.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>The application for the 2026 &#8211; 2027 academic year is now open.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/forms\/d\/e\/1FAIpQLSeto29_csA2wv83HG9bmxtAPmHfzMkLY1ETWoZfCZJebGjwsQ\/viewform?usp=sharing&amp;ouid=102950528622956300268\" class=\"btn btn-default btn-orange btn-lg\">Apply for a Big Orange Meal Plan Scholarship<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n<div class=\"half \">\n<p>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-120 \" src=\"https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/basic-needs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2025\/04\/images.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"494\" height=\"123\" srcset=\"https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/basic-needs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2025\/04\/images.jpeg 450w, https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/basic-needs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2025\/04\/images-300x75.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 494px) 100vw, 494px\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\n<br class=\"clearshortcode\"><\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><strong><span style=\"font-size: 18pt\">Please report empty menstrual product dispensers here:<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><a href=\"https:\/\/forms.office.com\/pages\/responsepage.aspx?id=2RNYUX1x3UWeypqhnAnW-QouoqVvBw9JvZWuaQCU4x1UOEFOVk5TMkYzTEhLRkpNRDdIQ0NXTlgzNC4u&amp;origin=lprLink&amp;route=shorturl\" class=\"btn btn-default btn-orange btn-lg\">Empty Dispenser<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>College students\u2019 basic needs encompass essentials crucial for their personal well-being and academic success. Specifically, these include secure housing, reliable [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":46,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template-wide.php","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Home<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Center for Basic Needs ensures that all student&#039;s essential needs are met through resources, advocacy, and support.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/basic-needs\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Home\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Center for Basic Needs ensures that all student&#039;s essential needs are met through resources, advocacy, and support.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/basic-needs\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Center for Basic Needs\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-04-15T17:12:53+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/studentlife.utk.edu\/basic-needs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/09\/130258_150525_utcampus_summer_1-2273-e1726498353155.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"358\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/studentlife.utk.edu\\\/basic-needs\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/studentlife.utk.edu\\\/basic-needs\\\/\",\"name\":\"Home\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/studentlife.utk.edu\\\/basic-needs\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/studentlife.utk.edu\\\/basic-needs\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/studentlife.utk.edu\\\/basic-needs\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/studentlife.utk.edu\\\/basic-needs\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/13\\\/2024\\\/09\\\/130258_150525_utcampus_summer_1-2273-e1726498353155.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-07-02T15:09:24+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-15T17:12:53+00:00\",\"description\":\"The Center for Basic Needs ensures that all student's essential needs are met through resources, advocacy, and support.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/studentlife.utk.edu\\\/basic-needs\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/studentlife.utk.edu\\\/basic-needs\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/studentlife.utk.edu\\\/basic-needs\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/studentlife.utk.edu\\\/basic-needs\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/13\\\/2024\\\/09\\\/130258_150525_utcampus_summer_1-2273-e1726498353155.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/studentlife.utk.edu\\\/basic-needs\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/13\\\/2024\\\/09\\\/130258_150525_utcampus_summer_1-2273-e1726498353155.jpg\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":358,\"caption\":\"Trees in the foreground of the Pedestrian Bridge in front of the Student Union building - 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