Colleges report a sharp rise in student demand for basic needs supports: an NPR-backed survey and campus case studies show roughly 40% of students face food insecurity. Campus food pantries and emergency aid programs have seen daily visitation spikes, straining campus staffing and budgets. Administrators told reporters they expect the trend to continue after winter break and are expanding partnerships with food banks, adjusting emergency-grant criteria, and rethinking meal-plan and housing aid to stabilize student retention and wellbeing.