At the beginning of the fall 2023 semester, City College’s Associated Student Government (ASG) gathered to discuss the use of EBT cards on campus. Now, a year later, EBT will now be accepted at all cafeterias at City College.
An EBT card, or Electronic Benefit Transfer, is a benefit delivery system that allows recipients to use their card to access food benefits, similar to a debit card. Grocery stores, gas stations, and even some restaurants accept this form of payment and now it will be usable on campus.
EBT cards are beneficial to those who need support to buy food and groceries. To be eligible for an EBT, individuals typically need to meet specific income and resource criteria established by California’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
After a year of research and trials on how to get EBT technology installed on campus, the Associated Student Government finally will see their hard work pay off as the technology is currently being tested.
“We really wanted to break down financial barriers for students who rely on EBT benefits,” Sophia Kofoed, president of ASG, said.
In the fall of 2023, Elena Fuentes, the ASG secretary, highlighted the importance of EBT usage to her colleagues, including Kofoed. Together, they established the EBT Access Committee, with Elena Fuentes serving as its chair.
In an effort to bring the technology on campus, the EBT access committee got more than 200 City College student signatures.
“The students really felt powerful about this because it’s something that would tangibly impact people’s lives and from there we started the research and we had the signatures,” Kofoed said.
The administration at City College was supportive of the committee’s movement and aided the process of getting EBT technology to campus.
“ASG started with the desire to implement the program, presented it to us and we ran with the idea,” said Paul Miller, auxiliary services director.
Miller also mentioned that there were some roadblocks in the process. He acknowledged that they encountered numerous obstacles but eventually found a solution that would work at City College.
The research done by ASG will pave the way for other colleges across California. Kofoed and her colleagues presented their findings on EBT usage at Advocacy Academy, an annual event organized by the Student Senate for California Community Colleges (SSCCC). This gathering brings together student governments from colleges statewide to exchange ideas and strategies.
By sharing their research, ASG has now introduced the concept of EBT usage on a statewide level. This development will significantly impact students across California who rely on EBT benefits.
“Students can’t focus when they’re hungry,” Kofoed said. She highlighted the importance of people knowing they can attend the Friday 9 a.m. meetings to publicly voice their concerns and prompt changes.
Elena Fuentes, the student advocate who raised this issue with ASG, has successfully led to its implementation. Thanks to the EBT Access Committee efforts, students will now be able to use their EBT cards to access food on campus.
Further updates will be provided on the installation and activation of EBT technology as soon as the details are finalized.
