What We Do

The Hunger Center provides multiple avenues for involvement through academic course work, research
experience, volunteer opportunities, experiential and service learning credits, internships and a minor in
Hunger Studies.

 

 

Research

Research interests include: the study of the effects of malnutrition and specific nutrient deficiencies on
children’s cognitive development in low-income countries; the effects of poverty and food insecurity on
Rhode Island  families and children; and the study of  and how access to nutritional assistance
programs. Program evaluation research examines the effectiveness of various aspects of the Food
Stamp Outreach Project and selected Food Stamp Program policies.  

Examples of current research projects

  • RI Poll on Hunger Awareness (April 2000 Results Fall 2000);
  • With America's Second Harvest National Poll on Hunger Awareness (Fall 2000);
  • With the Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences Research on Food Stamp Participation and Education (Fall-
    Spring 2001);
  • With the RI Health Department - Food Security Assessment (Spring 2001);
  • With the RI Community Food Bank - Faces and Facts of Hunger (Spring 2001).

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Outreach and Advocacy

The staff at the Hunger Center monitor the impact of both state and federal policies on low-income
Rhode Island families and make policy recommendations to elected officials at the state, regional and
national level through the Center’s involvement with the One RI coalition, the Northeast Regional Anti-
Hunger Network and association with the Food Research Action Council.  


The Food Stamp Outreach Project

Food Stamp Outreach Project helps low-income individuals and families throughout Rhode Island access Food Stamp
Benefits. The Outreach Project seeks to increase participation in the Food Stamp Program through the distribution of
educational materials, training of service providers and application assistance to clients. Click here for more details.


Working with Local Communities

The Hunger Center staff engage in a number of activities to help support local initiatives targeted at ending hunger. Staff at
the Hunger Center develop materials and make presentations to local civic groups, social service agencies, and faith based
communities to assist them in learning more about the issue of hunger in their community.

 

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Hunger Studies Minor

The interdisciplinary Minor in Hunger Studies at the University of Rhode Island is intended to prepare students for leadership
roles in understanding and eradicating hunger, and in facilitating students and other URI community members to be life-long
advocates for hunger cessation.  

To declare this minor, the student must have approval of a program advisor and his or her academic advisor.  For more
information on the Hunger Studies minor, please contact Kathleen Gorman (kgorman@uri.edu).

Requirements include 18 credits (at least twelve credits at the 200 level or above), nine of which will be core courses
including 3 credits of internship, a 3 credit-capstone course which will include 1 credit for portfolio development.  Nine
credits will be from the elective categories.  No course may be used for both the major and minor fields of study.  Courses
in general education may be used for the minor.

Core Courses-9 credits required

  • HSS 130 Introduction to Hunger Studies (3 credits)

  • HDF 434 - Capstone (3 credits) which must include 1 credit for a portfolio

  • Internship (3 credits)

  • Optional URI 101 with a focus on hunger/social justice(1 credit)

Electives - The remaining 9 credits can be taken from a number of preapproved electives including:

  • CPL 210    Introduction to Planning & Community
  • CPL 300/NRS 300  Introduction to Global Issues in Sustainable Development
  • NFS 276    Food, Nutrition, and People
  • NFS 394    Nutrition in the Life Cycle I
  • NFS 395    Nutrition in the Life Cycle II
  • HDF 357    Family and Community Health
  • HDF 498    Leadership for Activism and Social Change
  • PHL 217    Social Philosophy
  • PLS 205    Population, Environment, and Plant Biology
  • PSC 221    State and Local Government
  • PSC 420    Non Violence and Change in the Nuclear Age
  • PSC 485    The Politics of Children's Rights

 

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