Understanding How HBCUs Leverage Partnerships to Support Students’ Basic Needs

February 2026

Basic needs insecurity has become a pressing equity issue in U.S. higher education, yet little research examines how historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) address students’ holistic needs. Guided by a practice-based, pragmatic analytic orientation and informed by a basic needs services implementation rubric and an HBCU-based theoretical model, this qualitative case study explored how 66 faculty, staff, and students across three HBCUs engaged in partnerships to support students’ basic needs. Findings reveal that while HBCUs rely on external partnerships to address resource gaps, these collaborations remain underleveraged. Findings highlight the need for intentional, mutually beneficial partnerships and improved internal coordination to strengthen holistic student support.

Keywords

HBCU, Basic Needs, Partnerships, Case Study

Education level

Post-secondary education

Topics

Student Well-Being