Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and the U.S. Department of Education’s office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) announced the signing of a joint agreement to strengthen college student access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP. This agreement aims to increase awareness of SNAP among college students, as new data shows millions of eligible students are falling through the cracks. A recent Government Accountability Office report revealed 67% of the 3.3 million college students potentially eligible for SNAP reported not receiving benefits. Today's action is a key achievement of the Biden-Harris Administration’s National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition and Health. FNS and FSA will work together to send emails to low-income students who may be eligible for SNAP informing them of their potential eligibility, basic information about SNAP rules for students, and how to apply. They will also work closely with institutions of higher education to help them provide clear guidance to students on SNAP eligibility and application processes. These efforts are aimed at increasing awareness of students’ potential eligibility for SNAP and reducing barriers that prevent many eligible students from accessing the food assistance they are entitled to. The agreement also includes plans to pilot data-sharing projects in up to 10 states, allowing state SNAP agencies and colleges to collaborate in outreach to students who may be eligible for benefits and providing technical support to institutions and agencies in those efforts. By utilizing Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) data, this initiative aims to enable institutions and agencies to reach potential SNAP applicants and connect them with the resources they need. The Department of Education has previously released guidance on how institutions of higher education and state grant agencies can use FAFSA data for outreach about means-tested benefits, such as SNAP. | 
