About CREW

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Who We Are

In an effort to increase the quality of the Texas workforce with degreed and certified workers, the CREW evaluates the needs of students at MCC and works with community partners to create a basic needs safety net for individuals working to improve their future trajectories.

Creating an infrastructure on campus and online can help meet these student needs. Creating awareness of this need in the community will change how students perceive their situation as well as how the community at large relates to students who require supportive resources to complete their education.

Mission Statement:

McLennan Community College (MCC) Campus Resources Education Web (CREW) strives to ensure every student who wants an education can receive one without being hindered by basic needs insecurities.

 

What we do

We help you focus on your studies by providing resources for your non-academic needs. This could mean...honestly...a lot of different things, such as:

  • providing students with information on where to find food on campus, as well as in local neighborhoods
  • helping students understand and ride the bus system in Waco
  • sharing health insurance options or places students can go to receive health care
  • helping students access technology to complete classes

If you are a student with MCC and need help with things that are happening outside of the classroom, contact CREW.

We connect students to resources on campus and navigate access to resources in the community.  If students need to know where to go for food, maps, health clinics, technology, etc., we can provide contact information and eligibility requirements. If students need guidance making the calls and connections, we're here to assist.

We provide regular access to food sources on campus through several means.

  • Shepherd's Heart Mobile Food Truck  comes to Parking Lot R from 3-4pm on the second Thursday of every month. Students, faculty, staff, and community members can drive through the line and retrieve groceries. 
  • Paulanne's Pantry  can be accessed twice a month for groceries and is located in the Student Services building, 2nd floor.
  • Grab-n-Go Stations are now at the Vet Clinic, ESEC, CSC, LTC, MAC, SS, and Highlander Central.
  • CREW can assist with the completion of SNAP applications. Students who receive $0 in Expected Family Contribution qualify for SNAP, as well as students who qualify for the work study program.

We bring community partners to campus so it's easy and convenient for students to learn how to connect with and access services. 

  • The Third Thursday Thoroughfare occurs on the third Thursday every month in the Student Life Center from 11:30am–1pm. Community partners like Salvation Army, Texas Workforce Commission, and many others come to campus to talk to students about the services they offer and how to access the services.
  • There are resource fairs every semester where community partners come in droves to discuss ways they can assist students with a variety of needs, from outside scholarships to accessing health information to affordable activities/events in the community.

We advocate for student needs to MCC leaders and community partners.  Guess what! Our students' voices are important to us and they are heard. When surveys are completed, we read and respond to what students have to say. We take that information to make the college experience valuable and successful. Let us know what you think!

BEST PART: access these resources at no additional cost!

 

Learn More

What are basic needs?

According to the Hope Center, basic needs security is defined as having access to an ecosystem of resources that help maintain an individual's most fundamental aspects of well-being. In order for students to excel in their education, they need to have access to “nutritious and sufficient food; safe, secure, and adequate housing- to sleep, to study, to cook, and to shower; healthcare to promote sustained mental and physical well-being; affordable technology and transportation; resources for personal hygiene; and childcare and related needs”.

This is based on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, which shows that students need to have consistent access to food, shelter, water, etc. before they can address higher-order needs like belonging on campus or self-actualization through learning.

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What is basic needs insecurity?

Basic needs insecurity is a structural characteristic that impacts a student’s well-being. This means that outside of the individual, the proper ecosystem does not exist to provide for a student’s basic needs. 

Why does basic needs security matter?

College is an experience of individual growth and learning and requires a sustained time and energy commitment.

Academic interruptions can occur when there is inadequate access to food, housing, mental or physical healthcare, transportation, etc. Just over 4 in 10 students who start at a community college or technical school graduate with a degree in 6 years.

Student success can often depend on access to available resources.

 

What can I do to help?

Take a look around our website and familiarize yourself with the resources available to students on campus and in the community. Please send us a referral at any time for any student who would benefit from CREW's services.