[Changes to how students can use student charge](https://www.themaneater.com/stories/2017/6/22/student-charge-will-be-limited-fall/) have prompted the Missouri Students Association to recommend establishing a standing committee on campus health and wellness.

The resolution was spearheaded by Campus and Community Relations Committee Chair Tim Davis and was passed in full senate on Sept. 13.

The establishment of a standing committee for campus health and wellness will allow students struggling financially to gain access to the resources they need.

“A lot of students that are going through financial struggles are paying for college by themselves,” Davis said. “They’re working jobs through college, and it’s just not enough. So, they’re one instance away from not being able to go to school here, not being able to pay their bills or rent and they need a safety net that’s not student charge.”

MSA invited Dr. Jim Spain, vice provost for Undergraduate Studies, to come to a joint-committee meeting to discuss student financial insecurity and further action.

“[Spain] issued us a challenge” Davis said. “He said one month from now I think that the university administration, faculty, students and staff can come together with a realistic solution as to what a better safety net is.”

After given the challenge, the CCRC started researching the most common types of students who need this type of financial support. Jacob Addington, MSA Senate communications director, explained which students MSA felt fell under this category.

“We’ve decided that these are students who have a chronic issue,” Addington said. “They come from a poor background, qualify for Pell Grants or qualify for the Land Grant act. Then, we found a second group who have just fallen on hard times, whether they’re in between jobs or things aren’t working out very well for them financially and just need that little one to two week supply to get them through.”

While MSA has yet to come up with any clear plans, Spain said he has a solution of his own he hopes to implement.

“What we’re working on is a process that would allow students that have these financial challenges to go to a central point,” Spain said. “We think that central point is going to be financial aid, because financial aid has the resources that would qualify to assist the student.”

The university may be pairing with Tiger Pantry as well as Truman’s Closet to further aid in meeting students’ needs.

“I just would reiterate that it’s an ongoing process right now. None of the things that we have decided on have been confirmed,” Addington said. “It is in the idea stage right now because there are a lot of new things that could change it.”

_Edited by Sarah Hallam | shallam@themaneater.com_