IS BEING A STARVING COLLEGE STUDENT A RITE OF PASSAGE? WE CAN END COLLEGE STUDENT FOOD INSECURITY. THISCONFERENCE GRANT IS DESIGNED TO PRESENT EVIDENCE OF EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES THAT DECREASE COLLEGE STUDENT FOOD INSECURITY.HUNGER FREE HIGHER ED IS A NETWORK OF STATE-WIDE (ALABAMA AND KENTUCKY) POST-SECONDARY COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES WITH EFFORTS TO IMPLEMENT STRATEGIES TO DECREASE COLLEGE STUDENT FOOD INSECURITY.THE CONFERENCE WILL EXPLORE TOOLS, BEST PRACTICES, AND STRATEGIES USED TO ADDRESS STUDENT FOOD AND NUTRITION NEEDS. POSTER AND ORAL PRESENTATIONS FROM ALABAMA AND KENTUCKY COALITION PARTNERS WILL HIGHLIGHT CAMPUS-SPECIFIC IMPACTS/OUTCOMES REGARDING STRATEGIES, POLICIES, AND SYSTEMS TO DECREASE FOOD INSECURITY. THE CONFERENCE WILL ALSO TRAIN PARTNERS ON THE NEW ONLINE PLATFORM FOR THE HUNGER-FREE HIGHER ED APPROACH, WHICH IS A 6-STEP COMMUNITY-BASED GUIDE TOIMPLEMENT STRATEGIES TO DECREASE COLLEGE STUDENT FOOD INSECURITY. ADDITIONALLY, COALITION PARTNERSWILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TONETWORK WITH FOOD INDUSTRY PARTNERS (DAIRY COUNCIL, ARAMARK, ED APPROACH, WHICH IS A 6-STEP COMMUNITY-BASED GUIDE TO IMPLEMENT STRATEGIES TO DECREASE COLLEGE STUDENT FOOD INSECURITY. ADDITIONALLY, COALITION PARTNERS WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO NETWORK WITH FOOD INDUSTRY PARTNERS (DAIRY COUNCIL, ARAMARK, NATURE MADE) AND COMMUNITY FOOD-AID STAKEHOLDERS (SNAP, WIC, FARMER'S MARKET, AND EAST ALABAMA FOOD BANK). THE CONFERENCE WILL BE HOSTED ON THE CAMPUS OF AUBURN UNIVERSITY (AUBURN, AL) ON NOVEMBER 2-4-5, 2023. IN ADDITION TO THE ALABAMA AND KENTUCKY COALITION MEMBERS, ATTENDEES WILL INCLUDE; ALABAMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM ADMINISTRATORS, AUBURN UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATORS, ALABAMA STATE OFFICIALS, SELECT ALABAMA COUNTY EXTENSION COORDINATORS, NUTRITION STUDENTS ENROLLED IN PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITION AT AUBURN UNIVERSITY, STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES FROM CAMPUS COALITIONS, AND COMMUNITY FOOD-AID STAKEHOLDERS. THE CONFERENCE ALSO OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES FOR NON-MEMBER COALITIONSTUDENTS TO ATTEND BREAKOUT SESSIONS. THE CONFERENCE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO INCREASE AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE OF COLLEGE STUDENT FOOD INSECURITY, INCREASE FOOD-AID RESOURCES FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS IN ALABAMA AND KENTUCKY,AND INCREASE INTER-ORGANIZATIONAL COLLABORATIONS.?