Rowdy's Corner 2026

Rowdy’s Corner, being under the administrative oversight of the Health Center at Auraria, is now part of the recently formed Health & Well-being team. This intentional collaboration has brought to MSU Denver a new AVP of Health & Well-being to oversee the MSU Denver Counseling Center, Campus Recreation, the Health Center at Auraria and their associated programs. With this more directed collaborative, these program areas are partnering on more data-informed strategies to best serve the holistic needs of the MSU Denver student population. From identifying gaps in engagement, to expanding service options and access, to programming and outreach efforts, this team is working to address the needs of the whole student. Not just the physical and emotional well-being that people typically think of when discussing wellness.

• Thus far, in Fall '25, Rowdy's Corner has severed an average pf 1,700 unique students per month with 7,300 monthly transactions. This is a significant increase from serving 1,000 unique students per month in Fall '24.
• The number of visits per student ranges from 1 to 37 visits per month.
• 58% of MSU Denver students reported being food insecure in our Spring ’24 ACHA-NCHA student survey.
• We have found a higher retention rate (75%) for students who have utilized Rowdy’s Corner at least once, versus the retention rate (63%) of students who have not utilized Rowdy’s Corner.
• 50% of students utilizing Rowdy's Corner report having eaten less than they felt they should because there wasn’t enough money for food.
• 55% of students utilizing Rowdy’s Corner make under $12,000 a year.

As part of these efforts, Rowdy’s Corner has recently implemented a new software system to gather more comprehensive data on the students that utilize the food pantry. The data above is, partly, a result of this new system. The purpose of this upgrade was not only to get a better understanding of the students that utilize Rowdy’s Corner, but to help inform operations, programs, outreach and growth. If the need is identified, the food pantry now has the capability to develop a system for online ordering and to integrate with food lockers. Students could then retrieve their order on their own time, outside of business hours and have equitable access to the goods available in the store. This, along with identifying the needs of our online student learners, are areas of potential and exciting growth.

All donations go directly back to feeding the student community. Though we purchase from big box stores to help maintain inventory, we prioritize local, Colorado-owned and operated businesses to support the local economy and be as sustainable as possible. Some of our partners include: Food Bank of the Rockies, Hyperion Wholesale, Ruby's Market, Switch Gears Farm, Hearty Provisions, Ibu Tierra Farms, Royal Crest Dairy, SAME Café, MyFit Foods and Covivio Cafe.