FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas is one of nearly 50 universities worldwide that have banded together to address the global issue of hunger. Leaders from these universities will sign The Presidents’ Commitment to Food and Nutrition Security – a declaration acknowledging their commitment to make food insecurity a priority.

U of A Chancellor G. David Gearhart will attend a ceremonial signing ceremony Tuesday, Dec. 9 at the United Nations in New York City. Leaders from more than half of the participating universities will also attend. Jane Gearhart, who is a long time hunger relief activist, will attend the ceremony with the chancellor.

PUSH – Presidents United to Solve Hunger – was created by Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama, as the result of a first-time gathering between leaders of more than 30 universities in the U.S., Canada and Central America at Auburn in February.

The Hunger Forum and Public Signing Ceremony on Dec. 9 marks the first time universities around the world will share a collective focus on ending food insecurity. It is also the first time students and university leaders will be united in the effort with international organizations, NGOs and student groups.

Affiliates of Universities Fighting World Hunger (UFWH), a worldwide coalition of more than 300 colleges and universities, have met annually since 2006 to share ideas and best practices related to local and global hunger. To take the movement to the next level, leaders from more than 30 universities in the U.S., Canada and Central America gathered in February 2014 to discuss taking collective action against food insecurity and malnutrition. PUSH and the Presidents’ Commitment to Food and Nutrition Security are both direct results of the February meeting.

PUSH member institutions include land-grants, liberal arts, faith-based, historically black and Hispanic-serving colleges and universities from five continents. Auburn is joined by fellow SEC members Mississippi State, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, Arkansas and Alabama. 

The University of Arkansas has been recognized in recent years for its volunteer Full Circle Food Pantry and Razorback Food Recovery programs.

  Participation in PUSH enables members to share their collective knowledge in areas where hunger is historically addressed at academic institutions: teaching, research, outreach and student engagement. One of the first action items in the Presidents’ Commitment to Food and Nutrition Security is an inventory and mapping exercise so all schools can register their food and nutrition security work in these four major areas.

 “Most universities are already contributing to food security across their programmatic agendas,” said Hunger Solutions Executive Director Dean June Henton, founder of UFWH and HSI. “But PUSH will accelerate individual university achievements in two distinct ways. First, additional strength will come through the power of collective action and commitment to share best practices. Second, it will give universities a strong and unified voice at the multi-sector table as the world defines sustainable food security initiatives going forward.”