Rutgers-Newark introduces STAR Fund to support enrolled students

When an unexpected $800 car repair can completely derail a college education, the problem isn’t a student’s lack of talent or grit. It is that the system has left zero margin for error.

That stark reality took center stage during homecoming weekend as Rutgers–Newark launched a new initiative designed to keep vulnerable scholars enrolled. The Student Thriving And Resilience (STAR) Fund was officially introduced at a gala held at Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hall, bringing together 200 donors, students, and community leaders to address the financial cliffs that force capable learners to drop out.

Rutgers–Newark Chancellor Tonya Smith-Jackson told the audience that 80 percent of the campus’s student body commutes, with many juggling demanding jobs and family responsibilities. A vast number of these learners are first-generation college students, veterans, adult learners, immigrants, or students supporting children or relatives.

“One unexpected expense, an $800 car repair, can derail things,” Smith-Jackson said at the event. “So many things can unravel a dream, not because the student lacks talent or determination, but because the system has no margin for error.”

Building Educational Slack Into the System

The STAR Fund emerged from a year-long effort alongside Rutgers University Foundation leaders, examining student retention data and pinpointing when students are most vulnerable. The initiative targets hardships like housing disruptions, childcare emergencies, food insecurity, and transportation problems.

Drawing on her background as a systems engineer, Smith-Jackson explained the concept of “slack” to the gala crowd. In engineering, complex systems require reserve capacity to absorb pressure without fracturing.

“Systems operating at their limits are vulnerable to failure, and people are no different,” Smith-Jackson noted. “Slack allows a system to absorb pressure without breaking. We are building a university that will be state-of-the-art in creating slack.”

University data reveals that more than 1,500 currently enrolled Rutgers–Newark students carry outstanding balances, averaging $2,738 each. Collectively, those unpaid balances represent a $4.25 million gap that can stand between students and continued enrollment.

Rather than replacing existing financial aid or traditional scholarships, the STAR Fund is structured to provide flexible, immediate assistance. Awards can cover short-term financial registration holds, replacement technology such as laptops, urgent textbooks, or basic-needs crises.

Personal Stakes and Student Voices

The human impact of these financial cushions was illustrated clearly by students who spoke at the gala. Janiyah Smith, a first-generation psychology major, Honors Living-Learning Community student, and softball team member, told attendees that financial assistance allowed her to focus on coursework instead of debt. Student emcees Esron Holder—a Rutgers–Newark alumnus and current part-time MBA student at Rutgers Business School—and Janiyah Smith brought the mission to life, with Holder recalling how graduating debt-free allowed him to pursue research, Capitol Hill internships, and study abroad programs.

“When we invest in our students, we’re giving them an opportunity to discover how far their talents can go,” Holder said. “I’m happy to stand here as a return on investment.”

The evening also featured remarks from Rutgers–Newark Advisory Board Chair Oliver Quinn, John W. Buford III, and interim pastor Rev. Raschaad Hoggard of the historic Bethany Baptist Church in Newark. Rhiana Young, a graduate of the School of Public Affairs and Administration, read a poem she composed for the gala titled “The Star Does Not Rise Alone.”

As universities grapple with retention challenges and basic-needs insecurity, initiatives like the STAR Fund attempt to fix a leaky pipeline before temporary setbacks become permanent departures.