Rowan College of South Jersey (RCSJ) recently was awarded a Hunger-Free Campus Act Grant in the amount of $56,250 for fiscal year 2025 from the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education.
The New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE) announced the award of $1.2 million in Hunger-Free Campus Act grants to 34 institutions of higher education across the state. Program applications increased by 150 percent this cycle amid OSHE estimates from a spring 2024 survey suggesting more than one in three New Jersey students lack consistent access to adequate food resources. This year’s competitive grant cycle reflects the urgent need to provide resources for students facing food insecurity statewide.
“The Hunger-Free Campus grants reflect New Jersey’s continued commitment to supporting students and fighting hunger,” said Gov. Phil Murphy. “We want every college student to have the support they need to reach their full potential and addressing food insecurity is essential to achieving that goal.”
“The modern-day student experience looks very different than in the past. While pursuing educational opportunities that can change the trajectory of their lives, students are balancing jobs, supporting families or simply facing precarious circumstances that can force them to make difficult decisions between paying for food, rent, tuition and other needs,” said Mark Dinglasan, executive director of the New Jersey Office of the Food Security Advocate. “These awards and the Hunger-Free Campus initiative affirms the necessity of partnering with our colleges and universities in holistic food security work because it strengthens the campus community and surrounding communities, and puts stability and economic liberation within reach.”
The Hunger-Free Campus grants reaffirm New Jersey’s unwavering commitment to making college more affordable, empowering student success, and creating safe, supportive, and inclusive campus communities across the state.
“The faculty, staff, and administrators at RCSJ understand that the academic achievement and personal development of our students depend on a healthy and nourished student body,” said Dr. Frederick Keating, president of Rowan College of South Jersey. “We are honored to receive the Hunger-Free Campus Grant, ensuring that students will not have to choose between their education and their basic nutritional and personal needs.”
To maximize the impact and reach of available funding, OSHE employed an equity-focused distribution model to support all 34 institutions that met the Hunger-Free Campus designation requirements under the Hunger-Free Campus Act (P.L. 2019, C.89). Funding was awarded across three tiers, taking into account each institution’s unique efforts to address student hunger, implement sustainable solutions, raise awareness of available resources, and connect students with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), among other initiatives.
Kristen Wilson, RCSJ’s director of Behavioral Services, who authored the grant shares, “We are deeply honored to receive the Hunger-Free Campus grant for FY2025. This funding will enable RCSJ to expand our services by offering perishable items on scheduled days each month throughout the semester. By adding fresh food options to our existing selection of shelf-stable items, we aim to provide students with a broader range of nutritious and accessible food choices.”
For more information about Rowan College of South Jersey’s Center for Wellness and Support, visit RCSJ.edu/CWS.
