Newark Experiments With ‘Guaranteed College Education’ Program
NEWARK, NJ — First it was “guaranteed income.” Now, Newark is rolling out another experimental pilot program for local residents: a “guaranteed college education.”On Wednesday, city officials and Rutgers University administrators released details about Newark’s new Guaranteed Education program.The initiative will provide 13 Newark youth with a debt-free college education at Rutgers-Newark – fully funded for all four years.The students will get “comprehensive support” along the way, including financial aid that serves as “last dollar” funding and will cover tuition, fees and housing (after considering federal, state, and institutional financial assistance). Each student will be paired with a mentor from the chancellor’s office at Rutgers and will get personalized guidance and support throughout their academic journey. Students will also have access to the Honors Living and Learning Community classes and spaces, where they can meet with peer leaders.As part of the deal, students are required to attend weekly group meetings, bi-weekly mentor sessions and the annual university convocation.It isn’t the first time that Newark has dabbled with the concept of “free college education.” In 2022, the city partnered with St. Elizabeth University in Morristown for a similar program involving dozens of eager students. See Related: Newark Will Pay For 40 Students To Attend Saint Elizabeth University“Part of making progress toward a more union in our city, and our nation, requires changing the landscape of higher education,” Mayor Ras Baraka said.“I could not be more pleased for these young people or prouder of them,” the mayor added.“This program is an excellent example of how Rutgers-Newark in collaboration with the Mayor’s Office, through existing infrastructure with incredible staff and faculty, celebrates innovation and spotlights the talents of new first-year, first generation college students,” Rutgers University-Newark interim chancellor Jeffrey Robinson said.GUARANTEED INCOMENew Jersey’s largest city has also been testing out other forms of “guaranteed” benefits for its residents.In October 2021, Newark kicked off a massive, two-year social justice experiment: give hundreds of local residents $12,000 in “free money” for 24 months – with no strings attached on how they could spend it, and no work requirements.The cash came from a mix of private and corporate donations, as well as public funds from the federal American Rescue Plan.Many people taking part in the program reported that they spent the money on crucial budget areas, such as food, housing, clothes, utilities, gas, car repairs, household goods and hygiene products. Other expenses included loan repayments, medical expenses and tuition. See Related: Newark Gave 400 People 'Guaranteed Income' – See How They Spent It“The Guaranteed Income Program helped me pay off all of my preexisting debt, buy my four kids new uniforms, winter clothes and boots,” a local mother said, echoing a story that many other participants shared with city officials.See Related: $12K For Free: Newark’s Guaranteed Income Experiment Wraps UpSee Related: 10 Things NJ Can Learn From Newark's 'Guaranteed Income' ExperimentSend local news tips and correction requests to [email protected]. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site. Don’t forget to visit the Patch Newark Facebook page.The article Newark Experiments With ‘Guaranteed College Education’ Program appeared first on Newark, NJ Patch.
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