Phillip Smith
Rutgers University, Associate Dean/ Director for Student Basic Needs
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Dr. Phillip Smith is a native of Shaker Heights, Ohio, a suburb outside of the Cleveland area. He began his higher education career at the University of Akron, where he learned one of his passions was the ability to help young people develop during their college years. He recently completed his doctorate degree at Temple University in Education with a specialty in Higher Education Administration this past spring. His dissertation, titled “The Struggle is Real: How African American College Students Persist Despite Basic Needs Challenges”, explored the experiences, motivation, and persistence factors for African American college students with basic needs issues while attending a four-year public, urban, PWI in the Mid-Atlantic region.
From Pantry to Pickup: Rethinking Student Support Delivery
This session is especially useful for campuses looking to expand basic needs support without adding new buildings or staff. RecRe rental boxes can serve as pickup points where students collect essentials like food, hygiene kits, or academic supplies privately and on their own time. This approach helps staff manage distribution more efficiently while reducing barriers for students.
We’ll share how Rutgers and Wake Tech have built strong support systems and how this pickup model can complement those efforts. The session will cover practical steps for implementation, considerations around privacy and logistics, and ideas for adapting the approach to different campus environments. It’s a simple concept with broad potential to improve access and equity in student support.
Supporting Students with Emergency Aid: Quick Relief, Lasting Impact
In this presentation, we will explore the critical role of emergency aid in supporting college students facing unexpected financial hardships. Attendees will learn how timely financial assistance can significantly impact student persistence and retention rates. We will delve into effective strategies for identifying students in need, distributing aid equitably, and navigating the financial aid landscape. By understanding the broader implications of emergency aid, participants will be better equipped to foster a supportive campus environment that promotes student success and resilience. Join us to discover how swift support can lead to stronger futures for our students.
Becoming More Than a Food Pantry
As universities attempt to fight food insecurity on their campuses, food pantries have established themselves as mainstays in student centers across the United States. Together, we'll look closely at the current issues around student challenges and how campuses are evolving beyond serving as only food pantries to address other issues with meeting students' basic needs issues.
Community Building to Support Basic Needs
Join the conversation on how Wake Tech and Rutgers University developed strategies to support the basic needs of their students. Through technology, community building, and connections to resources each school took a creative course of actions to support the basic needs of their student bodies.
2026 ACUI Annual Conference Sessionize Event
2025 ACUI Annual Conference Sessionize Event
2024 ACUI Annual Conference Sessionize Event
Phillip Smith
Rutgers University, Associate Dean/ Director for Student Basic Needs
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