What is the STAR program at Georgia Tech? I just found out and I'm shook 🆘

[TinaBrown]

I was scrolling through the VP's newsletter and found out about something called STAR — Students Temporary Assistance and Resources . Why have I never heard of this before?

It's located on the first floor of the Smithgall Student Services Building and offers help for students experiencing food or housing insecurity . They have:

• Klemis Kitchen — food assistance. No stigma, no sign-up, just food.
• Campus Closet — professional clothing for interviews and career fairs
• Crisis housing — in partnership with Housing & Residence Life and local non-profits

There's also the Dean Griffin Hip Pocket Fund that provides *0% interest short-term loans* up to $1,000 for "financial emergencies" . That includes "unforeseen academic expenses, automotive repairs, emergency travel expenses, and unplanned medical expenses" .

And Green Forks — when campus departments have leftover catering food, they alert students who can come make to-go plates. No questions asked.

I'm not in crisis right now, but it's good to know these exist. For students who've used these services: are they actually helpful? Is it awkward? I want to be able to tell friends if they need help.

The newsletter also mentioned "seven action teams" that turned student ideas into action — Food Security, Financial Literacy, Child Care, Transportation, Health Insurance, Mental Health, and Support for Students in Recovery" . They have a "Basic Needs & Well-Being website" with resources .

The VP says: "Your experiences, ideas, and feedback — shared through surveys, town halls, and conversations — have shaped our efforts" . They also have an "open feedback form" for ongoing input.

For students who've used STAR or other services: how was it? Were people kind? Was it easy to access? I want to share this information widely but I need to know it's actually helpful first.

 

[Diego]

The Hip Pocket Fund is no joke — up to $1,000 short-term loan, 0% interest, up to 4 months to repay . I used it when my laptop died during finals week. Applied online, got approved in like 2 days, money in my account. Paid it back over the summer when I was working. If I'd had to put that on a credit card I'd still be paying interest. This is the kind of resource that keeps students in school.