PISCATAWAY - Rutgers hosted a ceremonial groundbreaking for the Gary and Barbara Rodkin Academic Success Center on Saturday in Athlete's Glen prior to the annual Scarlet-White Football Game Presented by PNC Bank. Gary Rodkin, Rutgers University President Robert L. Barchi, Chancellor Christopher J. Molloy, Director of Athletics Pat Hobbs, Faculty Athletics Representative Tom Stephens and rising junior women's soccer player Dana Goldstein all made remarks regarding the significance and impact of the state-of-the-art facility.

"We came to the decision that this was something that could make a real, lasting impact at Rutgers," said Rodkin. "This facility, which will house all the resources and the programming and allow all student-athletes to be together, enables peer exchange and collaboration. Hopefully, it will even help to tip the balance in recruiting. When student-athletes are looking at their different choices, maybe this will help the decision to come here to Rutgers."

The Gary and Barbara Rodkin Academic Success Center will serve all Rutgers student-athletes and provide a range of resources, including academic advising, learning specialists, one-on-one and group tutoring, as well as housing soccer, lacrosse and athletics administration.

"What our student-athletes get at Rutgers, in addition to the ability to compete at that top level, at that highest echelon, is a Rutgers degree," said Barchi. "It's the ability to move beyond college, move beyond athletics, to a lifetime career."


Both graduates of The State University of New Jersey, Gary (RC '74) and Barbara (DC '76) have been major supporters of programs across the University, including Rutgers Future Scholars, Douglass Residential College, Rutgers Honors College, an endowed chair at the School of Engineering, the Center for Social Justice and LGBT Emergency Fund, and R Big Ten Build.

"Through the incredible generosity of Gary and Barbara, we have the ability build upon our strengths and help Rutgers further transform the student experience by supporting the academic achievement of our student-athletes" said Molloy. "By providing academic support services, including tutoring, learning specialists, seminars, workshops, space for team study halls and computer labs, we enable peer-to-peer learning right in the middle of where academics takes place at this University."

The Gary and Barbara Rodkin Academic Success Center is the next facility to rise through the generosity of donors via the R Big Ten Build campaign and under the leadership of Hobbs.

"As folks come to attend our football or lacrosse games, we want them to see that at Rutgers University our commitment to academics is first," said Hobbs. "They will see The Gary and Barbara Rodkin Academic Success Center…It will stare right across Athlete's Glen to HighPoint.com Stadium and over to the Marco Battaglia Practice Complex. Everybody who arrives on gameday is going to see the emphasis we place upon academics."

On Wednesday, it was announced that R Big Ten Build, a comprehensive campaign to raise $100 million for athletic facilities, had crested that goal. Head coaches Steve Pikiell and Chris Ash both made significant contributions to realize the milestone and join the more than 4,000 supporters who have given to the initiative.

The RWJBarnabas Health Athletic Performance Center at Rutgers University will welcome occupants this summer with a grand opening slated for September. The Center creates a comprehensive sports medicine program to serve Rutgers athletes, students and communities throughout New Jersey, in addition to providing practice facilities for men's and women's basketball, wrestling and gymnastics.

The Marco Battaglia Football Practice Complex was unveiled in August 2017 after the Fred Hill Training Complex opened the prior January. In addition, the Harriett and Bob Druskin Strength and Conditioning Center was dedicated in April 2017 and the Ron and Joanna Garutti Strength and Conditioning Center opened in August 2016. The Brown Family Football Locker Room is currently undergoing renovations to be completed for fall training camp.

A school-record 46 Rutgers student-athletes were recognized by the Big Ten Conference as Winter 2019 Academic All-Conference after a record-setting 85 were honored by the league in the fall. During the fall semester, student-athletes posted all-time high marks in the classroom. Scarlet Knights from all 24 NCAA intercollegiate programs combined for a 3.12 cumulative grade-point average, a 3.11 term GPA and 216 Dean's List selections.

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