Academic Master Plan:
Assessing Our Impact
Measuring Our Progress
Tracking measurable outcomes across strategic priorities within Rutgers–New Brunswick's Academic Master Plan clearly showcases successes, highlights where momentum is building, and identifies where ongoing focus is needed.
National Rankings
Source: U.S. News & World Report Academic Insight
| Metric | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Rank | 63 | 55 | 40 | 41 | 42 |
| Top Public Colleges and Universities | 23 | 19 | 15 | 15 | 16 |
| Top Performers on Social Mobility Rank | 51 | 63 | 42 | 36 | 52 |
| Student to Faculty Ratio Rank | 211 | 210 | 221 | 249 | 236 |
| Percent of Faculty Who Are Full-Time Rank | 282 | 265 | 254 | 252 | 264 |
| Educational Expenditures Per Student | $48,995.24 | $47,915.36 | $46,434.3 | $45,672.58 | $50,231 |
| Bibliometric Rank | - | - | 82 | 71 | 61 |
| Field Weighted Citation Impact Rank | - | - | 95 | 88 | 78 |
| Standardized Tests Rank | 85 | 64 | 49 | 50 | 33 |
| SAT Reading and Writing Score | 633 | 656 | 669 | 671 | 684 |
| SAT Math Score | 667 | 688 | 693 | 692 | 705 |
Promoting Academic Excellence
To strengthen scholarly leadership, the Academic Master Plan focused on faculty career progression, inclusive pedagogy, online course development, and community-engaged learning.
Goal
Elevate scholarly leadership by supporting collaborative research, advancing the public good, and expanding the impact of Rutgers–New Brunswick across the state and around the world.
Rutgers–New Brunswick is a globally recognized leader in research, scholarship, teaching, and community engagement. The Academic Master Plan builds on these strengths through strategies that support faculty excellence, expand instructional innovation, strengthen partnerships, and improve access for nontraditional students.
Impact Highlights
Key Metrics
- Faculty have been elected to prestigious national academies and professional societies, reflecting sustained excellence, peer recognition, and leadership in advancing their fields.
- Faculty also lead and participate in interdisciplinary collaborations that bring together diverse expertise to address complex challenges, foster innovation, and broaden the impact of research and scholarship.
Strategic Curriculum Development
At the School of Arts and Sciences, a strategic curriculum development program provides incentives and structured support for faculty and instructors developing or redesigning online courses, with particular attention to courses that support diverse learners.
Since its launch in 2022, the program has supported the design or redesign of 20 online courses across the humanities, social sciences, life sciences, and mathematical and physical sciences, reaching more than 3,680 students.
Innovations in Student Wellness
ScarletWell, an initiative based on public health and prevention-focused approaches to mental health and wellness, was created for students, faculty, and staff. A Holistic Wellness Minor, the first of its kind in the country, integrates wellness principles into any career path and reinforces wellness as a transferable competency.
Minors elsewhere are mostly theoretical. Our courses focus more on skills and strategies for deliberately fostering wellness in all areas of our lives.
Joshua Langberg
Professor of Psychology, Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology & Chief Wellness Officer, Rutgers–New Brunswick
Expanding Thought Leadership
Rutgers Business School organized 17 national conferences in 2025 alone, attracting more than 2,300 scholarly and executive participants from around the world. Its flagship Innovations in Undergraduate and Graduate Business Education (IUGBE) conference convened deans from institutions including the University of California, Berkeley; Northwestern; the University of Pennsylvania; and Cornell to explore the future of business education.
More Impacts
To explore additional impacts in within the Scholarly Leadership pillar, review the highlights below or browse the full list of submissions (NetID required).
-
The newly developed Minor in Spanish and Health builds on courses such as Spanish for the Health Professions and Spanish for Community Engagement and includes a faculty-led program in Oaxaca, Mexico. The program integrates health-focused coursework with immersive learning experiences in a region with deep ties to New Brunswick. Through the minor, students are prepared to serve Spanish-speaking communities in New Jersey and beyond.
-
The Rutgers Network of Women Faculty in Engineering is a faculty-led initiative that supports professional growth, leadership development, and community among women faculty in the School of Engineering. Funded through a Rutgers Mutual Mentoring Grant, the program includes collaborative mentoring, leadership roundtables, and guest speaker luncheons featuring senior leaders in engineering and academia.
-
In collaboration with the School of Public Health, the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology developed a 12-credit online certificate program in Suicide Prevention, Practice, and Policy. The interdisciplinary program integrates clinical, organizational, workplace, public health, and policy approaches to suicide prevention and is taught by leading scholars in the field.
Students examine the economic, political, commercial, and social factors that shape suicide risk while preparing to support prevention efforts across health care, education, criminal justice, organizational settings, and media.
Fueling Research Innovation
To advance discoveries that address major societal challenges, the Academic Master Plan targeted recruitment and expanded support in key areas including climate change, cyber infrastructure and data science, and behavioral health and equity.
Goal
Strengthen Rutgers–New Brunswick’s capacity to address major challenges through research that advances the public good.
At Rutgers–New Brunswick, research is a public mission. As a leading R1 university, we are committed to generating knowledge that benefits New Jersey, the nation, and the world. Guided by the Academic Master Plan, Rutgers–New Brunswick is strengthening research through deeper collaboration, broader inclusion, and expanded interdisciplinary engagement.
Impact Highlights
Key Metrics
- Sponsored award expenditures totaled $906.8 million, highlighting a strong level of externally funded research activity.
- Rutgers–New Brunswick holds a bibliometric rank of 61, reflecting its standing in overall research output and impact among peer organizations.
- The institution has a field-weighted citation impact rank of 78, indicating how its research is cited relative to global averages within comparable fields.
Catalyzing Cross-Disciplinary Research
The university’s Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence seed funding initiative accelerated breakthroughs in joint faculty research. By providing interdisciplinary teams with pilot funding, it enables researchers to generate early data, refine ideas, and compete for major external grants.
Supported projects have ranged from poverty mapping to whale conservation, sparking collaborations with partners including MIT, Microsoft, and the Bordeaux School of Economics, while attracting interest from the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Energy, and Canadian federal agencies.
Empowering Emotional Literacy
At the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, researchers developed Say More, a conversation-based educational game designed to help people navigate complex mental and sexual health topics. Used in educational, clinical, and family settings, the game fosters communication and promotes emotional literacy.
Advancing Climate Collaboration
The Rutgers Climate and Energy Institute was launched to bring together scholars across science, policy, engineering, and the arts to develop collaborative solutions for a sustainable future. Through research grants, student fellowships, and other initiatives, the institute supports emerging scholars while expanding Rutgers–New Brunswick’s global research footprint.
Learn More About the Institute
More Impacts
To explore additional impacts in within the Innovative Research pillar, review the highlights below or browse the full list of submissions (NetID required).
-
The New Jersey Healthy Corner Store Initiative is a food security research program led by the New Jersey Healthy Communities Network at Rutgers Cooperative Extension in collaboration with the New Jersey Department of Health, NJ SNAP-Ed, and community partners. The initiative supports local corner stores in low-income communities with resources and technical assistance to increase access to fresh, affordable food.
-
COSMOS3 is an NSF-funded expansion of the COSMOS smart-city wireless research testbed, enabling experimental research on next-generation 6G networks. Hosted at WINLAB, the platform connects Rutgers–New Brunswick’s Busch Campus with Columbia University’s New York City testbed while integrating smart-city sensing capabilities. COSMOS3 expands Rutgers’ leadership in wireless networking and smart-city infrastructure research by supporting large-scale experimentation on emerging 6G technologies.
-
The Rutgers University Center for Ocean Observing Leadership advances understanding of ocean systems, marine and coastal ecosystems, and fisheries through interdisciplinary research, technological innovation, and public engagement. The center develops new observing technologies, supports blue economy solutions, and prepares future generations of researchers and practitioners for a more resilient and sustainable future.
The center includes 10 core faculty members in the Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences whose work spans research, teaching, and community outreach at local, national, and global levels.
-
The USDA NIFA NEXTGEN Animal Science Discovery Program is a summer experiential learning, career development, and scholarship initiative connecting LaGuardia Community College and Rutgers–New Brunswick. Through the program, students transfer to Rutgers–New Brunswick to pursue academic and career pathways in food, agriculture, veterinary medicine, and biomedical research at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences.
Strengthening Student Support
Rutgers–New Brunswick is committed to building a beloved, diverse campus community where students thrive, opportunities are abundant, and debt is minimized.
Goal
Transform the student experience.
Guided by the Academic Master Plan, Rutgers–New Brunswick prioritized creating a welcoming, equitable, and supportive learning environment that promotes global competencies, cross-cultural engagement, and dialogue across a diverse student body. By emphasizing timely graduation, affordability, and high-impact learning, the university is preparing graduates to lead from day one.
Impact Highlights
Key Metrics
- Rutgers–New Brunswick is the second highest-ranked school in the BigTen for social mobility.
- The SAT scores of incoming students have increased by 4.8 percent.
Enhancing the Student Experience
The Discovery Advantage initiative was launched to strengthen the undergraduate experience through three areas of identified student need: academic support and mentoring; well-being and belonging; and career readiness.
To improve collaboration in student advising and support, the Annual Student Success Conference brings together faculty and staff from Student Affairs and Enrollment Management to share strategies and align student-focused efforts.
Improving Outcomes
With nearly 10% of the student body identifying as neurodivergent, the College Support Program, housed within the Rutgers Center for Adult Autism Services, works to broaden access, integrate mental health services, and provide training for faculty and staff.
These efforts aim to improve academic, social, and wellness outcomes for students with autism and ADHD, who have historically experienced lower graduation rates.
Centralizing Student Resources
A redesigned student success website was launched as a centralized entry point for student resources. Developed collaboratively with campus partners, the site features a custom backend that allows content owners to update information regularly, with automated prompts to support accuracy.
Early results show improved user engagement, longer visit durations, and more efficient pathways to needed services.
More Highlights
To explore additional impacts in within the Student Success pillar, review the highlights below or browse the full list of submissions (NetID required).
-
The Student Employee Enrichment (SEE) Program supports the professional and personal development of student employees at Rutgers University by connecting meaningful on-campus work experiences with career readiness competencies. Through mentorship, skill-building, and reflection, the program helps students build career confidence and prepare for post-graduation success.
The SEE Program also provides supervisors with tools and training to create impactful student employment experiences that support student growth and professional development.
-
The Grow@SEBS program is a student engagement platform that helps School of Environmental and Biological Sciences undergraduates explore the G. H. Cook campus and connect with the community through co-curricular and extracurricular activities. As students earn Grow Points, they develop competencies that enrich their educational experience and strengthen their preparation for employment, scholarships, and continued academic study.
-
Hosted in fall 2024, the RU Researching Symposium highlighted the role of research in the academic experience of EOF students at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences. The symposium introduced students to research as a pathway to academic success, leadership development, intellectual curiosity, and long-term professional growth.
Fostering Connections
Civic engagement drives student success and faculty innovation, while strong partnerships expand opportunity and create pathways for real-world learning and research collaboration.
Goal
Build on Rutgers–New Brunswick’s strong foundation of community engagement.
Guided by the Academic Master Plan, Rutgers–New Brunswick strengthened its public impact by embedding community engagement across teaching, research, and service. Since 2021, the university has expanded opportunities for community-engaged learning, increased support and recognition for faculty scholarship with external partners, and built infrastructure to deepen partnerships across the institution.
Impact Highlights
Key Metrics
- Since 2022, Rutgers–New Brunswick students have participated in 534 community-engaged courses, highlighting a strong commitment to applied learning and community impact.
- As of 2026, Rutgers–New Brunswick sustains 162 active community partnerships, reflecting broad collaboration with local and regional organizations.
Distinction in Teaching
In 2026, Rutgers–New Brunswick earned the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification from the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, its third recognition since 2010. The distinction reflects a long-standing commitment to public service dating back to 1864 and Rutgers’ role as New Jersey’s land-grant institution.
Supporting Access
The Bonner Leaders Program, a four-year leadership initiative, supports first-generation and underrepresented students as they work with community partners in New Brunswick and Piscataway. Students contribute to projects focused on food access, health equity, college readiness, and youth development, completing more than 7,000 service hours annually while helping community organizations expand programs and reach more residents.
Showcasing the Arts
The Zimmerli Art Museum advances community engagement through free public programming that welcomes tens of thousands of visitors each year. At the same time, students at the Mason Gross School of the Arts partner with local nonprofits to develop arts-based community projects in dance, theater, and music.
More Highlights
To explore additional impacts in within the Community Engagement pillar, review the highlights below or browse the full list of submissions (NetID required).
-
The Zimmerli Art Museum presents a wide range of public programs that are free and open to the public, serving more than 15,200 people during fiscal year 2025. As a public-facing institution committed to community engagement, the museum welcomes more than 45,000 visitors annually, including many from the Rutgers community.
Through exhibitions, programs, and educational initiatives, the Zimmerli uses the visual arts to foster learning and connection among Rutgers students, faculty, and visitors from across the region.
-
Departments within the Mason Gross School of the Arts partnered with New Brunswick nonprofit organizations to create arts experiences and collaborative projects for community participants. These arts-based collaborations gave students the opportunity to better understand community needs while developing creative projects designed to support local organizations and their constituents.
Integrated into coursework, the projects combined academic learning, research, and community engagement while preparing Mason Gross students to build artistically grounded, research-informed partnerships with community organizations.
History
Since 2021, the Rutgers–New Brunswick Academic Master Plan has served as a roadmap for institutional progress, outlining a vision for a modern public university that prepares students to address society’s most pressing challenges and lead in a rapidly changing world.
Developed through months of collaboration and designed to focus the university’s efforts, the Academic Master Plan has laid the foundation for progress across Rutgers–New Brunswick. Through its guiding principles, the university has strengthened its commitment to academic excellence, inclusive research, and service to the common good.
Grounded in four core pillars, Scholarly Leadership, Innovative Research, Student Success, and Community Engagement, the Academic Master Plan has shaped how Rutgers–New Brunswick teaches, researches, and serves. It has also reinforced the role of a public university in advancing knowledge, expanding opportunity, and improving lives on campus and beyond.
Across the university, faculty, students, staff, and alumni are putting institutional priorities into action through discovery, teaching, service, and community engagement. Together, they are helping move Rutgers–New Brunswick forward with purpose and momentum.
Timeline
Accordion Content
-
Engaged campus academic leaders in a universitywide effort to evaluate academic strengths, identify emerging opportunities for growth and improvement, and outline strategies for advancing institutional goals.
-
Conducted extensive qualitative and quantitative research to better understand institutional strengths and areas of opportunity. Surveys distributed to faculty, staff, and students generated nearly 4,000 responses from across the Rutgers–New Brunswick community.
-
Established academic priorities and proposed programs designed to advance excellence, student experience, innovative research, inclusive pedagogy, and public service.
-
Launched implementation of the Academic Master Plan across Rutgers–New Brunswick.