The Academic Master Planning process has uncovered many outstanding programs and initiatives that embody the Four Pillars of Excellence, and are moving Rutgers–New Brunswick toward its envisioned academic future.
The emerging offshore renewable energy industry will require a workforce with diverse skills across many different sectors—including ecological analysis of the ocean systems that are so important to the industry. The Eco-Glider Offshore Wind Initiative, funded through the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and State Board of Public Utilities, will deploy 22 robotic gliders off the New Jersey coast to study a wide variety of ocean and marine ecology conditions.
A collaboration between the School of Communication and Information, Institute of Women’s Leadership, and Department of Women’s and Gender Studies at the School of Arts and Sciences, the chair exists to honor, retain, and recruit eminent scholars and practitioners who will help immerse the university community in debate and scholarship about new media, social change, and power structures.
The Mason Gross School of the Arts Integrated Dance Collaboratory researches and promotes the role of dance as an effective intervention for public health, wellness, education, and the professionalism of integrated dance arts. It offers two distinct movement classes for our community living with Neuromuscular conditions and for our Neurodivergent community.
Funded by a National Science Foundation grant, SOCRATES convenes a team of faculty and students from technology and social science backgrounds for unified, interdisciplinary training. It focuses on the societal impact of robots as they become integrated into everyday life and work, and development of a “new kind of roboticist (through) a convergence of socially-aware technologists and technology-aware social scientists.”
Rutgers was awarded a $12.6 million Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency grant to develop an oyster-based shoreline ecosystem to help protect coastlines from storm damage, flooding, and erosion. It will focus on oyster reefs in the Gulf Coast and combine novel cements and concretes with state-of-the-art shellfish breeding and the latest ecological engineering of shoreline habitats.
Conducted by the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling, the Rutgers-Eagleton Poll is the nation’s oldest university-based statewide polling operation. It measures New Jerseyans’ attitudes about politics and policy, and serves as a resource for news media, scholars, and the public. Its rigorous statistical methods supports research in social and behavioral studies and scientific, systematic data collection, and it collaborates with scholars across Rutgers.
The Rutgers Climate Institute is a universitywide effort to address one of the most important issues of our time through research, education, and outreach. It draws upon strengths in many departments at Rutgers, facilitating collaboration across a broad range of disciplines and research that affects areas as close to home as the Raritan River and Jersey Shore, and as far as Africa and Indonesia.
Road to Wall Street boosts the industry knowledge and interview skills of select students who demonstrate a strong interest in and knowledge of the financial markets. Students benefit from the Rutgers Business School’s proximity and ties to Wall Street, and from counseling, training, a financial modeling and valuation course, peer and alumni mentors, and year-round access to industry executives through guest lectures, site visits, networking events, and workshops.
The Rutgers Summer Service Internship (RSSI) Initiative is a universitywide initiative through which undergraduate students participate in meaningful internships with nonprofits and government organizations, while expanding their knowledge and skills to engage in active citizens. RSSI provides participating students with a $5,000 stipend and three funded academic credits, and has placed students in more than 100 high-impact public service internships.
The Alternative Break Program program provides undergraduate students with semester-long experiences centered on community service. Participants learn about a specific community issue within the United States during five weeks of pre-trip meetings and a volunteer break excursion. On site, students provide necessary services and explore culture and history. Participants cultivate social responsibility, leadership, and live-long learning, thereby joining a generation of leaders committed to positive change.
The Collaborative Center supports campus-community partnerships to advance the public good in New Brunswick and Piscataway, throughout the state, and beyond. The programs connect more than 400 students each year to community partners through in-depth placements and projects involving policy research, access to education, health, language, the arts, and more.
Global Village Learning Communities at Douglass Residential College offer a year-long experience in a themed “house” along with coursework, research, and engagement with the larger New Brunswick community through service learning. Participants become eligible to join Douglass’ Global Leaders study abroad program.
A collaborative effort between the Rutgers Institute for Families and the New Jersey Department of Human Services, Grow NJ Kids Training Services manage and coordinate professional development for the early childcare workforce. Research shows that children in early childcare and early learning programs are more prepared for kindergarten and have better reading skills, broader math skills, and larger vocabularies.
HC Serves is part of the Rutgers Honors College mission to develop service-minded “innovation citizens. Students must complete a minimum of 30 hours of approved service work during their first three years. The HC Serves Leadership Team, a student-led group, provides Honors College students with community service and integrated learning opportunities.
Rutgers University Dance Marathon, Scarlet Day of Service, Homecoming Bed Races, and Winter Wishes engage our students in service for the neighboring communities.