Leadership & service

The Asian American Cultural Center (AACC) is committed to fostering a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment for all students at Rutgers University by providing cultural, social, and educational programs and initiatives focusing on issues relevant to the Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) community. We envision a vibrant community of students committed to learning, preserving, and embracing the unique histories, traditions, cultural identities, and experiences of the APIDA diaspora at Rutgers and the community at large. The center provides a supportive environment for all students, encouraging academic and professional excellence through internship opportunities, peer-to-peer mentorship, leadership and professional development, and exploration of identity.

The Eagleton Institute of Politics’ Center for Youth Political Participation at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, advances the political learning of young people and equips them to be active citizens and leaders. For young people to assume their place in the political process, the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of political participation must be taught. Through education, research, and public service, the Center for Youth Political Participation plays a lead role locally and nationally in fostering and promoting the active citizenship and leadership of future generations.

The Collaborative Center for Community Engagement is dedicated to supporting campus-community partnerships to advance the public good in our New Brunswick and Piscataway communities, throughout the state of New Jersey, and beyond. The Collaborative oversees programs like Advancing Community Development (a competitive semester-long program for 12 students who do research in the area of health in the New Brunswick community and receive mentors from Johnson & Johnson which is funded by a gift from J&J), the Bonner Leaders program (a highly selective program for 50 Federal Work-Study students who do their hours at partners on and off-campus working on special projects), a Community Walking Tour that examines food, architecture, and the cultural communities of New Brunswick, and the giving of the Presidential Volunteer Service Award for New Brunswick students who meet the criteria.

Rutgers University Alternative Break (RUAB) trips offer all Rutgers students the opportunity to serve communities around the United States and abroad to combat a variety of prevailing social issues, such as homelessness, systemic oppression, environmental sustainability, disability rights, immigration reform, LGBTQIA+ equality, animal welfare, and more. These service learning trips take place over the course of a week during the University’s academic break periods, and allow students to learn more about the communities we serve and explore the culture of their local areas. Each trip is designed and coordinated by Alternative Break Site Leaders, undergraduate students who are trained and prepared to provide a holistic and meaningful experience for their participants.

Scarlet Day of Service is one of the largest service events of the year at Rutgers. Traditionally, students and alumni have come together to volunteer at different community organizations throughout the state. Over the years, this event has provided over 1,000 students and alumni the opportunity to serve New Jersey by cleaning up communities, revitalizing outdoor spaces, working with youth and senior citizens, and more. The Spring 2023 Scarlet Day of Service will take place on Saturday, March 25. Visit RUPA's website to learn more and to sign up.

The Eagleton Fellowship offers select Rutgers graduate students the opportunity to further their understanding of government, public affairs, and the practice of politics. All Rutgers graduate students are eligible to apply for this one-year, interdisciplinary certificate program.

Apply for Class of 2022 online starting in late January 2021.

Discover great opportunities to become involved at Rutgers! This online engagement platform is a great way to learn more about the 700+ student organizations and opportunities for engagement at Rutgers-New Brunswick. It’s also the place to find out more about the events and programs hosted by student organizations and various departments on campus. Please log on to your getINVOLVED profile to become more involved and connected today! Once you have logged in with your Net ID and password, click on your name in the top right-hand corner. Customize your profile and access your Rutgers Event Pass, a necessity for checking into campus events. Any questions about getting involved? Feel free to contact the Office Student Involvement and Leadership, Student Centers and Activities at osi@echo.rutgers.edu or 848-932-6978!

Get a jump start on developing your plans by reading the Career & Internship Guide developed by the Office of Career Exploration and Success.  This guide contains information on exploring careers and majors, polishing your resume, implementing job search strategies, planning for graduate school, and much more.

Health Outreach, Promotion, and Education (HOPE) works to advance health and wellness at Rutgers University through community engagement and innovation. HOPE provides students with tools to advocate for personal and community wellness and coordinates a large and active peer education program. Students are trained to facilitate interactive outreach and workshops on issues that directly impact students’ lives.

HOPE offers public health internships through the Edward J. Bloustein School. 

An online magazine designed and written by the undergraduate students of the Department of French at Rutgers-NB for K-12 students around New Jersey.

Student Centers and Activities provides experiential learning opportunities to create transformative experiences for Rutgers University students. Our Lead Up Academy enhances leadership skills to help Rutgers students stand out to future employers. Students can get involved in this progressive, tiered curriculum at any point or complete any or all of the programs listed below.  

- First-Year Fellowship (First-year and transfer students): The First-Year Fellowship is a year-long certificate program of events, workshops, and opportunities designed to transform first-year and transfer students into the next generation of campus leaders. It features a curriculum designed for emerging leaders to cultivate their skills and abilities to become the next generation of leaders on campus and beyond!  

- LVL Up (Sophomores and juniors): The LVL Up program is designed specifically with second-year students in mind! We recognize that students will be facing a lot of changes as they transition into their second-year; through this program, we want students to develop the skills necessary to succeed while also training for position-specific responsibilities.

- Peer Leadership Mentors: Peer Leadership Mentors are part of a highly immersive leadership program. It provides guidance to five first-year students and facilitate a section of the First-Year Fellowship, while completing a 1.5 credit course that will help make meaning of the skills needed to excel in future roles. 

NEW Leadership® is CAWP’s national initiative to educate and empower the next generation of women leaders. NEW Leadership® teaches college women the value of civic engagement and encourages them to see themselves as empowered leaders who can effectively participate in politics and public policy.

The six-day residential program educates college women about the important role that politics plays in their lives, introduces them to successful women leaders, and encourages them to become more involved in the political process.

Rutgers School of Nursing provides an array of support services for our students. Please visit our student resources page: https://nursing.rutgers.edu/student-resources/ to identify the services and resources that apply to you based on your academic program and campus. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact student.engagement@sn.rutgers.edu.

Nestled on 21 wooded acres, in the heart of the campus, the Rutgers University Inn and Conference Center blends tranquility with bustling energy of campus life.  The Inn is located on the Cook/Douglass campus. The Inn is open to the public AND to Rutgers faculty, staff and students.  Reservations can be made directly at our website. The Inn is open for the entire year, only closing between for a week between December and January.

Sophomore, Junior, Senior and Graduate students are also invited to submit an application to become a Residence Coordinator with the Inn.  Residence Coordinators provide support services to overnight guests, conference attendees and meeting organizers. Stationed at the front reception desk, Residence Coordinators interact directly with guests from around the world, ensuring a high level of assistance and attention.  Coordinators are provided with FREE housing and a meal plan during the academic semester.  Summer employment includes an hourly rate and FREE housing.

Rutgers Handshake offered by the Office of Career Exploration and Success (CES) is the place to locate jobs and internships on and off-campus.

The Collaborative Center for Community-Based Research and Service fosters campus-community partnerships that provide students meaningful community engagement opportunities that connect to their academic pursuits.  Students can be involved through our on-going programs where they can mentor local children, serve as research assistants, contribute to making our local food system more equitable, etc.  Most of our programs allow students to receive academic credit for their participation and provide a framework for understanding the community and reflect upon their service.  By engaging in long-term service opportunities, students gain workplace skills, build networks, and learn leadership skills.

Rutgers Handshake offered by the Office of Career Exploration and Success (CES) is the #1 platform for all things related to career exploration, finding an internship, on-campus or off-campus positions, or landing a job opportunity post-grad. Students can utilize Rutgers Handshake to access thousands of job and internship listings in the system. They can also schedule appointments with career advisors, read employer reviews from other students, network with employers, register for events, access exclusive online resources, and much more.

Rutgers Summer Service Internship (RSSI) Program provides Rutgers select students from Camden, Newark, and New Brunswick with an opportunity to earn up to $5,000 while interning for a minimum of 200-hours over 10 weeks during the summer at a public service non-profit organization or direct-service government office. Students also participate in a concurrent virtual, asynchronous course designed to explore and engage with the topic of public service while building their career readiness and professionalism skills. Candidates may apply with a qualifying internship found on their own or participate in a matching process with pre-approved internship employers before final selections are determined.

Rutgers University Student Assembly (RUSA) is the governing body for undergraduate students at the New Brunswick/Piscataway campuses. RUSA advocates on behalf of student concerns regarding official policies and priorities, provides a forum for the open expression of student ideas, and allocates student fee funding to over 400 student organizations through the RUSA Allocations Board. Goals include amplifying student voices, bridging communities to establish productive lines of communication, and engaging students to take an active role in issues within their communities. The Student Assembly meets Thursdays and RUSA Allocations meets Monday evenings.

Rutgers University-New Brunswick has several other students governing councils that represent their specific academic school and program. These are the Douglass Governing Council, Engineering Governing Council , Mason Gross Student Government Association, Pharmacy Governing Council, Rutgers Business Governing Association, and the SEBS Governing Council.

Vision: We envision a Rutgers University where people of all identities and experiences are understood, appreciated, and fully included in the community, and where equitable treatment and outcomes prevail.

Mission: SJE promotes a supportive environment for students of all backgrounds, with a focus on gender and sexuality, while promoting both social and educational opportunities for leadership, identity, and social justice advocacy development. With a critical understanding of multiple identities and connected systems of oppression, SJE works collaboratively with students, faculty, staff, and community members to develop relevant initiatives and policies that center on diversity, inclusion, and intersections of identity.

https://youtu.be/0vgvRR7fENk 

Student Centers and Activities offers student leadership roles through the Leader Corps by coordinating and planning programs and events. These premier student leaders carry out their mission to provoke thought, cultivate confidence, and inspire action in the Rutgers community. The Leader Corps includes roles such as Lead Interns, Mark Conference Captains, RUAB Site Leaders and E-Board, Retreat Leaders, and Event Production Staff. Students gain valuable skills in demonstrated leadership, public speaking, event planning, peer management, social justice, initiative, innovation, and career development. The Leader Corps is a strong tie between student leaders and staff to help students explore, grow, and thrive during their college experience and beyond.

At Rutgers University - New Brunswick, we highly value volunteering and service to the community. The experiences that students gain foster social responsibility and learning through community engagement and volunteer opportunities. We provide and support co-curricular opportunities which prepare students and inspire them to be active citizens, while inspiring them to be socially aware and civically involved in their communities.

Volunteering can make a huge impact on the lives of those who you are serving, as well as your own life. Getting involved through volunteering is a great way to get the most out of your Rutgers experience. You can make new friends while serving others and have fun at the same time. We invite you to take a look at all of the opportunities we have to offer and invest in the future of the greater New Brunswick community in which you are learning and living.

Connect with us at volunteer@echo.rutgers.edu.

The department of French actively mentors students through the TAPIF program application process, including several workshops. Operated by the French government TAPIF offers American students of French the opportunity to spend a year in France, as a paid assistant to an English language teacher in a school. This teaching internship is a unique opportunity for seniors or recent graduates to immerse themselves in the culture of France.

For all RBS-NB undergraduates seeking information on involvement and leadership opportunities. For more information, please contact Matthew Peyrek, Coordinator of Student Experience and Engagement, at mpeyrek@business.rutgers.edu