Leadership and Service Learning

The Aresty Research Center's mission is to facilitate faculty-led undergraduate research at Rutgers–New Brunswick. The center enables students to learn about the process of research by connecting them with faculty mentors and projects that aid in developing their ability to create research objectives. The center connects hundreds of undergraduates with hands-on research experiences and/or funding opportunities through our highly competitive and structured processes designed for our signature programs. Students of all grade levels are welcomed to excel and expand their undergraduate research experience through our center. Aresty also provides a platform for students to present their research findings to the university and the general public at our annual Research Symposium.

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.

Suicide touches us all regardless of ability, age, gender identity, race, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, and more. This 2-hour experiential training aims to increase knowledge about statistics, risk and protective factors, warning signs, and campus resources concerning college student suicide. It will enable participants to demonstrate kindness and empathy towards others, helping them to respond caringly and effectively to those experiencing a wide range of emotional crises. Visit go.rutgers.edu/Campus-Connect for more information, campus-wide training dates, or to schedule a closed session with your group or student organization.

The Eagleton Institute of Politics’ Center for Youth Political Participation at Rutgers–New Brunswick advances the political learning and engagement 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, regionally, 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 up to 16 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; oversight of the RCommunity Engagement platform; 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.