First-Year Experience

Byrne Seminars are small, one-credit courses taught by Rutgers’ world-renowned faculty who come from departments and professional schools across the university. Limited to 20 students per section, each unique seminar introduces students to the professor’s area of expertise and their latest research. The Byrne program is open to all first-year students during the fall and spring semesters. Students who take a Byrne often find that studying with a professor in a small seminar has a profound impact on their collegiate experience, including connecting them to campus resources,  peers with similar interests, and new opportunities for majors or fields of research. For a full listing of seminars, check out https://nbprovost.rutgers.edu/byrne-seminars 

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.

The DPT 4+3 Program is now a 6.5 year program that combines four (4) years of coursework in a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Exercise Science from Rutgers University - New Brunswick with two and a half (2.5) years of graduate school at the Rutgers School of Health Professions Doctor of Physical Therapy Program - Newark Campus. This program provides First Year students who are admitted to either the School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) or School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS) the opportunity to begin preparing for a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Degree from the moment they start their college education.

The DPT 4+3 Program is only open to First Year students who complete the required Fall semester curriculum satisfactorily. If requirements are met, students must express formal interest before they declare their major in Exercise Science in the Spring semester of their First Year. After being accepted into the major, students are eligible to apply to the Pre-PT Concentration in Spring of First Year. Accepted students have the opportunity to apply to the DPT Graduate Program in the Summer after Second Year of their undergraduate career. Upon completion of all requirements in the Fourth Year, accepted students will have the opportunity to begin their graduate career in the DPT Program and receive a DPT degree. Unfortunately, upperclassmen and transfer students are not eligible for this program.

First-year Honors College students are supplied with valuable information and connections to help them develop professionally during their first semester on the banks. HC students are invited to participate in the HC Scholar Peer Mentor program, where they are matched with a mentor. The mission of the HC Scholar Peer Mentorship program is to enhance the sense of belonging for Honors College students that builds community and encourages exploration and growth with resources for academics, professional development, and extracurriculars across four years so that students can thrive as HC Scholars.

All students, regardless of engagement with the HC Scholar Peer Mentor program are invited to three signature events: our annual resume and LinkedIn workshop, the annual Career and Research Mixer  and, our annual 'how to' workshops on finding summer or clinical opportunities. These resources are available only to Honors College students.

First-year Interest Group Seminars (FIGS) are offered by the Office of Career Exploration and Success. Register for one of these small, one-credit seminars, taught by experienced upper-class students. You will be introduced to university resources and a career field of your choice during the fall of your first semester at Rutgers.

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!

Rutgers Global Programming & Events provides cultural, social, and educational events and opportunities to the community to: (1) promote global awareness and cultural competence; (2) facilitate the integration and acculturation of international students; and (3) foster meaningful interactions between international and domestic students.  

Friendship Fridays are weekly social gatherings for students to meet with other students from around the world.  Activities include games, food events, arts & crafts, and conversations advancing cultural exchange.

http://global.rutgers.edu/friendship-fridays  
https://global.rutgers.edu/event-calendar

The Innovation, Design, and Entrepreneurship Academy (IDEA) integrates design and entrepreneurial thinking into the student experience to support learning pathways for first-year students to discover and explore their interests through meaningful engagement with community organizations. During the program, students take part in research, design challenges, and entrepreneurial thinking, as well as contribute to interdisciplinary projects focused on solving complex societal challenges. IDEA’s innovation studio provides space for students to explore the innovation process through workshops, pitch competitions, and guided inquiry.

Rutgers Global–International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) is committed to providing superior services and enriching experiences for our international community on the New Brunswick and RBHS campuses. Our student advising staff is here to support the journeys of Rutgers international students from arrival to graduation and beyond. Our core services include providing advice and counsel on U.S. immigration regulations and compliance, immigration application processing, cross cultural programming such as the international student orientation program, advocacy, and outreach.  Examples include: 

• Advising Services: https://global.rutgers.edu/advising 
• Applications related to your legal status through the RGlobal Student Services portal: https://sunapsis.rutgers.edu/ 
• Travel Signatures: https://global.rutgers.edu/travel-and-visa-information  
• Updates to your I-20/DS-2019 
• International Student Employment: On-Campus Employment; Optional Practical Training (OPT); Curricular Practical Training (CPT); J-1 Academic Training: https://global.rutgers.edu/international-scholars-students/students/current/empl…  
• Workshops 
• Rutgers Global Alerts: https://global.rutgers.edu/all-alerts 

Rutgers Global–International Student and Scholar Services conducts a comprehensive orientation for all new international first-year and transfer students every fall and spring semester. This mandatory orientation welcomes, prepares, and engages new students and their families in their transition to Rutgers University - New Brunswick. At orientation, students become familiar with their new surroundings and are told about available opportunities and resources on and off campus. New students also meet other new and returning students, learning from their experiences and making new friends. The primary goal of ISO is to ensure that every student walks away from their orientation program with the resources, tools, and answers to make sure their first semester is a successful one. 

The Rutgers Parents and Family office also provides parent and family orientation programs and provides resources for families. For more information visit their website at http://parents.rutgers.edu/orientation/.  

Get excited to participate in one of Rutgers’ most anticipated student events - the annual Involvement Fair. We’ll shut down College Avenue and you’ll get the chance to learn about over 500 student organizations, sports clubs, fraternities and sororities, university departments, and more. Create your Rutgers community, join a new club, make friends, and celebrate your return to Rutgers!

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. 

Student Orientation and Transition Programs provides Student Orientation, an important introduction to college experience for all new undergraduate students, regardless of academic affiliation or major. At Orientation, students will have the opportunity to become familiar with campus resources and make connections with current students, faculty, and staff before beginning classes.

First Year students will participate in a two-day, overnight experience.  Transfer students will participate in an online orientation and optional in-person experience.

The On-Campus Work Experience Network (OWN) is a unique and customized program that will supplement your Federal Work-Study job placement through interactive leadership workshops to explore connections to potential careers and strengthen professional skills and your ability to leverage them, along with a cohort of your peers. In addition to leadership workshops OWN participants are paired with a supervisor who has agreed to serve as a mentor dedicated to your success.

All students at Rutgers University-New Brunswick receive an email copy of the One Stop Weekly every Tuesday via RAMS (Rutgers Automated Mail Service). This weekly e-newsletter provides timely and important information related to academics, health, safety, and finances. Students should make sure to check their spam filters and junk mail if they don't receive each Tuesday. 

RU-FIT (First-year International student Transition course) is a one-credit course taught by Peer Leaders—Rutgers Juniors and Seniors (often international students themselves)—designed to aid international students in a successful transition to Rutgers University. This course, mandatory for first-year international students enrolled in SAS, SOE, RBS, and SEBS, aims to help students develop a foundation for a well-rounded college experience by connecting them to Rutgers resources, promoting engagement within and outside the classroom, and communicating university expectations. Peer Leaders are trained by faculty and staff advisors and, as mentors, become an important resource for international students during their time at Rutgers.

The Rutgers University Programming Association (RUPA) is the university-wide student programming council that serves the entire Rutgers community.  We strive to do this by providing a variety of events appealing to the diverse student body on all five campuses. Examples include concerts and comedy shows with internationally known artists, the Annual Homecoming Charity Bed Races, entertaining lectures and performances, art projects, and much more. Follow RUPA on Instagram at @ruparutgers to stay up to date on all upcoming events.

SEBS EOF prepares students to solve challenging societal problems. Focused on access, academic excellence, and research, SEBS EOF cultivates students' capacity to make adaptive changes in their educational development and overcome historic socioeconomic factors that challenge their potential for success. SEBS EOF provides services that assist students in navigating the complexities of an academic and social climate within a global environment, and help facilitate an understanding of what is required to succeed in college as a science major. We educate researchers, scientists, and health professionals, promoting learning outcomes that produce first-generation college graduates and high-achieving STEM professionals.

At Rutgers, the first-year experience is a revolutionary experience unlike any other. We recognize that for many, living on-campus is a fundamental part of that experience. We are committed to providing a world-class experience and making the Fall of 2020 a revolutionary one, despite the restrictions for on-campus housing due to the pandemic. We will provide innovative ways for our first-years to make friends, thrive in a world of remote learning, and get acclimated to Rutgers in a way that reaches beyond the banks of the old Raritan. Through our free, Virtual FYE program, students will be a part of a virtual "residence hall floor," assigned to a trained Resident Assistant, and supported in their transition from high school to having a full, successful academic and social life at Rutgers.

Welcome Week supports the start students' academic and personal journey.  Welcome Week is filled with different activities and events that will focus on providing students opportunities to foster connections, learn about Rutgers culture and learn to navigate the campus and all its resources. As part of students' first initial days on campus, we have created a variety of activities that will inform, engage, and acclimate students to the RU Scarlet Knight community! 

A wellness coach is someone who helps you focus on your present situation and provides general assistance to come up with strategies that will improve various aspects of your life. The idea is that you are the expert on your own life, and your coach is there to assist you with your plan. With regular meetings around your schedule, the two of you will work through possible solutions to reach your goal(s). Our coaches are not counselors or therapists. For more information, visit go.rutgers.edu/wellness-coach and get started today. Open to graduate and undergraduate students.