All incoming and continuing graduate students are invited to various welcome and community-building programs in January and February to kick off the Spring 2026 semester. Programs are designed to introduce students to essential resources, provide opportunities to connect with other graduate students, learn about graduate student organizations and participate in campus-wide events. There are graduate student-exclusive programs as well as university events open for both undergraduate and graduate students.
Graduate Student Life and Graduate Student Association Spring 2026 Welcome & Open House
Tuesday, January 27, 2:00 - 4:00pm, Graduate Student Lounge, 126 College Avenue, New Brunswick
Drop by the Lounge to meet staff and students from the Graduate Student Life, GSA, graduate student organizations and affinity groups, Scarlet Arts Rx, Learning Centers, Office of Disability Services, and Career Exploration and Success. Learn about opportunities to get involved as a graduate student and the resources to support your graduate student experience and your overall wellness! The Graduate Student Lounge is a great place to study, relax, or connect with friends. Come visit us for free massages, pizza, desserts, and giveaways!
Exclusive Events for Graduate Students
- Exclusive Events for Graduate Students
Mon 1/12 - Fri 1/23 * Join a Graduate Student Affinity Group
Click HERE to register to join a Graduate Affinity Group. Registration ends January 23.
Consider joining a peer-designed and peer facilitated affinity group. Groups will meet monthly in the fall semester at a date/time and in a format to be determined by the facilitator and participants. Affinity groups are affirming spaces to: Build community with peers who share experiences, backgrounds, & social identities; Connect with peers for personal and professional support and around shared interests.
Five Groups are being offered:
- African students
- BIPOC LGBTQIA2S+ students
- Chinese students
- International students
- Neurodivergent students
- Southeast Asian students
To read descriptions for each group and learn if it's a good fit for you, click HERE. Questions? Ghada Endick, gendick@echo.rutgers.edu.Weds 2/4 * Office of Disability Services Let's Talk Accommodations with Nychey Michel
Wednesday, February 4, 2025, 2pm - 4pm, Graduate Student Lounge, 126 College Avenue, New Brunswick
Coordinator Nychey Michel from the Office of Disabilities Services (ODS) will offer drop-in hours just for graduate students. She is available the first Wednesday of every month from 2-4 p.m. at the Graduate Student Lounge (126 College Avenue), and on Zoom. Come stop by and meet Nychey to discuss classroom accommodations for students with disabilities. Disabilities are diverse and include, but are not limited to hearing loss, vision loss, mobility conditions, learning disabilities, psychological diagnoses (such as anxiety or depression), chronic illnesses, traumatic brain injuries, and neurodivergence. She can be reached at (848)-202-3111 or nlm108@echo.rutgers.edu.
Ongoing * Wellness Coaching
Make an appointment HERE
A wellness coach helps you focus on your present situation and provides general assistance to develop strategies that will improve various aspects of your life. The idea is that you are the expert on your own life, and the coach is there to assist you with putting a plan in place to help you reach your goals. Our coaches are not counselors or therapists. Think of a goal you want to achieve, e.g., managing your time, setting boundaries, and then submit this FORM. As a graduate student, you will receive a coach who is a professional staff member, not a peer. For more information visit HERE.
Ongoing * Graduate Student Academic Coaching
Kick off the spring semester by booking a 1:1 academic coaching appointment with Dr. Wilson Ng, Senior Program Coordinator for Graduate Student Services at the Learning Centers! Academic coaching can aid in your development and progress goals during graduate school and is particularly helpful for tackling motivation challenges, improving task management approaches, and increasing accountability and productivity. You can schedule an appointment with Dr. Ng through Penji. Please reach out to Dr. Ng by email at wwn2@echo.rutgers.edu with any questions!
Ongoing * Arts and Wellbeing Program – Scarlet Arts Rx
Discover the transformative power of the arts through Scarlet Arts Rx, a FREE arts and well-being program for all Rutgers–New Brunswick students! Arts engagement is related to improvements in mood, Sleep quality, Social connections, Self-confidence, Creative thinking skills, and more! You don’t need to be an artist to participate and get free reserved Mason Gross School of the Arts (MGSA) box office tickets for theater, dance, and music performances; opportunities to connect socially and meet new people; and increased self-awareness about how the arts affect your well-being. Sign up for Scarlet Arts Rx HERE, and check out Scarlet Arts Rx on getINVOLVED HERE and on Instagram @scarletartsrx. Please contact Peichi Waite pw337@mgsa.rutgers.edu with any questions.
University Events for Graduate & Undergraduate Students
- Social Events
Events TBA
- Open Houses & Campus Resources
Events TBA
- Community & Belonging: Affinity-Based Programs
Events TBA
- Wellness & Fitness Programs
Events TBA
