The Office of Graduate Student Life celebrates and supports first-generation graduate students across the graduate and professional schools at Rutgers–New Brunswick. In partnership with academic schools and campus collaborators, we celebrate first-generation identities, foster belonging, and expand inclusive support through intentional programming, community-building opportunities, and shared knowledge.
Who Is a First-Generation Graduate Student?
A first-generation graduate student is someone who is the first in their immediate family (parents, guardians, or primary caregivers) to:
- Earn a Bachelor's degree
- Enter graduate school
- Enter graduate school in the United States
- Navigate the grad school process, with limited or no access to the knowledge of navigating grad school, even if they have a family member who earned a graduate degree.
In partnership with academic schools and campus collaborators, the Office of Graduate Student Life supports first-generation graduate students by creating opportunities for peer connection, networking, resource sharing and creating meaningful programs across our campuses. We focus on:
- Increasing visibility and recognition by celebrating first-generation graduate students, including National First-Generation College Day.
- Highlighting the contributions and elevating the strengths of first-generation graduate students through academic, professional, and community-based programs that highlight the diverse experiences and assets of first-generation graduate students.
- Fostering connection and belonging by bringing together first-generation graduate students through socials, workshops and community-building spaces.
- Sustaining and expanding support by growing inclusive programming across all graduate and professional schools and welcoming student input along the way.
Connect
Join the Rutgers First-Generation Graduate Students GroupMe
Contact
E-mail the Office of Graduate Student Life at gradstudentlife@echo.rutgers.edu for questions and inquiries. We are here to assist you!
First-Generation Graduate Student Coalition Committee
A campus wide committee of student, faculty and staff, passionate about supporting first-generation graduate students' thriving and success at Rutgers, meet monthly to engage in dialogue on strategies for providing intentional support and facilitating community building opportunities for first-generation graduate and professional students. Committee participation is open to everyone.
For further information on involvement, please contact committee co-leads,
Ghada Endick, Assistant Dean Graduate Student Life, Division of Student Affairs, gendick@echo.rutgers.edu
Daniel Rice, Assistant Dean for Student Success and School Climate, Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology (GSAPP), drice@rutgers.edu
Signature Events for First-Gen Grad Students
Spring 2026 Events
Frid. 1/30 * Managing Imposter Syndrome and Cultivating Self-Compassion
Friday 1/30 at 1:00pm on Zoom
Hosted by CAPS Community Based Counselor Dana Simons. Join Dana along with your peers, to talk about the impact of imposter syndrome, self-image, and ways to practice self-compassion.
Join zoom, no registration necessary
https://rutgers.zoom.us/j/99638050678?pwd=eb5TK1R9CH22Yz5TBMlrZW3anjb7PU.1
Sat. 1/31 * First-Generation Graduate Student Welcome Social---Community, Resources & Conversation
Saturday, January 31, Noon – 2:00pm, Graduate Student Lounge, 126 College Ave., New Brunswick
Join us for a welcoming and social event for new and returning first-generation graduate students and their families. Connect with peers who share similar experiences, meet supportive staff, learn about Rutgers resources, and enjoy lunch and community. The event will also include informal opportunities to share your experiences, ask questions, and reflect on what support matters the most to you. For more information on First-Generation Graduate Student programs visit our website. Questions? Email gradstudentlife@echo.rutgers.edu
2/6 - 4/4 Free Income Tax Filing Assistance for Eligible Taxpayers
February 6 – April 4
The New Brunswick Free Public Library has once again partnered with United Way Central Jersey and the Rutgers Business School’s Beta Alpha Psi chapter to offer the annual VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program. This service provides free income tax filing assistance for eligible taxpayers with incomes up to $75,000 for the 2025 tax year. Appointments are available Fridays and Saturdays from February 6 through April 4. Call 732-745-5108 ext. 2725 for an appointment.
Tues. 2/10 * Emotion Regulation, Stress Management, and Cultivating Resilience
Tuesday 2/10 at 12:00pm on Zoom
Hosted by CAPS Community Based Counselor Dana Simons. Join Dana with your peers, as we focus on addressing skills for recognizing and managing stress and emotions, and increasing resilience.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://rutgers.zoom.us/j/97345342356?pwd=Iw22YoT1vGPhwpWzBgxpJJb1TlJ8zH.1
Thur. 2/12 iJOBS Seminar: Advice from an Immigration Attorney, 12pm - 1:30pm on Zoom
If you are an international student or postdoc and are confused about the constantly changing landscape of visa as well as wondering how to apply for jobs in the US, you should join us to hear Michael Goldstein who is an immigration lawyer. He will give a presentation about applying for H-1B visas, green cards, OPT and J1 visas as well as answer general questions about the processes. To register, click here
https://rutgers.zoom.us/my/alderja Passcode: Janet
First Gen Graduate Student Affinity Group - Call for facilitators coming soon in February!
Students interested in creating and facilitating a first-gen grad affinity group, please email gradstudentlife@echo.rutgers.edu to express interest and get on the mailing list to receive more information. For more information on grad affinity groups visit our website.
Upcoming Spring 2026 Scarlet$ense Events
Visit website for Registration Information: https://emnb.rutgers.edu/financialaidresources/
- Feb 11th -- Budgeting + Savings + Investing (Virtual)
- Feb 25th – College and Money (Virtual)
- Mar 25th – Psychology of Money (In Person)
- April 8th – Loan Guidance + Loan Forgiveness (Virtual)
- April 29th – How to Grow and Build Credit (In-person)
- April 13th – 16th – Scarlet$ense Financial Wellness Week
All in person workshops will be held at the Rutgers-New Brunswick One Stop Student Services Center: 65 Davidson Road, Room 107A, Piscataway, NJ
GradFund Workshop Series: Navigating the Hidden Curriculum of Graduate School as a Foundation to Winning Fellowship and Grants
February 2026 | Virtual via Zoom
Designed for School of Graduate Studies First & Second-Year PhD Students
This Spring Semester, GradFund invites you to join a small‑group workshop series focused on Navigating the Hidden Curriculum of Graduate School—the unspoken knowledge, norms, and strategies essential for success in graduate school but rarely taught in formal coursework. Based on A Field Guide to Grad School: Uncovering the Hidden Curriculum by Jessica Calarco, each session highlights a different chapter and topic. Participation in this series will lay the foundation for writing competitive fellowship and grant applications, while complementing GradFund’s Self‑Paced Guide to Fellowships and Grants on Canvas and individual advising appointments. Each of the four sessions will be facilitated by the GradFund advising team and will include a focused presentation, guided group discussion and development of a personalized action plan. Participants will build confidence, expand their professional knowledge, and strengthen their capacity to apply for external funding. For questions, contact the GradFund team at fellowship_advisor@gradfund.rutgers.edu
February 2026 Workshop Schedule: All sessions take place Thursdays, 1:00–2:00 PM (ET) via Zoom.
February 5 – Building Your Team
February 12 – Deciphering Academic Jargon
February 19 – Doing Research and Finding Funding
February 26 – Reading and Writing About Other People’s Research
Advance registration is required for all sessions. Register on Zoom. Important Notes:
- Register using your Rutgers email address (net Rutgers email address (netid@rutgers.edu)
- An active Rutgers Zoom account is required (Activate or verify at: https://rutgers.zoom.us/)
- A confirmation email with the Zoom link will be sent after registration
Tuesday 2/17 * Understanding and Navigating the US Education System
Location: Zoom at 12pm
Registration: https://forms.gle/yHatBDRaLHZUvShv5
Hosted by Ramazan Güngör, PhD, School of Graduate Studies, Assistant Dean for Professional Development
The U.S. higher education system is incredibly diverse, with many types of institutions that shape faculty work, research expectations, and hiring in different ways. This session will help you make sense of that landscape, enabling you to plan your next career steps with confidence.
What We’ll Cover
1. Institution types: Community colleges, regional public universities, research-intensive institutions (R1/R2), liberal arts colleges, and for-profit institutions, and how each serves its students and communities.
2. How they operate: The essentials of governance, accreditation, and funding, and how these structures influence mission and priorities.
3. Career implications: How teaching, research, tenure and promotion, and service vary across institution types, and what that means for your CV, portfolio, and job search strategy.
You’ll Leave With
1. A clear visual map of U.S. higher education and how different institutions compare.
2. A short self-assessment to help you identify which environments best fit your values, strengths, and long-term goals.
You can see all SGS Grad Career workshops for the semester here on their website.
For questions, email Ramazan Güngör at rg835@rutgers.edu
Wed. 2/18 * Access Week 2026: Student Access Forum
Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 12:00pm - 2:00pm, College Avenue Student Center MPR
RSVP LINK
Explore insights into retention and graduation of first-generation or Pell-eligible students. Through data and discussion, panelists will forecast what access and college will look like for undergraduate and graduate students and imagine alternative ways to support student access. Panelists include Marco Dinovelli (Assoc. Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management), Daniel Rice (Assist. Dean for Student Success and School Climate), Sean Simone (Vice President of Research and the Director of the Pell Institute).
Part of Access Week: February 16 - February 20. To learn more, visit https://go.rutgers.edu/AccessWeek
Frid 2/20 * 9th Annual First-Generation Graduate Student Virtual Symposium (students only)
Friday February 20, 2026, 12:30pm - 5pm, Zoom, Cost: $0
REGISTER by 2/16 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
The First-generation Graduate and Professional Student Virtual Symposium is created by first-generation graduate and professional students for first-generation graduate and professional students.
Join the Boston University Newbury Center, Duke University's First-Generation Graduate Student Network, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Grad Student F1RSTS, and us for the 9th Annual Symposium on February 20, 2026, hosted virtually via Zoom.
This national event brings together first-gen graduate and professional students across all disciplines to connect, learn, and strengthen community.
Please register by February 16, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. ET. More details and registration information are available here: https://www.firstgenforward.org/learning-and-events/events/graduate-student-symposium
Thur 2/26 Virtual Financial Planning Workshop for Rutgers Grad Students and Postdocs
Thursday Feb 26, 2026, Location: Zoom Workshop, 3:30pm – 5:00 pm
This free workshop will be presented by the Financial Planning Association of New Jersey to educate graduate students and Postdocs on cash flow management, debt, student loan paydown and building a safety net. We know that living on a grad student and postdoc income can be challenging and many of you also have families to support. The skills you gain in this workshop will help you navigate your financial situation.
- Register at this site: https://rutgers.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4J8aMp6HqA0eIo6
- Zoom Information: https://rutgers.zoom.us/my/alderja Passcode: Janet
Phone only dial +1 646 558 8656 Meeting ID: 419 868 7830
Hosted by the School of Graduate Studies and Office of Postdoctoral Affairs. For more information contact, Janet Alder: janet.alder@rutgers.edu
GradSense: A Financial Planning Resource Developed Specifically for Graduate Students
GradSense is a website designed specifically for grad students like you to help you make informed financial decisions throughout your grad school journey. It provides guidance on funding your degree, essential tips on managing your finances while in school, and, once you complete your degree, information on evaluating and negotiating job offers, and resources on federal loan repayment.
Key Features of GradSense:
- Funding Options and Financial Aid: Offers guidance on finding and applying for financial assistance.
- Managing Finances: Provides practical tips on budgeting and managing money while in graduate school, including an online budget calculator developed specifically for graduate students.
- After Grad School: Includes information on evaluating and negotiating job offers and resources on federal loan repayment.
GradSense is free and available to anyone who is interested in financial wellness. The site is managed by the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) and supported by TIAA. Rutgers University is a member of CGS.
Check back for additional monthly programs and initiatives that are upcoming.
Fall 2025 Events
First-Generation Graduate Student Welcome Social
Friday, September 12, 2025| 5:00pm – 6:30pm
Location: Graduate Student Lounge, 126 College Avenue (behind Panera Bread)
New and returning first-generation graduate students are invited to a welcome social to meet other first-gen grad students, network with staff and learn about resources. Join us for a pizza dinner, fellowship, and connection! All participants will receive a free Rutgers tote from the Office of Graduate Student Life!
Slice of Connection: A First-Gen Grad Meet-Up
Monday, November 3, 2025 | 11:00am – 2:00pm
Location: Graduate Student Lounge, 126 College Avenue (behind Panera Bread)
In recognition of National First-Generation College Celebration Week (November 3-8), join the Office of Graduate Student Life in the Graduate Student Lounge for a low-pressure drop-in event for first-generation graduate students. Whether you're just starting grad school or deep into the journey, Slice of Connection is your chance to pause, reflect, and build your campus network. Chat with veteran first-gens over pizza and mingle with staff who have also navigated the first-gen grad journey.
This page was updated January 16, 2026
