All incoming and continuing graduate students are invited to various welcome and community-building programs in September to kick off the Fall 2026 semester. Programs are designed to introduce you to essential resources and 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.
Signature First Weeks Events
Graduate Student Life & GSA Open House
Tuesday, September 8, 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Location: Graduate Student Lounge (Behind Panera Bread, 126 College Ave., College Ave. Campus)
RSVP encouraged!
Come check out the Graduate Student Lounge to meet the Graduate Student Life staff, GSA students, university partners. The Graduate Student Lounge is a great place to study, relax, or connect with friends and is equipped with coffee and a microwave. Come visit us for donuts and coffee and giveaways will be given to the first 50 students!
Graduate Student Welcome Reception & Resource Fair
Monday, September 14, 3:00pm – 5:00pm
Location: Busch Student Center Multipurpose Room (604 Bartholomew Rd. Busch Campus)
RSVP encouraged!
All graduate and professional students are invited to join the Office of Graduate Student Life and the Graduate Student Association for the annual Fall Graduate Student Welcome Reception and Resource Fair! Stop by the Busch Student Center MPR anytime between 3:00pm and 5:00pm to meet your fellow graduate students, network, enjoy food, and learn about the exciting opportunities, resources, and support services for graduate students by engaging with Graduate Student Organizations (GSOs) and University Departments! A full list of participating departments will be available soon.
National Student Parent Month Programs
Every September, the Office of Graduate Student Life celebrates our Graduate Parenting Students during National Student Parent Month. This month of programming is dedicated to recognizing the importance of empowering student parents as they balance the demands of academics and family life; raise awareness about the unique challenges parenting students face; and provide opportunities to learn about resources and connect with other graduate student parents.
Graduate Student Families Welcome Social
Sunday, September 13, 12:00pm – 2:00pm
Location: Graduate Student Lounge (Behind Panera Bread, 126 College Ave., College Ave. Campus)
RSVP HERE
New and returning graduate student families are invited to a special welcome event to meet other grad families and enjoy an afternoon of food and fun! Free to attend. Email gradstudentlife@echo.rutgers.edu to RSVP.
First-Generation Graduate Student Welcome Social
Friday, September 18, 5:00pm – 8:00pm
Location: Graduate Student Lounge (Behind Panera Bread, 126 College Ave., College Ave. Campus)
RSVP Link
New and returning first-generation graduate students are invited to a welcome social to meet other first-gen grad students and network with staff while learning about resources. Join us for fellowship and connection over pizza! All participants will receive a free giveaway from the Office of Graduate Student Life! For any questions, email gradstudentlife@echo.rutgers.edu.
Exclusive Events for Graduate Students
- First Weeks Spotlight: GSA Welcome Programs
GSA Coffee and Conversations – Wednesday, September 2, 9:00am – 11:00am
Location: Graduate Student Lounge (Behind Panera Bread, 126 College Ave., College Ave. Campus)
Join us for a delightful morning of warmth, conversation, and scrumptious delights at our Coffee and Breakfast event at the Graduate Student Lounge. Whether you're here to kickstart your day or savor a leisurely morning, GSA would be delighted to host you! Contact the Events Manager, events@gsa.rutgers.edu, with any questions.GSA Games Night – Thursday, October 1, 7:00pm – 10:00pm
Location: Room 108, Bottom Floor of College Ave. Student Center (Bottom Floor, 126 College Ave., College Ave. Campus)
Contact the Events Manager, events@gsa.rutgers.edu, with any questions.- Social Events
LGBTQIA2S+ Grad Student Welcome – Wednesday, September 9, 5:00pm – 7:00pm
Location: Center for Social Justice Education and LGBT Communities (17 Bartlett St., New Brunswick, College Ave. Campus)
Welcome to our LGBTQIA2S+ Grads! Join us at SJE for the LGBTQIA+ Grad Student Welcome. Mingle, connect, and enjoy good food and music while in community with your fellow master's and doctoral peers. This event is in partnership with GRADient, BIPOC LGBTQIA2S+ Graduate Student Affinity Group, and Office of Graduate Student Life.Asian, Pacific Islander, Desi, and Arab (APIDA) Graduate Student Social – Tuesday 9/22, 1pm
Location: Asian American Cultural Center (49 Joyce Kilmer Ave., Piscataway, Livingston Campus)
RSVP: Link
Asian, Pacific, Islander, Desi and Arab (APIDA) graduate students are invited to join the Asian American Cultural Center and the Office of Graduate Student Life Rutgers for an APIDA Graduate Student Social! Join your fellow graduate and professional students at the Asian American Cultural Center to enjoy amazing cultural food, fun activities and giveaways. Please contact Naima Chowdhury at naimach@echo.rutgers.edu with any questions.Council of Black Graduates (CBG) Graduate Student Mixer – Tuesday 9/15 6pm - 7:30pm
Location: Paul Robeson Cultural Center (600 Bartholomew Rd., Piscataway, Busch Campus)
The Council of Black Graduates (CBG) welcomes all Black-identified graduate students to the first gathering of the year at the Paul Robeson Cultural Center. If you are a Black graduate student looking to connect with other Black grads, please join CBG for pizza and refreshments and lots of camaraderie.
Community Walking Tour of New Brunswick – Wednesday 9/23, 3pm - 5pm
Location: Departs from the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC) (11 Livingston Ave., Downtown New Brunswick)
RSVP: Link
This 90-minute walking tour is an informative and fun way to get familiar with the surrounding New Brunswick city neighborhoods and gain an understanding of the city's history, cultural assets, and major institutions. Frequent stops are made in front of city murals, parks, local institutions, and restaurants. Hosted by the Collaborative Center for Community Engagement, Center for Latino Arts and Culture and Office of Graduate Student Life. Email Dean Ghada Endick at gradstudentlife@echo.rutgers.edu with any questions.
Sex and Art Tour – Thursday, September 10, 5:00pm – 7:00pm
Location: Zimmerli Art Museum (71 Hamilton St., College Ave. Campus)
Rutgers Student Health, Scarlet Arts Rx, Zimmerli Art Museum, and the Office of Graduate Student Life have teamed up to bring you the SEX AND ART TOUR. An interactive evening where you will learn about Bodily Autonomy + Choice, Sex + Reproduction and Pleasure + Responsibility as inspired by viewings of different art works that we will visit together in the Zimmerli's galleries. This is a free event for graduate and undergraduate students. There will be free refreshments and sex and reproductive health resources.
- Graduate Affinity Groups
Join a Graduate Student Affinity Group
Looking to get connected with other graduate students and participate in a fun and supportive community? Consider joining a peer-designed and peer facilitated affinity group! Affinity groups are affirming spaces to build community with peers who share experiences, backgrounds, and social identities and connect with peers for personal and professional support and around shared interests. To read descriptions for each group and meet the student facilitators for each group to see which group(s) are a good fit for you, visit the affinity group webpage. Contact Dean Ghada Endick, gendick@echo.rutgers.edu with any questions.
Graduate Student Affinity Groups September Welcome Gatherings
Kickoff the Fall 2026 semester and join a peer-led affinity group! Get connected with your peers and join a fun and supportive group. All welcome gatherings are in the Graduate Student Lounge unless otherwise noted. Visit the affinity group webpage for dates and times of the September Welcome Gatherings
There will be 9 groups being offered for the 2026-2027 academic year:
- African Graduate Students
- BIPOC LGBTQIA2S+ Graduate Students
- Caribbean Graduate Students
- Chinese Graduate Students
- International Graduate Students (RINGS)
- Latino/a/e/x Graduate Students
- Multicultural (Third Culture) Graduate Students
- Neurodiverse Graduate Students
- Southeast Asian Graduate Students (SEA)
- Pedagogical Support & Workshops
Free Graduate Writing Courses for Fall 2026
Registration is open for Fall 2026 Graduate Writing Program (GWP) courses! Students of all academic disciplines are encouraged to register for GWP courses to receive individualized, discipline-specific feedback throughout the semester. These free, zero-credit courses carry no additional work other than writing students are already completing for their academic programs. Seating is limited so be sure to register early! Click HERE to register for fall 2026 GWP courses. For questions, please contact Erin Kelly at erin.kelly@rutgers.edu.
Graduate Writing Accountability Groups – Mondays, 11:00am – 1:00pm & Thursdays, 4:00pm – 6:00pm
Location: Virtual
Registration required!
Join the Graduate Writing Program and Rutgers Learning Centers for one (or more) of our virtual writing accountability sessions! These facilitated sessions utilize the Pomodoro method and provide a supportive atmosphere where graduate students can sit together on Zoom and write alongside other graduate students to make progress toward their goals. For questions contact GWP@english.rutgers.edu. Zoom link will be emailed before the session.Build Skills That Matter: Mental Health First Aid Certification for Graduate Students – Interest Form
Location: TBD (Virtual or in person based on interest)
Registration required!
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) focuses on the unique experiences and needs of the college community. This 8-hour training teaches you how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders in others. Participants will also learn how to help connect someone to appropriate care and to campus, local, & national resources. All classes are free and both virtual and in-person options will be available. If this training is of interest to you, please register your interest by September 13th, so you can receive sign up information. Sessions will run end of September into early October.- Open Houses & Pop-ups
POP IN: Office of Disability Services (ODS) Pop Up Hours – Wednesday, September 2, 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Location: Graduate Student Lounge (Behind Panera Bread, 126 College Avenue, College Ave. Campus)
No registration necessary!
Do you identify as having a disability or wonder about whether a condition is a disability? Stop by the Graduate Student Lounge to meet Nychey Michel, Sr. Disability Services Coordinator, and find out more. Snacks, sensory toys, and crafts while supplies last! The Office of Disability Services (ODS) provides reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities, including hearing, vision, and mobility conditions, learning difficulties, psychological diagnoses (including anxiety and depression), chronic illnesses, and more! Contact Nychey Michel via email at nlm108@echo.rutgers.edu or by calling 848-202-3111 if you have questions about accommodations.Graduate Student Life & GSA Open House – Tuesday, September 8, 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Location: Graduate Student Lounge (Behind Panera Bread, 126 College Avenue, College Ave. Campus)
RSVP encouraged!
Come check out the Graduate Student Lounge to meet the Graduate Student Life staff, GSA students, university partners. The Graduate Student Lounge is a great place to study, relax, or connect with friends and is equipped with coffee and a microwave. Come visit us for donuts and coffee and giveaways will be given to the first 50 students!
University Events for Graduate & Undergraduate Students
- Social Events & Campus Involvement
Farmers Market on Morrell St. – Thursdays, 11:00am – 4:00pm
Location: Morrell St. (Outside of the College Ave. Student Center, 126 College Ave., College Ave. Campus)
No registration necessary!
Stop by the farmers market, coordinated by Basic Needs, every Thursday in the fall on Morrell St. on College Avenue Campus! Local farmers will be selling fresh produce and other vendors will vary weekly. There will be resource tables from on-campus offices too. Come out and support local!RU Swim School – Wednesday, September 2, 5:30pm – 7:30pm
Location: Patio Pool, Werblin Recreation Center (656 Bartholomew Rd., Busch Campus)
RU Swim School is a free two-hour program aimed at recruiting participants of all skills levels for water comfort or stroke technique. Open to any undergraduate or graduate student.Canterbury House Kick-Off/Cook-Out – Friday, September 4, 6:30pm – 9:00pm
Location: The Canterbury House (5 Mine St., College Ave. Campus)
No registration necessary!
Let's celebrate the start of a new academic year with a cook-out at The Canterbury House. Join us to share food, tour our student center, meet our cats (optional), and make new friends!Rutgers Meets Japan: A Celebration of Friendship – Saturday, September 12, 3:00pm – 5:00pm
Address: Kirkpatrick Chapel (81 Somerset St.., Douglass Campus)
Registration required!
Rutgers Meets Japan: A Celebration of Friendship will be held at the Kirkpatrick Chapel, Rutgers University, to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the publication of The Mikado's Empire and the 100th anniversary of the bestowal of the Order of the Rising Sun, Third Class by the Emperor of Japan upon William Elliot Griffis (Rutgers Class of 1869). Join us to celebrate the 150 years of intellectual and cultural exchange between Rutgers/New Brunswick and Japan! The event is co-sponsored by the Asian Languages and Cultures Department, the Rutgers Foundation, Rutgers Global, Global Asias, Rutgers University Libraries, Rutgers Japanese Student Association, the New Jersey Historical Commission, Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Japanese American Association of New York, and Ito-en. For more information, contact events@global.rutgers.edu or visit the event webpage.Study Abroad Fair – Wednesday, September 16, 11:00am – 2:00pm
Location: Livingston Hall (Livingston Student Center, 84 Joyce Kilmer Ave., Livingston Campus)
No registration required!
Attending our Study Abroad Fair is one of the best ways to learn about global education and funding opportunities. Held annually every fall semester, this is the opportunity to speak directly with study abroad advisors, faculty and program directors, partner institutions, program providers, AND student alumni. All Rutgers undergraduate and graduate students are invited to attend and can enter a raffle for application fee waivers and study abroad scholarships! Also, enjoy free food, games, swag, and more! Visit the event webpage for more information.Friendship Friday with Rutgers Global – Friday, September 18, 4:00pm – 5:30
Location: Busch Student Center, The Cove (604 Bartholomew Rd, Busch Campus, Piscataway)
No registration required!
Friendship Fridays are a monthly opportunity for the Rutgers community to step away from classwork and research and just hang out and relax together. Join us to enjoy games, activities, food, and conversation - and make new friends from around the world! For more information, contact events@global.rutgers.edu or visit the event webpage.- Open Houses & Information Sessions
Career Exploration & Success Open House – Wednesday, September 2, 3:00pm – 6:00pm
Location: Gateway Transit Village, 4th Floor (Next to Barnes & Noble, 106 Somerset St., College Ave. Campus)
Registration required!
Join us at our Gateway Transit Village location for our Career Exploration and Success Open House. The event is come as you please... stay for twenty minutes or two hours, whatever your schedule allows. Learn how we help students create their next big opportunities with internships and on-campus jobs and help pursue their post-graduation goals. Plus, thanks to our partnership with Johnson & Johnson, our Career Portrait Lounge Photo Booth will be available. Enjoy free sweet treats, cupcakes, fresh cookies, a candy bar, snap a photo, and so much more. Register on Handshake. Questions? Please contact CES at careers@echo.rutgers.edu!Dive into Success: Office of Disability Services Open House - Thursday, September 3, 12:30 - 1:30pm
Location: Lucy Stone Hall, 54 Joyce Kilmer Avenue 1st Floor Lobby, Suite A145, Livingston Campus.
The Office of Disability Services invites graduate and undergraduate students with disabilities and disability allies to attend our open house. Explore an ocean of resources, craft with Scarlet Arts Rx, hear from the Learning Centers, meet peers, and learn about academic accommodations. Light refreshments will be served. Please register in advance. If you have a question or seek accommodations for this particular event, email the ODS office at dsoffice@echo.rutgers.edu, call 848-202-3111, or visit ODS in LSH A145.
Rutgers On-campus Student Employment Fair - Friday, September 4, 9:30am – 12:30pm
Location: Busch Student Center, Multipurpose Room, 604 Bartholomew Road, Busch Campus
Registration is on Handshake -- Log in HERELooking for an on-campus job this fall? Join Career Exploration and Success (CES) for the Rutgers On-campus Student Employment Fair. Connect with Rutgers departments recruiting for part-time positions, learn about potential future opportunities, and explore ways to gain experience and build professional skills while at Rutgers. The fair is open to all Rutgers-New Brunswick students. In order to register you will need to have a Handshake account. Check out this video to assist you in the setup of Handshake. Learn more and register for the On-campus Student Employment Fair
Need help with your career or job search? Connect with a CES career advisor who knows your industry. Our advisors bring knowledge of specific career fields and industries and can provide personalized support with career exploration, resumes and CVs, job searching, interviewing, networking, and more. Schedule an appointment with CES
Rutgers Global Expo – Wednesday, September 9, 12:00pm – 3:00pm
Location: Rutgers Global - International Student Services (180 College Ave., College Ave. Campus)
This is an opportunity for students, both international and domestic, to learn about all that Rutgers Global has to offer: advising for international students, study abroad opportunities, on-campus programming, and more. There will be a tie-dye (free t-shirts!), games, prizes, and treats. Please note the rain date for this event will be Thursday, September 10. Please contact events@global.rutgers.edu or visit the event website for more information.Donuts and Drop In! ODS & Friends - Friday September 18, 10am - 11am
Location: Lucy Stone Hall, 54 Joyce Kilmer Avenue 1st Floor Lobby, Suite A145, Livingston Campus.
Wondering about accommodations? Know how to implement accommodations? Just want to visit with friends over coffee and donuts? The Office of Disability Services (ODS) is hosting an open house for undergraduate and graduate students with disabilities and disability allies. Food and beverages while supplies last. Please register in advance. Questions or accommodation requests specific to this event? Please email dsoffice@echo.rutgers.edu, call 848-202-3111, or visit ODS in Lucy Stone Hall, Suite A145, Livingston Campus.
- Volunteer & Engagement Opportunities
Scarlet Honor Council Information Session – TBD
Location: Virtual
The Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution Services invites undergraduate and graduate students to join the Scarlet Honor Council! The Scarlet Honor Council is a team of students committed to upholding Rutgers community standards and promoting a safe and civil campus environment. Membership in the council is a great opportunity to develop leadership skills, meet new people, and get involved in the public life of your campus. Members of the Scarlet Honor Council serve on the University Hearing Board and the Campus Appeals Committee and provide education and outreach to the Rutgers community. For more information about the council, click HERE. After submitting an application, students who are chosen to progress to the next stage will be invited to an interview. Appointments to the council will be made based on applications and interviews. Students who are appointed to the council must then complete the appropriate training program. For more information about training, Click HERE. Questions? Contact Ranaysia Burrell at rnb72@echo.rutgers.edu.- Workshops
Responding to Bias Proactively – Thursday, September 10, 11:30am – 1:00pm
Location: Virtual
Registration required!
This workshop introduces participants to practical, proactive strategies for recognizing, reducing, and responding to bias across campus environments. Questions? Please contact the Tyler Clementi Center at tylerclemctr@rutgers.edu.CLARA: A Tool for Navigating Contentious Conversations – Monday, September 28, 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Location: Virtual
Registration required!
This workshop unpacks the CLARA (calm, listen, affirm, respond, add) method of communication as a tool for engaging in difficult conversations respectfully. This workshop serves as a pre-requisite for CLARA In Practice: Advanced Strategies for Polarized Dialogue. Questions? Please contact the Tyler Clementi Center at tylerclemctr@rutgers.edu.
This webpage was last updated on August 16, 2026.
