Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week: March 29 - April 9, 2024
Graduate Student Appreciation Week, sponsored by the National Association of Graduate and Professional Students, is designed to raise awareness of the role of graduate and professional students within America’s colleges and universities.
This week is a recognition and celebration of the outstanding contributions and accomplishments of our over 14,000 graduate and professional students at Rutgers University-New Brunswick.
The Office of Graduate Student Life collaborates with Student Affairs, the Graduate Student Association, and many campus partners to provide various programs and opportunities to appreciate our graduate and professional students during the first week of April. The following events and initiatives are recognized as part of Rutgers Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week 2024, coordinated through the Office of Graduate Student Life. Be sure to join us at the Zimmerli Art Museum on April 3, from 4:30-7:30pm for our signature event, Knight at the Museum: Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Reception!
Thank a Grad for Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week!
Thank-A-Grad is an initiative organized by the Office of Graduate Student Life in the Division of Student Affairs during Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week. From April 1 to April 7, 2024, faculty, staff, and students from across Rutgers-New Brunswick submitted letters of gratitude to recognize the outstanding graduate and professional students in their lives. Click HERE to view Thank-A-Grad messages submitted during Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week 2024!
Friday, March 29
Asian, Pacific Islander, Desi, and Arab (APIDA) Graduate Student Social & Friendship Friday – 3pm-5pm
Location: Asian American Cultural Center (49 Joyce Kilmer Ave, Piscataway,Livingston Campus)
Asian, Pacific, Islander, Desi and Arab (APIDA) and International graduate students are invited to join the Asian American Cultural Center and Rutgers Global at the APIDA Grad Social to kick off graduate student appreciation week! Join your fellow graduate, professional students and doctoral candidates at the Asian American Cultural Center to enjoy amazing cultural food, trivia games, free swag and the offerings of Friendship Friday by Rutgers Global. Please contact Naima Chowdhury naimach@echo.rutgers.edu with any questions. NOTE: Anyone observing Ramadan and fasting, will have the opportunity to take food with them!
Monday, April 1
School of Graduate Studies - Biomedical and Health Sciences invitation: Graduate Student Appreciation Lunch: Efes Mediterranean Grill – 12 pm-2 pm
Location: RWJMS Research Tower, Dean's Conference Room 123 (675 Hoes Ln West, Piscataway, Busch Campus)
Register to attend HERE (scroll for lunch registration)!
All graduate and professional students are invited to enjoy a delicious lunch catered by Efes Mediterranean Grill hosted by the School of Graduate Studies - Biomedical and Health Sciences, Dr. Janet Alder and sponsored by the Office of Graduate Student Life.
Tuesday, April 2
“Toward Belonging: Sisterhood and Community Building” in Gifted Black Women Navigating the Doctoral Process: Sister Insider, Book Chapter Talk and Q&A with Dr. Joan Collier – 4:30pm-6:30pm
Location: Graduate Student Lounge, 126 College Ave (Behind Panera Bread), College Ave Campus
Register to attend HERE!
Join Dr. Joan Collier as she discusses her chapter "Toward Belonging: Sisterhood and Community Building" in the book Gifted Black Women Navigating the Doctoral Process: Sister Insider, followed by a Q&A. Joan Collier, PhD serves as Assistant Vice President for Equity and Inclusion and is an Affiliate Faculty in the PhD in Higher Education program in the Graduate School of Education. This event is sponsored by the Paul Robeson Cultural Center, Office of Graduate Student Life, and Graduate Student Association and will feature food catered by Efes Mediterranean Grill and two signed books will be raffled off.
Wednesday, April 3
GSA Coffee and Conversations – 9am-11am
Location: Graduate Student Lounge, 126 College Ave (Behind Panera Bread), College Ave Campus
Register to attend HERE!
Join the Graduate Student Association (GSA) for a delightful morning of conversations and a delicious meal to show appreciation to our graduate students! Whether you are looking to kickstart a busy day or savor a leisurely morning, the GSA would be delighted to host you! Please contact help@gsa.rutgers.edu with any questions.
School of Management and Labor Relations Information, Networking, and Giveaway Table - 2 pm-4 pm
Location: Labor Education Center (50 Labor Center Way, New Brunswick, Cook Campus)
The School of Management and Labor Relations (SMLR) is hosting a networking and giveaway event at the historic Labor Education Center on Cook Campus for all their SMLR graduate students. Drop by and meet up with Francis Ryan (Director of the MLER program and Labor Historian) and staff to learn about the building and the history it has made with the NJ Labor movement. They will host a table of giveaways and an opportunity to meet other SMLR students to discuss your graduate specialties within the Master of Labor and Employment Relations and the Master of Human Resource Management. They invite all those SMLR students who have yet to explore the LEC to come for an open house visit on Cook Campus.
School of Graduate Studies: Research Café – 3pm-4pm
Location: Zoom
Register HERE!
Join PhD Candidates Courtney R. McDermott, Geordan Stukey, and Sandra Manfreda for their exciting research presentations “Early life alterations to the gut microbiome and its effects on neurodevelopment and behavior,” “PA phosphatase Pah1 contains a novel RP domain that regulates its phosphorylation and function in yeast lipid synthesis,” and “Do They Like Me? The implication of (Meta-)Stereotypes on Inter-gendered Interactions In STEM.” Research Café is a monthly gathering place for graduate students across disciplinary areas to share their research and benefit from peer feedback and support in a friendly, low-stakes setting. To view the full schedule of presentations taking place this semester, click HERE. Contact Dr. Briana Bivens, School of Graduate Studies briana.bivens@rutgers.edu with any questions.
Make Your Own Sleep Kit – 3:30-5:00pm
Location: Graduate Student Lounge, 126 College Ave (Behind Panera Bread), College Ave Campus
Stop in and join Rutgers Health, Outreach, Promotion & Education, along with your peers, as we examine how changes to our nightly routine can improve sleep habits naturally. Have fun creating soothing sleep masks and a sleep kit to help you relax and get some quality zzzzzz time! All attendees will receive free swag and a sweet treat! Sponsored by Rutgers Student Health, Office of Health, Outreach, Promotion & Education.
Knight at the Museum: Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Reception – 4:30 pm-7:30 pm
Location: Zimmerli Art Museum (71 Hamilton St, New Brunswick, College Ave Campus)
Parking & Transportation: Metered street parking is available, students with Rutgers parking passes can park in their respective lots and take the bus to the “The Yard (Scott Hall)” stop on College Ave. Click HERE to find parking lot information for your type of Rutgers parking pass and click HERE for information about each bus route. Download the Passio Go! app for real-time campus bus information.
Register to attend HERE!
Join the Graduate Student Association and the Office of Graduate Student Life for the signature event of the week! Explore the museum and mingle with your fellow graduate students while enjoying live jazz music and a signature mocktail! You won't want to miss this spectacular evening filled with free food, live music, and prizes including a $100 target gift card! Note: Anyone observing Ramadan and fasting, will have the opportunity to take food with them.
Graduate Student Yoga & Giveaway – 5–6pm
Location: Graduate Student Lounge, 126 College Ave (Behind Panera Bread), College Ave Campus
Graduate Yoga is part of the Life @ The Graduate Student Lounge Event Series and is held every Wednesday.
Stop by the Graduate Student Lounge this Wednesday for a special session of graduate student yoga for Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week and receive a special giveaway! Take a pause from your busy week by practicing Yoga and relax your mind and body with your fellow graduate students. No Registration Needed. Yoga mats and blocks are provided, and all skill levels are welcome! Email gradstudentlife@echo.rutgers.edu with any questions. Hosted by Rutgers Recreation.
Residence Life Bingo Bash @ Busch Campus! – 8pm-9pm
Location: BEST West Residence Hall MPR, (50 Bevier Rd, Piscataway, Busch Campus)
Join Rutgers Residence Life for an exciting evening of music, food, refreshments, and prizes! A riveting game of bingo will be played and each round increases in difficulty while also having the prizes increase in worth, all to show appreciation to our graduate students! Come unwind after a long day of class or enjoy some friendly competition! Hosted by Rutgers Residence Life for Busch and Livingston Campuses.
Thursday, April 4
Elijah’s Promise Service Day for Graduate Students – 11am-1pm (while supplies last)
Location: Graduate Student Lounge, 126 College Ave (Behind Panera Bread), College Ave Campus
Elijah’s Promise Community Kitchen uses the power of food within our job training curriculum, social service assistance to individuals and families, community focused nutrition classes, social enterprise food businesses, and by providing over 375,000 free meals a year. Join us as we support this great community partner by making much-needed hygiene kits. Learn more about the great work they do and how you can get involved in service and community engagement as a student at Rutgers University–New Brunswick. This event is hosted by the Office of Student Volunteer Engagement, Student Centers, and Activities and sponsored by Graduate Student Life and Graduate Student Association. Please contact Karen Ardizzone at volunteer@echo.rutgers.edu with any questions.
Virtual Guided Meditation and Mindfulness Session – 1pm-1:30pm
Location: Zoom
Join the 1pm Thursday, April 4 Session HERE!
Join CAPS counselor Dana Simons and your peers for a virtual guided meditation and mindfulness session. Focus on the here and now without judgment, and practice mindfulness meditation exercises. Join on or off camera for sessions held on Thursday, April 4 and Friday, April 5. Hosted by Rutgers Student Health, CAPS.
Virtual Panel Discussion & Networking Session: Non-Academic Careers for International PhDs and Postdocs in the US – 4pm-5:30pm
Location: Zoom
Register to attend HERE!
Join the Memorial Sloan Kettering Office of Career and Professional Development and INet NYC for this exciting virtual panel discussion and networking session! This panel will focus specifically on career opportunities outside of academia for international doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows and visa sponsorship and green card options for international researchers pursuing non-academic careers. While this event has a focus on opportunities for international researchers, the event is open to everyone, and ALL graduate students and postdoc researchers are welcome to attend: international scholars, citizens, and permanent residents. Hosted by Dr. Aysegul Gungor Aydin, Postdoctoral Research Associate and President | Rutgers Postdoctoral Association. (All registrants will receive the Zoom meeting link via email on the day of the event)
LGBTQIA+ Graduate Student Social & GAYpril SparkNight at the Zimmerli – 4:30pm-8pm
Location: Zimmerli Art Museum (71 Hamilton St, New Brunswick, College Ave Campus)
RSVP to attend the LGBTQIA+ Graduate Student Social HERE!
Join the Center for Social Justice Education and LGBT Communities (SJE) at the Zimmerli’s GAYpril SparkNight for their final Graduate Student Social of the spring semester! This evening will be dedicated to celebrating LGBTQIA+ Pride at Rutgers University and in the New Brunswick community and will showcase the Queer art of drag as well as the important contributions of Queer artists who participated in Windows of Understanding. Stop by for drag performances, an artmaking workshop, pop-up tours, a photo booth, and more! Light complimentary refreshments will be provided and food will be available for purchase from food trucks. SparkNight is free and open to the public, click HERE for more information about GAYpril SparkNight at the Zimmerli.
Friday, April 5
Virtual Guided Meditation and Mindfulness Session – 10:30am-11am
Location: Zoom
Join the Friday, April 5 Session HERE!
Join CAPS counselor Dana Simons and your peers for a virtual guided meditation and mindfulness session. Focus on the here and now without judgment, and practice mindfulness meditation exercises. Join on or off camera for sessions held on Thursday, April 4 and Friday, April 5. Hosted by Rutgers Student Health, CAPS.
POSTPONED: Well-being Listening Session (Virtual) - DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED
Location: Zoom
Join the Graduate Student Association, Office of Graduate Student Life and Rutgers Student Health for this listening session, a space dedicated to hearing from students across Rutgers – NB graduate schools to better understand your overall well-being needs and to brainstorm new approaches and strategies. We will ask you to share about unique challenges you are faced with as you navigate the demands of your academic journeys, help us identify where supports that can be strengthened and brainstorm new strategies collectively. Your voices and perspectives are critical in shaping future initiatives to support your thriving at Rutgers.
POSTPONED: Well-being Listening Session (in person) - DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED
Location: Graduate Student Lounge, 126 College Avenue (Behind Panera)
Join the Graduate Student Association, Office of Graduate Student Life and Rutgers Student Health for this listening session, a space dedicated to hearing from students across Rutgers – NB graduate schools to better understand your overall well-being needs and to brainstorm new approaches and strategies. We will ask you to share about unique challenges you are faced with as you navigate the demands of your academic journeys, help us identify where supports that can be strengthened and brainstorm new strategies collectively. Your voices and perspectives are critical in shaping future initiatives to support your thriving at Rutgers.
Week-Long
Rutgers School of Public Health: Alumni April Series Events
Join the School of Public Health's Office for Career Services, as they gear up to host their fourth annual Alumni April series! Throughout the month of April, Rutgers School of Public Health faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community members are invited to attend networking events and career panels designed to help students and alumni make new professional connections and learn more about post-graduate career options and experiences in the field of public health. Explore the exciting career pathways available to graduate and professional students in the field of public health! The virtual events featured below are open to all graduate students across the graduate schools! Contact Claire Brown, Director for Student Experiences & Alumni Affairs, at sphcareers@sph.rutgers.edu, with any questions.
PHirst Generation Alumni – Tuesday, April 2, 12-1pm
Register to attend on Zoom HERE!
Credentialing Your Career - Health Officer & Civil Service Pathways – Tuesday, April 2, 5-6pm
Register to attend on Zoom HERE!
Pride in Public Health with Stonewall Alliance for Health – Wednesday, April 3, 1-2pm
Register to attend on Zoom HERE!
Linkages to Leadership (Doctoral-Level Alumni) – Thursday, April 4, 12-1pm
Register to attend on Zoom HERE!
