Student Access
Supporting Our Students
We’re dedicated to ensuring that promising students—regardless of background—have the support to thrive and pursue their educational ambitions through outreach programs and co-curricular pathways that promote retention and life-changing outcomes.
Access Week 2026
Access Week aims to create campus awareness of the critical need to build a proactive mindset to identify and remove barriers that prevent full participation of all individuals in higher education. This annual, week-long initiative features a range of public lectures, faculty, staff, and student workshops, and student programming, highlighting the academic, social, and cultural resources essential for the success of all students.
Save the date to join us February 16-20, 2026!
Connecting Students and Communities
Access Granted
A workshop and community connector event aimed at providing lifelong learning skills and empowering participants to take a proactive effort to identify and remove barriers that prevent full participation of all individuals in higher education.
First-Generation College Celebration Day advances an asset-based national narrative on first-generation student experiences and outcomes. Encourage communities to understand better the systemic barriers plaguing higher education and the support necessary for this critical and resilient population to continue thriving.
Pre-College Initiatives
Upward Bound Math-Science Pre-College Program
Upward Bound Math-Science Pre-College Program is designed to assist and motivate students to successfully graduate from high school prepared for majors and careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). The program offers academic year workshops, cultural activities, college tours, college planning, and more, as well as a mandatory summer institute on campus to prepare students for college life.
College Success Programs
Paul Robeson Success Institute
The Paul Robeson Success Institute is a three-day, high-impact experience open to first-generation, low-income, and/or historically underrepresented incoming and transfer students. Participants connect with peers, faculty, and staff to build support and become a successful student scholar.
Posse Foundation Scholars
Rutgers–New Brunswick became a Posse Foundation partner institution in 2021 and works with Posse Boston to annually identify and recruit cohorts of young leaders. The first cohort of Rutgers Posse Scholars joined the university in 2022. This fall, our fourth cohort will be on campus.
THRIVE Student Support Services (SSS)
THRIVE Student Support Services is a federally funded program designed to increase the retention and graduation rates of first-generation and low-income students, providing participants with academic instruction, personal mentoring, financial aid counseling, post-graduate planning, and other supports necessary to ensure that they achieve their personal and educational goals, and graduate on time.
McNair Postbaccalaureate Program
The Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program is a federally funded program in memory of physicist and Challenger Astronaut, Dr. Ronald E. McNair. The program provides undergraduate students with opportunities to participate in research activities, as well as present their research at conferences. Scholars attend courses, seminars, and workshops on a wide range of topics related to graduate school preparation, and personal, professional, and sociocultural development.