Access Week 2026

The I Am Collegebound: College Fair & Youth Summit, hosted for Pre-College Outreach and Upward Bound Math-Science high-school participants and friends, provides dynamic workshops, speakers, and trainings to aid in preparing high school students for college. 

The 2026 college fair will feature 20 institutions, interactive workshops led by community partners and Rutgers student organizations/departments, and more.

The Access Granted Workshop is a workshop and community connector event aimed at providing lifelong learning skills, empowering participants to take a proactive effort to identify and remove barriers that prevent full participation of all individuals in higher education, and contributing to the improvement of overall student success outcomes.

Designed to empower Thrive SSS participants with essential financial literacy skills, this interactive workshop will explore strategies for building a healthy relationship with financial wellness. Students will gain the knowledge and confidence to make informed financial decisions. Financial wellness removes barriers to access and builds the stability needed for academic achievement and success. From budgeting and financial planning to preparing for life after graduation, this program ensures participants have the tools to thrive.

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 success.

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).

The annual James Dickson Carr Lecture honors Rutgers' first African American graduate. Public intellectuals discuss diversity, access, and equity in open dialogue with the community.

Hosted at the Zimmerli Art Museum, this event opens space for alumni and current students to engage, grow and connect with the community. Participants will network and explore the research of McNair Scholars and the Alumni Spotlight Exhibit, Excellence in Living Color. The culminating "Hall of Luminaries" will highlight the works of alumni awardees in attendance being recognized for their contributions to Rutgers University and the community. Refreshments will be served.

The Collaborative Center for Community Engagement is sponsoring the Third Annual Access Week Day of Engagement. On Friday, February 20th from 9am-12pm we will be volunteering at the Basic Needs Center, College Avenue Church, Emanuel Lutheran Church, and the New Brunswick Free Public Library. While at the sites, volunteers will be working on projects that are needed by those four organizations.