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Strategic Priorities and Initiatives

Rutgers–New Brunswick is leading the way toward an exceptional future through an ambitious set of initiatives under the umbrella of the Academic Master Plan and its Four Pillars of Excellence: Scholarly Leadership, Innovative Research, Student Success, and Community Engagement. Although Chancellor-priority initiatives are organized by the pillars, the initiatives can fulfill more than one of these four pillars. The initiatives also reflect the president’s vision for the university which included 1) Access and Academic Excellence; 2) Beloved Community; and 3) Common Good.

Academic Master Plan

A person reaches for a book in the library

The Rutgers University–New Brunswick Academic Master Plan (AMP), led by the Office of the Chancellor, will serve as the roadmap for the institution’s future, clarifying strategies to accomplish the university’s academic mission. The success of the plan depends on the collaboration and input from our Rutgers–New Brunswick community.

 

Pillar I: Scholarly Leadership

Faculty meet in a conference room.

Institute for Teaching, Learning Innovation, and Inclusive Pedagogy

The Institute for Teaching, Learning Innovation, and Inclusive Pedagogy (ITLIP) will support effective and inclusive teaching that empowers all students to succeed while at Rutgers and in their future careers. It will provide a space for collaboration, experimentation, and research on innovation in teaching and learning.

  • In Fall 2022, Chancellor Conway convened a task force to research and develop recommendations for the structure and scope of an Institute for Teaching, Learning, and Inclusive Pedagogy for Rutgers–New Brunswick to support effective teaching.

    Read the May 2023 Task Force Report

    Task Force Co-Chairs

    • Saundra Tomlinson-Clarke, Senior Vice Provost for Academic and Faculty Affairs
    • Laura Curran, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs
    • Carolyn Moehling, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education

    Task Force Members

    • Stacey Blackwell, Senior Director, Learning Centers
    • Onur Bilgen, Associate Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, School of Engineering
    • Madhavi Chakrabarty, Assistant Professor of Professional Practice, Rutgers Business School
    • Kimberly Cook Chennault, Associate Professor, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, School of Engineering
    • Rebecca Cypess, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Associate Professor, Mason Gross School of the Arts
    • Hebbah El-Moslimany, Learning Specialist, Learning Centers
    • Mary Emenike, Assistant Professor of Professional Practice, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, School of Arts and Sciences
    • Anita Franzione, Associate Teaching Professor, Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
    • Alex Gatten, Instructional Designer, School of Social Work
    • David Goldman, Director of Teaching, Learning, and Assessment, School of Arts and Sciences
    • Rebecca Greenbaum, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, School of Management and Labor Relations
    • Nicole Houser, Associate Teaching Professor, Department of English, School of Arts and Sciences
    • Nora Hyland, Associate Dean & Faculty Director of Teacher Education, Graduate School of Education
    • Samuel Jones, Assistant Dean of PTL Development in Office of Academic Affairs, Associate Professor of Teaching, School of Social Work
    • Ryan Kettler, Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs, Associate Professor, Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology
    • Cameron Knight, Head of Acting, Associate Professor, Mason Gross School of the Arts
    • Julia Sass Rubin, Associate Dean of Academic Programs, Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
    • Sharon Stoerger, Assistant Dean for Programs and Assessment, School of Communication and Information
    • Kristen Syrett, Associate Dean, School of Arts and Sciences Office of Undergraduate Education, Associate Professor, Linguistics and Rutgers Center for Cognitive Science (RuCCS)
    • Lily Todorinova, Undergraduate Experience Librarian/Open Educational Research, Rutgers Libraries-New Brunswick

Center for Faculty Success

The Center for Faculty Success promotes faculty success, leadership, and excellence through a variety of inclusive professional development supports and works in conjunction with campus, university, and external partners to support the growth and development of faculty throughout all stages of their careers. A new physical center will open in Fall 2023.

ScarletWell

ScarletWell is a public health and prevention-focused approach to mental health and wellness for our students, faculty, and staff. The ScarletWell Task Force will make recommendations for Rutgers–New Brunswick’s wellness initiatives and will develop a strategy for establishing our institution as a center of excellence in behavioral health.

  • In Fall 2022, Chancellor Conway convened a task force to develop recommendations for the scope and structure of the Rutgers–New Brunswick ScarletWell Initiative.

    Read the May 2023 Task Force Report

    Task Force Members

    • Mark Aakhus, Co-Chair, Associate Dean for Research Professor of Communication, School of Communication and Information
    • J. Barr von Oehsen, Co-Chair, Associate Vice President, Office of Advanced Research Computing
    • Alyson Brooks, Associate Professor, School of Arts and Sciences, Department of Physics and Astronomy
    • Yuebin Guo, Henry Rutgers Professor of Advanced Manufacturing, School of Engineering, Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
    • Ronald Hart, Professor, School of Arts and Sciences, Department of Cell Biology & Neuroscience
    • Woojin Jung, Assistant Professor, School of Social Work
    • Regina Liu, Distinguished Professor, School of Arts and Sciences, Department of Statistics
    • Meredith McGill, Professor and Chair, School of Arts and Sciences, Department of English
    • Thu Nguyen, Dean of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Professor, School of Arts and Sciences, Department of Computer Science
    • Katherine Ognyanova, Associate Professor, School of Communication and Information
    • Jaideep Vaidya, Distinguished Professor and Department Vice Chair, Rutgers Business School, Management Science & Information Systems

Find additional Scholarly Leadership initiatives

Pillar II: Innovative Research

close up of beakers in a laboratory

Chancellor Challenge

The Chancellor Office invites Rutgers–New Brunswick faculty, staff, and students to propose innovative ideas that catalyze exploration, collaboration, concept-testing, and risk-taking, and advance the goals and objectives of the Academic Master Plan through the Chancellor Challenge. The first Challenge will support proposal from Scholarly Communities focused on 1) Climate and Energy; and 2) Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Cybersecurity.

A New Strategy for the Life Sciences

The Rutgers–New Brunswick Office for Research is developing a new strategic framework to re-envision STEM research, particularly in the life sciences, across Rutgers–New Brunswick and in partnership with RBHS. This new approach will foster interdisciplinary collaborations, new opportunities for joint research and external funding, and stronger relationships with government, nonprofit, and industry partners.

  • FY 2023 saw several achievements that contributed to the successful accomplishment of the Office of the Vice Provost for Research's (OVPR)mission for the Rutgers–New Brunswick campus community.

    Read the 2022-2023 OVPR Annual Report

    Life Sciences Alliance Provost Strategic Task Force Members

    Executive Steering Committee

    • Stephen Burley, Henry Rutgers Chair and University Professor, Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine
    • Wendie Cohick, Director/Dean of Research, New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station/School of Environmental and Biological Sciences
    • Lori Covey, Dean of Life Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences
    • Ken Irvine, Distinguished Professor of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Waksman Institute of Microbiology
    • Jim Knowles, Distinguished Professor of Genetics, Human Genetics Institute
    • Wade Trappe, Associate Dean for Academic Programs, School of Engineering

    Research Deans Advisory Group

    • Mark Aakhus, Associate Dean for Research, School of Communication & Information
    • Clinton Andrews, Associate Dean for Faculty, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
    • Petra Christmann, Vice Dean of Faculty Affairs and Research Rutgers Business School
    • Rebecca Cypess, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Mason Gross School of the Arts
    • Robin Davis, Vice Dean for Research and Graduate Education, School of Arts and Sciences
    • Marybeth Gasman, Associate Dean for Research, Faculty Development, and Research Outreach, Graduate School of Education
    • Mingwei Liu, Associate Dean for Research, School of Management and Labor Relations
    • Dee Magnoni, Associate University Librarian, Rutgers–New Brunswick Library
    • Thu Nguyen, Dean of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences
    • Lia Nower, Professor and Director of the Center for Gambling Studies, School of Social Work
    • Linda Reddy, Associate Dean of Research, Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology
    • Robin Leichenko, Dean of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences
    • Rebecca Walkowitz, Dean of Humanities, School of Arts and Sciences

    Faculty Task Force Members

    • Vanessa Bal, Associate Professor, Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology
    • Annika Barber, Assistant Professor, School of Arts and Sciences
    • Nicholas Bello, Professor, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences
    • Debashish Bhatacharya, Distinguished Professor, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences
    • Kasia Bieszczad, Associate Professor, School of Arts and Sciences
    • Shishir Chundawat, Associate Professor, School of Engineering
    • Monica Driscoll, Distinguished Professor, School of Arts and Sciences
    • Nicole Fahrenfeld, Associate Professor, School of Engineering
    • Paul Falkowski, Marine and Coastal Sciences, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences
    • Patricia Findley, Associate Professorm, School of Social Work
    • Jeff Friedman, Professor of Dance, Mason Gross School of the Arts
    • Adam Gormley, Assistant Professor, School of Engineering
    • Bingru Huang, Distinguished Professor, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences
    • Sagar Khare, Associate Professor, School of Arts and Sciences
    • Mike Kiledjian, Distinguished Professor, School of Arts and Sciences
    • Kelvin Kwan, Associate Professor, School of Arts and Sciences
    • Mei Ling Lo, Librarian, Rutgers New Brunswick Library
    • Steven Malin, Associate Professor, School of Arts and Sciences
    • David Margolis, Associate Professor, School of Arts and Sciences
    • Tara Matise, Professor, School of Arts and Sciences
    • John McGann, Professor, School of Arts and Sciences
    • Travis Miles, Associate Professor, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences
    • Karen Schindler, Associate Professor, School of Arts and Sciences
    • Igor Shmarakov, Assistant Professor, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences
    • David Shreiber, Chair and Professor, School of Engineering
    • Alvaro Toledo, Assistant Professor, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences
    • Maribel Vazquez, Professor, School of Engineering
    • Danni Wang, Associate Professor, Rutgers Business School

Find additional Innovative Research initiatives

Pillar III: Student Success

Group of students walking on campus

Discovery Advantage

Discovery Advantage is reimagining the student experience—from enrollment to retention and ultimately graduation—to ensure students are supported in their belonging and well-being, and best prepared to succeed in their academic and co-curricular pursuits and life after graduation.

  • Discovery Advantage Chair

    • Kathleen Scott, Professor of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, School of Arts and Sciences

    Discovery Advantage Executive Steering Committee

    • Andrew Baker, Faculty, School of Arts and Sciences
    • Brian Ballentine, Senior Administrator, Office of the President  
    • Stacey Blackwell, Staff, Rutgers Learning Centers
    • Wendie Cohick, Staff, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences/New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station
    • Barbara Cooper, Faculty, School of Arts and Sciences
    • Alberto Cuitiño, Senior Administrator, School of Engineering
    • Jason Geary, Senior Administrator, Mason Gross School of the Arts
    • Ann Gould, Senior Administrator, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences & Academic Affairs
    • Paul Hammond, Senior Administrator, Technology and Instruction
    • Martha Haviland, Faculty, School of Arts and Sciences
    • Jennifer Hollingshead, Senior Administrator, R-Comm
    • Charles Keeton, Senior Administrator, School of Arts and Sciences
    • Susan Lawrence, Senior Administrator, School of Arts and Sciences
    • Laura Lawson, Senior Administrator, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences/New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station
    • James Masschaele, Senior Administrator, School of Arts and Sciences
    • Tara Matise, Faculty, School of Arts and Sciences
    • Courtney McAnuff, Senior Administrator, Enrollment Management
    • Salvador Mena, Senior Administrator, Student Affairs
    • Carolyn Moehling, Senior Administrator, Undergraduate Education
    • Thu Nguyen, Senior Administrator, School of Arts and Sciences
    • Mark Robson, Faculty, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences
    • Stuart Shapiro, Senior Administrator, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
    • Peng Song, Senior Administrator, School of Engineering Saundra Tomlinson-Clarke, Senior Administrator, Academic and Faculty Affairs
    • Paula Voos, Faculty, School of Management and Labor Relations

    Advising and Academic Support Workstream

    Co-Chairs

    • Ann Gould, Senior Administrator, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences & Academic Affairs
    • Carolyn Moehling, Senior Administrator, Undergraduate Education

    View full list of workstream members

    Curriculum Workstream

    Co-Chairs

    • Susan Lawrence, Senior Administrator, School of Arts and Sciences
    • Saundra Tomlinson-Clarke, Senior Administrator, Academic and Faculty Affairs

    View full list of workstream members

    Enrollment and Marketing Workstream

    Co-Chairs

    • Wendie Cohick, Staff, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences/New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station
    • Courtney McAnuff, Senior Administrator, Enrollment Management

    View full list of workstream members

    Living-Learning Communities Workstream

    Co-Chairs

    • Salvador Mena, Senior Administrator, Student Affairs
    • Mark Robson, Faculty, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences

    View full list of workstream members

    Administrative and Financial Structure Workstream

    Co-Chairs

    • Jennifer Hollingshead, Senior Administrator, R-Comm
    • James Masschaele, Senior Administrator, School of Arts and Sciences

    View full list of workstream members

    Data Core Workstream

    Co-Chairs

    • Paul Hammond, Senior Administrator, Technology and Instruction
    • Tara Matise, Faculty, School of Arts and Sciences

    View full list of workstream members

Graduate Education and Student Support Initiative

The Graduate Education and Student Support Initiative seeks to improve the graduate student experience through enhanced coordination of recruitment, enrollment management, scholarships, academic support, and support for graduate student life. 

Scarlet Guarantee

This signature Rutgers–New Brunswick program aims to make college more accessible and affordable, offering a "last dollar" financial aid award that covers the cost of in-state tuition and mandatory fees. The Scarlet Guarantee is a supplemental program to the Garden State Guarantee.

15+ to Finish

Students can graduate on time and minimize their educational costs if they complete 15 or more credits per semester. The 15+ to Finish initiative helps students get there by connecting them with academic, wellness, and career support services, and opportunities for experiential learning and involvement.

Nontraditional Learners

The Chancellor appointed a committee to investigate the feasibility, need, and scope for a Rutgers–New Brunswick school for nontraditional learners—a group that may include veterans, working students, part-time students, returning students who seek to change majors/careers, students who took time off to work or volunteer, professionals, and/or others. This idea, and the committee’s thorough analysis and conclusions, remain under review.

    • Deborah Silver, Director, Professional Science Master’s Program, Rutgers University, and Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, School of Engineering
    • Deepa Bhalla, Associate Vice Chancellor, Division of Enrollment Management
    • Stacy Blackwell, Senior Director, Learning Centers
    • Dana Britton, Professor and Chair, Labor Studies and Employment Relations, School of Management and Labor Relations
    • Barbara Fiorella, Associate Vice President, Degree Completion Programs, Division of Continuing Studies
    • Zoran Gajic, Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, School of Engineering
    • Hae Chang Gea, Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, School of Engineering
    • Gary Gigliotti, Professor, Economics, School of Arts and Sciences
    • Lisa Klein, Distinguished Professor and Department Chair, Materials Science and Engineering, School of Engineering
    • John Kolassa, Distinguished Professor, Statistics, School of Arts and Sciences
    • Michael Lawton, Associate Professor, Department of Plant Biology, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences
    • Kevin Lyons, Associate Professor of Professional Practice, Rutgers Business School–Newark and New Brunswick
    • Jason Moore, Director, Office of Transfer and Non-Traditional Students
    • Richard Novak, Vice President for Continuing Studies and Distance Education
    • Tom Prusa, Professor, Economics, School of Arts and Sciences
    • Mark Gregory Robson, Associate Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of the School of Graduate Studies
    • Hal Salzman, Professor of Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, and Senior Faculty Fellow, John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development
    • David Shernoff, Associate Professor, Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, and Director, Rutgers Center for Mathematics, Science, and Computer Education
    • Lars Sorensen, Assistant Teaching Professor, Computer Science, School of Arts and Sciences
    • Mathew Stone, Professor, Computer Science, School of Arts and Sciences
    • Paul Takhistov, Associate Professor, Food Engineering, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences
    • Ann Treadaway, Director, Office of Veteran and Military Programs and Services
    • Jaideep Vaidya, Distinguished Professor, Computer Information Systems, Rutgers Business School, and Director, Rutgers Institute for Data Science, Learning, and Applications
    • Michelle Van Noy, Director and Associate Research Professor, Education and Employment Research Center, School of Management and Labor Relations

Find additional Student Success initiatives

Pillar IV: Community Engagement

Students and children work in a community garden

Brandt Behavioral Treatment Center

Scheduled to open in Fall 2023, the Brandt Center is the centerpiece of the Rutgers Youth Behavioral Health Initiative and a partnership that includes multiple units Rutgers–New Brunswick, RBHS, and the Rutgers University Foundation. It will be New Jersey’s first behavioral health treatment center exclusively for adolescents and young adults, backed by an academic health leader like Rutgers.

Diversity Strategic Plan

The aim of the Diversity Strategic Plan is to adopt the means for the cohesive, coherent, and collaborative integration of diversity and inclusion into New Brunswick’s shared pursuit of excellence.

Rutgers Distinction

Rutgers–New Brunswick proudly connects students with hands-on, experiential opportunities for research, internships, and public service. Inspired by the success of the Rutgers Summer Service Internship Initiative, the new Rutgers Distinction Initiative will focus on expanding industry and community partnerships.

Innovation and Economic Prosperity

Rutgers–New Brunswick strives to serve the common good as a driver of economic opportunity and community engagement, and is working toward recognition by the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities as an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University.

  • Leadership Team

    • Margaret Brennan-Tonetta, Ph.D., Director of Resource and Economic Development and Senior Associate Director, NJAES
    • Jacqueline McGlynn, Director of Administration, Office of the Chancellor
    • Lori Dars, M.B.A., Associate Director, Economic Development and Innovation, NJAES
    • Amy Mandelbaum, Senior Program Administrator, NJAES Office of Resource and Economic Development

    Rutgers Representatives

    Douglass Residential College

    • Leslie Danehy, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs

    Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy

    • Carl Van Horn, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of Public Policy and Director, John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development

    Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology

    • Lara Delmolino Gatley, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Administration and Strategic Operations; Director, GSAPP’s Applied and Academic Autism Services; and Executive Director, Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center

    Graduate School of Education

    • Representative to be named

    Honors College

    • Andrea Rydel, Ph.D., Assistant Dean for Professional Development and Alumni and Corporate Engagement

    Mason Gross School of the Arts

    • Rebecca Cypess, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Associate Professor of Musicology

    Rutgers Business School – New Brunswick

    • Gary Minkoff, M.B.A., Assistant Professor of Professional Practice

    School of Arts and Sciences

    • Robin Davis, Ph.D., Vice Dean for Research and Graduate Education and Professor, Department of Cell Biology & Neuroscience
    • Thu D. Nguyen, Ph.D., Dean of Mathematical and Physical Sciences and Professor, Department of Computer Science
    • Chris Scherer, Director, Office of External Engagement and Partnerships

    School of Communications and Information

    • Mark Aakhus, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Research and Professor of Communication

    School of Engineering

    • Wade Trappe, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Research and Academic Programs and Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

    School of Environmental and Biological Sciences

    • Richard Alomar, Ph.D., Associate Director, Office of Urban Extension and Engagement and Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Landscape Architecture
    • Brian Schilling, Ph.D., Director, Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Associate Extension Specialist in Agricultural Policy and Senior Associate Director, New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station

    School of Graduate Studies

    • Representative to be named

    School of Management and Labor Relations

    • William Castellano, Ph.D., Professor, Human Resource Management, Executive Director, NJ/NY Center for Employee Ownership

    School of Social Work

    • Mark W. Lamar, M.B.A., M.S.W., Executive Director, Office of Field Education, Associate Professor of Professional Practice

Find additional Community Engagement initiatives

Operational Excellence

Old Queens in the fall

Campus Improvement Initiative

Through the Campus Improvement Initiative, the Chancellor's Office has committed to investing $5M over five years for infrastructure repairs and upgrades. Students are a top priority in this effort, which includes the development of collaborative and innovative spaces.

Operational Excellence Listening Tour

The Operational Excellence Listening Tour explores our successes and challenges as well as the ways in which we can continue to improve the ways Rutgers–New Brunswick’s units interact with the administrative offices—including Human Resources, Planning and Operations, Finance and Administration, Research, and Information Technology—to achieve our shared goals.