Announcing Rutgers Day—April 25, 2009

September 25, 2008

Members of the Rutgers–New Brunswick Campus Community:

On April 25, 2009, the university will host the first Rutgers Day, our largest and most ambitious effort to reach the people we serve by inviting them to experience their state university firsthand.

The annual, full-day, campuswide event will build on the wonderful traditions of Ag Field Day and the New Jersey Folk Festival. It will include a full array of tours, performances, hands-on activities, demonstrations, exhibits, lectures, and presentations across the George H. Cook, Douglass, Busch, and College Avenue campuses. (This program will expand to include the Livingston Campus in the future.) Events will be free and open to both the Rutgers community and the public.

Our goal is to strengthen the bonds between New Jersey and its state university, build pride in Rutgers, and spread awareness about the range and depth of Rutgers programs. Other universities have hosted similar events with great success, attracting thousands of visitors, including the general public, parents and children, alumni, and prospective students.

Rutgers Day is a priority for the year ahead, but to do it we will need your help. I am asking every department, unit, and student organization to host creative and informative programs of discovery and learning. Rutgers’ Department of University Relations is available to work with you and has scheduled training sessions to help you plan a successful event. Please submit your event by December 1.

Go to the Rutgers Day website (http://rutgersday.rutgers.edu) and click on Rutgers Log-In. There you can read an overview, look at sample events, submit your own event, or enroll in one of the training sessions, which will be held on the following dates:

• October 21, Rutgers Student Center 411 AB, 9 a.m.
• October 28, ASB II, Community Room, 2:30 p.m.
• November 5, Busch Campus Center 122 ABC, 1:30 p.m.

This is your chance to showcase your area’s strengths, reach new and important audiences, enhance recruitment, and gain increased visibility for the good work you do. With your participation, we will roll out the scarlet carpet for an exciting and productive Rutgers Day next April 25. If you have any questions, please email rutgersday@rutgers.edu.

Richard L. McCormick
President
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey