Helping Undergraduates Navigate the Transition

August 21, 2007

Dear Rutgers Faculty and Staff:

In a few days we will begin a new era in undergraduate education on our New Brunswick Campus, with major changes to our academic structure and expanded opportunities inside and beyond the classroom. Many hundreds of you have been involved, directly or indirectly, in planning and implementing the transformation. It has been a spectacular effort, and you have my enduring thanks for your commitment to Rutgers students.

This is an exciting time, but also one of transition for everyone. It is important that we work together, across units, functions, and campuses, to give our students the best possible information and advice as they navigate the new system. Of course, that means we all need to have a good grasp of the changes and the resources available.

In the coming days we will have several information sessions that should be enormously useful in preparing you to field questions from students, families, and other members of the Rutgers community. These one-hour sessions, at which representatives of the School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, and the Office of Undergraduate Education will be available to answer questions, are of special importance to everyone who interacts regularly with students. You can enroll online by visiting http://uhr.rutgers.edu/profdevenroll and selecting "General Programs." Several dates and locations have been set (and more sessions will be added if needed):

August 22, 2:00 p.m. - Busch Campus Center, Center Hall (Busch Campus)
August 24, 1:30 p.m. - Scott Hall, Room 123 (College Avenue Campus)
August 27, 2:00 p.m. - ASB II, Community Room (Cook Campus)
August 29, 2:00 p.m. - ASB II, Community Room (Cook Campus)
September 13, 9:00 a.m. - Rutgers Student Center, Room 411 ABC (College Avenue Campus)

Another important resource is the web. These Rutgers websites in particular contain the latest information on our changes:

  • the transforming undergraduate education site, which has been updated and features frequently asked questions;
  • the Office of Undergraduate Education site, with detailed descriptions of the new academic opportunities awaiting students;
  • the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs site, with links to newly organized departments such as recreation, university student centers, judicial affairs, and other student life areas;
  • the RU-info site, a clearinghouse of information about Rutgers offices, programs, facilities, calendars, and more.

Should you or a student have a question that these websites can't answer, I suggest a call to campus information services at 732-932-info.


A transformation of this magnitude will inevitably hit a few bumps along the way, and I ask for your patience and cooperation as we work our way past them. This transformation is aimed at improving the student experience, and if we see an area that needs to be fixed as we move forward, we are committed to getting it right. We want to do all we can to make Rutgers–New Brunswick a great place to study, to live, to get involved, and to grow.

You have my best wishes for the remaining days of summer and my thanks for your collaboration in giving our students a warm welcome to a new era of opportunity at Rutgers.

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