Collaborative Center Programs
Certificate Programs
Certificates represent significant academic achievement that is endorsed by Rutgers-New Brunswick's Curriculum Committee, recognized on your official transcript, and awarded when you graduate.
Certificate portfolios prepare you for civically engaged professional life and recognize your commitment to scholarship that serves your community.
Accordion Content
-
The Civic Scholar Certificate (PDF) is a designation endorsed by Rutgers–New Brunswick. The certificate recognizes a curricular pathway that includes civic responsibility and social change. A Civic Scholar Certificate is a significant academic achievement noted on your official transcript upon graduation. The certificate is a 15-credit commitment that can be aligned with your major or minor and includes a civic pathway capstone.
Consult with Collaborative Center staff at collaborativerecruitment@gmail.com and apply for a portfolio review.
Complete the online application and submit your portfolio and unofficial transcript.
-
The International Civic Scholar Certificate (PDF) is a designation endorsed by Rutgers–New Brunswick. The certificate recognizes a curricular pathway that includes civic responsibility and social change. An International Civic Scholar Certificate is a significant academic achievement noted on your official transcript upon graduation. The certificate is a 15-credit commitment that can be aligned with your major or minor and includes an international service experience.
Consult with Collaborative Center staff at collaborativerecruitment@gmail.com and apply for a portfolio review.
Complete the online application and submit your portfolio and unofficial transcript.
-
Combined with your electives in education, social work, psychology, public health, or public policy, among others, a sequence of three, 3-credit, Collaborative Youth Mentoring courses potentially lead to the 18-credit Certificate in Youth Mentoring (PDF), a designation that is endorsed by Rutgers–New Brunswick and awarded upon graduation.
Core Collaborative Youth Mentoring Courses
-
Introduction to Mentoring (01:090:215)
-
Mentoring and Youth Challenges (01:090:315)
-
Mentoring, Communication, and Ecological
Community Context (01:090:316)
Course topics include adolescent development, culturally responsive mentoring techniques, factors that may derail low-income students, overcoming structural inequities in education, as well as approaches to managing time, peer pressure, and goal-setting.
Consult with Collaborative Center staff at collaborativerecruitment@gmail.com to submit your portfolio and unofficial transcript.
-
Advancing Community Development
Advancing Community Development (ACD) is a two-semester, 6-credit opportunity to learn about community-based research, non-profit management, and the role of anchor institutions and their resources in communities. The program, offered through a partnership of Rutgers Collaborative Center, Johnson & Johnson, and community organizations, focuses on health-related issues in New Brunswick.
-
ACD begins in the fall semester with an on-campus, 3-credit course co-taught by Rutgers faculty and Johnson & Johnson community health professionals. This is an opportunity to learn directly from leaders in the community, government, and health. Coursework includes 10 hours of service with local organizations to familiarize students with health-related issues in New Brunswick.
-
In the spring semester, students work with a community organization 6-8 hours per week to design and implement a project while being mentored by a Johnson & Johnson expert in the project area and attending a Collaborative Center course. The 3-credit course culminates with an opportunity for students to present their projects.
Health-related and capacity-building projects have included:
-
Developing a communications strategy by partnering with Feeding Middlesex County (FMC) [PDF], Rutgers School of Communication and Information, and Johnson & Johnson to build the FMC website.
-
A fundraising strategy that included adapting a platform and social media for FMC as well as the Café Cabaret fundraising event.
-
Research on affordability of culturally appropriate produce at the New Brunswick Community Farmer's Market.
What do I need to do?
-
Complete the application and an interview with a Collaborative Center Program Coordinator. You will need a permission number to register. What are the Advancing Community Development courses? Public Scholarship and Service Internship courses 01:090:399 and 01:830:392 total 3 credits per semester. The course sequence begins in the fall and continues through the spring for a total of 6 credits.
Behavioral Assistant Program
The Behavioral Assistant Program is a two-semester, 2-credit opportunity offered through school district partnerships with Rutgers Collaborative Center. Rutgers undergraduates work as part of a team under the supervision of professional special education staff, psychologists, and teachers to support K-12 students on the autism spectrum. Undergraduate classroom involvement includes observation and data collection.
- Learn about and implement Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to provide classroom support to K-12 students and teachers.
- Participate in K-12 classrooms approximately three hours per week.
- Attend scheduled meetings of a recitation course (01:090:298) to communicate and share progress and challenges in your assigned classroom. Read more about the program (PDF).
What do I need to do?
-
Complete the application and an interview with a Collaborative Program Coordinator. You will need a permission number to register.
- Expect to complete a background check required by the New Jersey Department of Education for anyone working in public schools; complete this step as soon as possible.
Community Research Assistant
The Community Research Assistant (CRA) program is an opportunity to develop and conduct research with Rutgers Collaborative Center community partners in New Brunswick and New Jersey. Students can expect to contribute 70 hours during one semester and earn a total of 2 credits while attending the CRA recitation course.
The research topic is negotiated with community partners and aligned with your area of interest:
- Policy research
- Program evaluation
- Historical research
- Measuring non-profit impacts
Specific topics have been developed with community organizations; for instance, recent projects supported nurturing the declining pollinator bee population through gardening in New Brunswick and developing a system to reduce food waste.
Your participation in the 1-credit Community Research Assistant recitation course (01:090:298) for each of two semesters, for a total of 2 credits, will support the research project concept, design, and best practices for community-based research.
What do I need to do?
Complete the application and an interview with a Collaborative Program Coordinator. You will need a special permission number to register.
Collaborative Mentoring
If you are an undergraduate student interested in supporting promising, economically disadvantaged youth in public schools, the Collaborative Mentoring program is an exciting opportunity.
- Learn how to support promising youth affiliated with college access programs such as AVID, EMPOWER, and Upward Bound.
- Implement nationally recognized academic frameworks to inform mentoring.
- Mentor students in New Brunswick Public Schools 2-3 hours per week.
Begin with an application to enroll in Introduction to Mentoring (01:090:215).
What do I need to do?
- Make sure you meet the minimum of one semester of college experience and a GPA of 2.5.
- Complete the application and an interview with a Collaborative Program Coordinator. You will need a permission number to register.
- Note that if your community placement is a public school, the New Jersey Department of Education requires a background check; if your placement is a community organization, some organizations also require a background check to work with youth under the age of 18.
Rutgers Bonner Leaders
Rutgers Bonner Leaders at Rutgers–New Brunswick are part of the national Bonner Foundation Network of college students who are committed to community service and social justice. At Rutgers, Bonner Leaders are involved in every major New Brunswick community event as they learn to serve within an orientation to social change.
What do Rutgers Bonner Leaders do?
-
Attend an overnight orientation session and weekly training on Fridays, 3-5 p.m., during the semester.
-
Serve part-time at a community organization and support community events.
-
Participate in an alternative spring break community service trip. Recent service trips have supported rebuilding efforts in Appalachia and Puerto Rico.
Watch Our Introduction Video
If you are a Federal Work Study student and you want to become a Rutgers Bonner Leader, complete the Collaborative Center application.
CIVIC VOICES
CIVIC VOICES is a community-based audio project developed by George Street Playhouse and Rutgers Collaborative Center for Community-Based Service and Research. Designed to better understand the unique, diverse voices of communities throughout New Jersey, CIVIC VOICES encourages civic engagement by strengthening community discourse through theatre arts.
Six students from the Rutgers Bonner Leader Program were given microphones to document their work in several community organizations based in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Civic Voices: The Audio Diary Podcast Series explores their experience and their unique perspectives on how these organizations create a lasting impact.
Featuring audio documentaries by:
Accordion Content
-
Sunzida Ahmed is a sophomore studying Political Science at Rutgers–New Brunswick's School of Arts and Sciences. With aspirations to go to law school after college, she hopes to pursue a future in environmental law or criminal justice reform. On campus, Sunzida is involved with the Rutgers University Mock Trial Association, New Student Orientation and Family Programs, and Residence Life. She has been a Rutgers Bonner Leader for two years and takes pride in tutoring high school students for the Upward Bound Program.
Listen to Sunzida's audio documentary, Doing Good.
-
Maria Guevara Carpio is a junior studying Public Health and Business Administration at Rutgers–New Brunswick's School of Environmental and Biological Sciences. Maria was born and grew up in Peru. During her high school years, she moved to the United States. Maria is involved with the Paul Robeson Leadership Institute and Helyar House. She has been a Bonner Leader for three years serving in a variety of settings, including the New Brunswick Community Farmers Market, the Community Health Promotions Program, and the Bonner Program itself. She is bilingual, loves reading, doing art, and creating content through different mediums.
Listen to Maria's audio documentary, A Little Lost/Un Poquito Perdida.
-
Samia Khondaker is a sophomore studying Biology and Psychology in the School of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers–New Brunswick. She is from Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey and volunteers at local clinics. She hopes to go to medical school and dreams of being a physician. On campus, Samia is an undergraduate research assistant at the Psychology Lab and she is a first-year resident assistant for the upcoming school year. She has been a Rutgers Bonner Leader for two years, serving in Youth Empowerment Services, Girl Scouts, and EMPOWER. During her free time, she loves spending time with friends and trying new food places off-campus.
Listen to Samia's audio documentary, The Importance of Nonprofits: Discovering the Impact of Youth Empowerment Services.
-
Rashel Bernal Reyes is a freshman who intends to major in Cell Biology & Neuroscience at Rutgers–New Brunswick's School of Arts and Science. She wants to pursue a career as a Pediatric Neurologist. Rashel has grown up in New Brunswick and continues to serve her community. Rashel is an EOF Scholar, Herstorian for the Latin American Womxn Organization and an active member in the Mexcian American Student Association. This was her first year serving as a Bonner leader, first at Upward Bound and most recently at the New Brunswick Public LIbrary.
Listen to Rashel's audio documentary, The Privilege of Going to College in My City.
-
Andrea Rojas is a rising senior majoring in Journalism and Media Studies. She will graduate in 2021, ready to write about current events and use her media skills to shine a light on important topics. Andrea has been a Bonner Leader for three years. She has worked as their social media chair in addition to being a tutor at Youth Empowerment services. Andrea enjoys watching Latinx soap operas and reading books.
Listen to Andrea's audio documentary, Cooped Up.
-
Katherine Taveras is a rising sophomore studying Linguistics at Rutgers–New Brunswick's School of Arts and Science. Upon graduating with the Class of 2023, Katherine hopes to teach English abroad in Japan as a part of the JET program before pursuing her masters in Speech Pathology. Katherine is involved in various organizations on campus, such as the Peruvian American Student Association and the Organization of Luso Americans at Rutgers. She is a Douglass Woman as well as a student of the School of Arts and Sciences Honors program. As of May 2020, Katherine will have completed her first year as a Bonner Leader serving at Upward Bound, where she tutors high schoolers. Katherine speaks several languages, including Spanish, Portuguese, and some Japanese. During her free time, she enjoys listening to music, reading, and using her favorite application: Duolingo.
Listen to Katherine's audio documentary, The High School Experience.
Partnership
Rutgers Collaborative Center brings together community and government leaders, professionals, faculty, staff, and students sharing experience, expertise, and energy to achieve shared goals for our community through education and action.
Rutgers Collaborative Center represents a history of community engagement at Rutgers-New Brunswick that includes partnerships spanning more than 20 years as well as innovations that respond to emerging social issues, including:
- Supporting often-overlooked K-12 students in the academic "middle" by implementing the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) mentorship program and Collaborative Youth Mentoring to support students in their pathway to college.
- Partnering to empower youth between 10-16 through AMARD&V (Artists Mentoring Against Racism, Drugs and Violence) arts and culture summer program.
- Addressing food insecurity through organizations such as the New Brunswick Community Food Alliance and the Feeding New Brunswick Network that promote access to healthy, culturally appropriate food.
We connect faculty to community projects and prepare students to contribute as youth mentors, community research assistants, behavioral assistants, and civic scholars through our academically endorsed courses and programs designed to sustain community initiatives.
If you have a long-term project or a community event in mind, contact the Rutgers Collaborative Center to explore how we can work together.
Partner Support
Community organizations exploring ways to conduct research or build capacity receive consultative and material support from Rutgers Collaborative Center. We facilitate research partnerships, prepare students for mentoring, research, event support, and other community roles, and create forums such as RU-CARES for dialogue about achieving shared goals.
To learn more about partners support, contact amymic@odi.rutgers.edu.
Faculty & Staff Support
The Collaborative Center support for faculty and staff who would like to be involved in community-engaged teaching and research, or currently involved, includes:
- Public scholarship and service recitations that provide a structure to integrate a community-based component into any department.
- Guidance for community-engaged course development and research partnerships.
- Opportunities for mutually beneficial research, partnerships, and student placements. View an example here.
- RU-CARES and conferences that offer opportunities for engagement with community and government leaders, students, and professionals.
Our support extends to student orientations to community service, mentoring by experienced service-learning practitioners, and annual celebration and awards recognizing student achievement.
We will gladly present to your department, meet with you individually, or familiarize you and your students with the New Brunswick community.
To learn more about how we support faculty and staff, email Amy Michael, associate director, at amymic@odi.rutgers.edu.
RU-CARES
RU-CARES (Community, Action, Respect, Engagement, Service) is a professional development forum that engages community, faculty, and government leaders in conversations about synergistic community-university partnerships and best practices to advance social change.
A committed working group of community-engaged faculty represents academic units across Rutgers–New Brunswick and contributes to RU-CARES. Over three hundred students, faculty, staff, and community leaders representing twenty-seven community partnerships attended the inaugural series.
RU-CARES launched with Leading Together, a panel discussion on civic leadership facilitated by Rutgers alumnus and broadcast anchor Steve Adubato and including Jaymie Santiago, president and CEO of New Brunswick Tomorrow. This event was followed by Learning in the Community, a workshop on incorporating community-based learning for meaningful capstone experiences led by Dr. Ariane Hoy, vice president of the Corella & Bertram F. Bonner Foundation and the co-author of High-Impact Learning for Self and Society: Community-Engaged Signature Work.
Our conversations include leaders representing Youth Empowerment Services, New Labor, and the New Brunswick Community Food Alliance among others; Jon Wogman, program director, Congressional Hunger Center and Dr. Cara Cuite, Department of Human Ecology and the Food Policy Institute at Rutgers.
Community partners, faculty, staff, and students are invited to bring their expertise, experience, and energy to the RU-CARES community. Contact Rutgers Collaborative Center to learn more.