light posts with banners of the Rutgers shield line the street

About
Student Affairs

Creating innovative programs to transform the student experience.

Vibrant Community

Comprised of 23 departments, over 1,000 staff members, and more than 2,300 student staff members, Student Affairs facilitates interactions among students, faculty, and staff to promote students' academic success, personal growth, and professional development. Our staff are committed to working with students to enrich the quality of their lives so that they can achieve their goals.

23
Departments
1,000+
Staff Members
2,300
Student Staff

Mission and Vision

Mission

With students at the heart of all we do, the Division of Student Affairs facilitates innovative learning and developmental experiences, challenging and preparing students to successfully learn, engage, serve, and lead at Rutgers University and in a global society.

Vision

Cultivate positive transformative experiences, challenging students to be their best at Rutgers and beyond.

Core Values

The following values are central to the Division of Student Affairs and guide how we do our work and fulfill our mission. 

Community

We respond to the needs of our students with compassion and care. We use restorative practices to build, maintain, and heal relationships. We create a culture of grace around learning from mistakes.

Inclusion

We foster the development and preservation of a community where all members feel they belong.

Learning

Learning for students occurs inside and outside the classroom. As such, we are educators first in our service to students.

Integrity

We uphold the highest ethical and professional standards in our service to students and the university community.

Excellence

We are committed to being a leading division of student affairs. We do this through data-driven decision making, a focus on continuous improvement, embracing innovative practices, and telling our story.

Student Learning Outcomes

Using standards developed by the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS Standards), the Division of Student Affairs has created five distinct student learning outcome domains, in alignment with our values and mission, to guide our programs and services.

Click here to learn about our Student Learning Outcomes and our process.

Interpersonal Relationships

The Interpersonal Relationship domain focuses on a student’s ability to understand and be confident in oneself to foster healthy interactions with peers, the Rutgers community, and the broader society.

Intrapersonal Development

The Intrapersonal Development domain describes identity exploration and the process to develop values aligned with an individual’s ethics and integrity.

Practical Skills Development

The Practical Skills Development domain involves acquisition of the skills necessary for collegiate and post-graduation success.

Intellectual Engagement & Curiosity

The Intellectual Engagement and Curiosity domain equips students with the tools to explore areas of passion and understand the interconnections and interdependencies of knowledge from a range of disciplines.

Social Responsibility

The Social Responsibility domain describes the mutual commitment of both students and community towards cultivating inclusive environments.

Professional Affiliations

The Division of Student Affairs supports continuous learning of best practices and knowledge-sharing to better serve students and the university. The dynamic field of student affairs is always evolving, so in order to keep up with the latest trends, research, and policy, our staff belong to various professional organizations that develop and guide best practices. This commitment to ongoing learning helps us better serve our students and the university while ensuring that our staff retain their competitiveness in the workforce.

The Knight's Call

The Knight’s Call is a code outlining the values and expectations for all members of the Rutgers community. This code guides us as Scarlet Knights each day and remains with us always.

How will you answer the Knight's Call?

I Am Authentic

We have the freedom to be our genuine selves as we seek to find our place in this large community. We welcome differences and challenge assumptions as we endeavor to build connections that are sincere and meaningful.

Rutgers student Taylor

I Am Inclusive

Through discovery, dialogue, and development, we grow together in an environment free from judgment, stigma, and fear. We celebrate our diverse backgrounds and are committed to creating a place in the world where ideas, identities, and compassion converge.

Rutgers student Barakah

I Am Responsible

Upholding the highest values of trust, honesty, and integrity, we believe that our actions significantly impact our personal journeys, our communities, and our larger society. We are thoughtful leaders who protect each other, inspire action, and tackle formidable challenges.

Rutgers student

I Am Resilient

We come from all corners of the world and travel between many campuses and cities. Our Scarlet Pride is evident as we overcome obstacles with grace and grit while working to achieve our goals. Our greatest tradition is change and it drives us to persevere and ultimately succeed.

Rutgers student Jason

I Am Engaged

Our Rutgers experience ignites purpose within us and inspires us to get involved. We share our stories, discover our talents, collaborate with one another, and become better global citizens, all while applying the lessons we learn on the banks.

Rutgers student

I Am a Scarlet Knight

We take what we’ve learned and embody these values every day, on campus and wherever life’s journey takes us.

Scarlet Knight statue at the entrance to The Yard on College Avenue

I Am Rutgers

We take pride in our community knowing that together we will represent not only ourselves as individuals but the university that helped shape us.

Scarlet Knight statue at the entrance to The Yard on College Avenue
Rutgers student Taylor
Rutgers student Barakah
Rutgers student
Rutgers student Jason
Rutgers student
Scarlet Knight statue at the entrance to The Yard on College Avenue
Scarlet Knight statue at the entrance to The Yard on College Avenue