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Campus Community and Your Responsibility

September 5, 2024

Dear Scarlet Knights,

Welcome to the Banks of the Raritan and a special welcome to our newcomers, more than 10,000 first-year and transfer students. As our incoming and returning students, you are at the heart of our Rutgers–New Brunswick community, and you bring energy, excitement, and meaning to our classrooms, student centers, athletic fields, and much more.

If you are a returning student, you should be familiar with Rutgers’ aspirations for becoming a beloved community. As an incoming student, you likely learned about this concept on a campus tour, at new student orientation, or on our website. Our beloved community—a place where all perspectives can coexist—is a cornerstone of our campus culture, representing our commitment to belonging, respect, and inclusion. As individual community members, please consider how you will contribute to advancing our beloved community. You can begin by thinking about the type of student organizations you want to join, the friendships you want to make, and the skills or knowledge you want to learn and share with others. You don’t need the answers to these questions right now, but I encourage you to consider them as you begin exploring what the year ahead will entail for you.

We are committed to caring for our community and to providing a safe and inclusive environment where every student, regardless of background and identity, can thrive. Our campus is a place for free expression and respectful dialogue. As we continue to navigate global challenges and the upcoming national elections, it is more important than ever to engage with thoughtfulness, empathy, and respect. When you encounter speech that conflicts with your personal beliefs or upbringing, I encourage you to lean into the feelings of discomfort. Don’t attempt to silence this speech—instead, listen respectfully and counter it with your own. If you feel strongly about these issues, you can even show up to controversial programs and engage with the speakers—just remember that the expectations for student conduct in these spaces are the same for all participants.

Having said that, I urge you to take responsibility for your own actions and support both your own academic success and the well-being of your peers. Bear in mind that our choices and actions have consequences, especially if they violate the student code of conduct and cause physical, emotional, or disruptive harm to community members. Such behavior can lead to temporary or permanent separation from our community.

With these guidelines in mind, I encourage you to get involved through the many opportunities for engagement available on campus. Join a student organization that you learned about at the Involvement Fair or on Get Involved. Attend the Scarlet Resource Fair on Tuesday, September 10th and learn about the campus resources that can support your journey and success at Rutgers. Get active through Recreation’s sports clubs and intramurals. Participate in research with a professor, attend events held by departments across the university, and join in community service. Email one of our Engagement Ambassadors to schedule an appointment at the Engagement Hub located in the Student Activities Center (SAC) and get connected to opportunities that best suit your interests. And please get involved in our Student Success Weeks (September 13-27), your chance to explore ways to fast-track your degree, reduce debt, and prepare for success in your chosen field. Whatever you do, find your niche and place—your avenue to make a positive impact on our beloved community.

Finally, here is a special request for returning students who have taken part in Rutgers programs that include community engagement or volunteering: Rutgers–New Brunswick is working toward renewal of its Classification for Community Engagement by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education. This classification showcases our commitment to provide students with high-impact experiences in community engagement, and will help us amplify the impact of these efforts. If you have taken part in such experiences, you can help by completing our quick Rutgers–New Brunswick Community Engaged Experiences Survey. Please contact rcommunity@rutgers.edu with any questions about this effort.

Again, welcome (and welcome back!) to Rutgers. Let’s make this year one of growth, learning, and mutual respect. If you want to discuss this communication or your hopes and aspirations for your time at Rutgers, please email me at svcse@echo.rutgers.edu to schedule a time for us to meet.

In Rutgers Pride,

Salvador B. Mena, Ph.D. (he, him, el)
Senior Vice Chancellor for the Student Experience
Rutgers University–New Brunswickv

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