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RBS Office of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access
Newark and New Brunswick
Email: DiversityPrograms@business.rutgers.edu
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The RBS Office of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access (RBS IDEA Office), formerly the Office of Diversity Programs, was established in 2013 and is strategically located within the RBS Office of the Dean.
MISSION
Rutgers Business School- Newark and New Brunswick is committed to excellence in fostering an enriching community of learning, scholarship, and service for students, faculty, and staff from a broad spectrum of nations, cultures, and historical perspectives. Core to this commitment is an overarching and deliberate institutional consciousness of diversity, equity, and inclusion which is steadfastly reinforced through our policies, practices, and programs.
VISION
The RBS IDEA Office seeks to establish Rutgers Business School as a national leader and model for diversity excellence as we challenge our community to embrace differences as assets in a culturally and racially diverse world. The RBS IDEA Office helps create and sustain a welcoming environment for all RBS community members, including students, faculty, and staff, ensuring equality of access, opportunity, representation, and participation. Diversity excellence will be a hallmark of this office as we pursue and promote new partnerships within the Rutgers University system and beyond that embrace the indivisible bond between academic and professional excellence, inclusion, diversity, equity, and access.
CORE PILLARS
Inclusion
means everyone has the same rights and ability to participate and contribute. Inclusive environments are ones where an individual’s social identity (who one is) does not determine what one can accomplish. In inclusive environments, there will not be substantial inequality in terms of representation, rights, and resources across social identity groups and members of all groups will be invited to participate, feel welcomed, respected, supported, and valued.
Diversity
refers to differences that make a difference in life chances, drawing from the variety of personal experiences, values, and worldviews that arise from differences of culture and circumstance. Such differences may relate to the complex and increasingly blurred intersectionality of race, ethnicity, gender and gender identity, age, religion, language, disability status, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, geographic region, ways of thinking, and more.
Equity
involves ensuring rightful access to opportunities, resources, rewards, and advancement for all students, faculty, and staff at every stage of their education and career development. Equity guarantees full participation to the extent of an individual’s potential, desire, and capabilities.
Access
refers to how institutions and policies enable entry and ensure or at least work to ensure equal and equitable opportunities. Increasing access generally requires institutions to provide additional services or remove any actual or potential barriers that might inhibit inclusive environments.
Meet the RBS IDEA Office Leadership
Programming and Initatives
RBS Pathways Leading to Undergraduate & Graduate Success (PLUS) is a portfolio of programs and initiatives designed to help students from underrepresented and underserved backgrounds leverage their diversity through dynamic inter-group dialogue and enriching co-curricular activities. These programs range from pre-college to graduate-level opportunities and are designed to enrich our diverse student body's academic, personal, and professional development.
RBS NextUP (High School Students)
The RBS NextUP program is a one-day experiential learning opportunity for high school students. This pre-college program allows students to explore the benefits of post-secondary education and careers in business, and it increases access to Rutgers University, Rutgers Business School. Through engagement with students, faculty, staff, and professionals, students are educated in the complete admissions process to help remove the barriers of applying to college.
RBS PREP (High School Students)
This six-month pre-college program is an immersive experience for high-performing high school juniors (11th grade) to gain early exposure to Rutgers Business School, campus life, college courses, and business majors. Students from historically underrepresented and underserved backgrounds accepted into the RBS PREP (Pre-College Enrichment Program) program will be enrolled in a college-level business course and will earn three (3) credits upon completion of the program that can be used towards their undergraduate business degree.
RBS B-STAR (High School/Enrolled RBS First-Year Students)
This award-winning and credit-bearing program is designed to support high-performing and high-potential students from historically underrepresented and underserved backgrounds who have accepted admission to RBS and will enroll as first-year undergraduate students in the fall. Students enrolled in the RBS Business Student Transition Access & Retention (B-STAR) program participate in this highly enriching two-phase program from the summer before they begin college up until graduation. The goals of this program include cultivating leadership skills, building community, facilitating professional development, and preparing students for future careers.
RBS DiversityLAUNCH Institute (Enrolled RBS First-Year, First-Generation, and Transfer Students)
Incoming first-year students, first-generation college students, and transfer students entering Rutgers Business School can participate in the RBS DiversityLAUNCH Institute (DLI). Designed to support and encourage students transitioning into college, this introductory three-day accelerator leadership program helps students to better navigate the fast-paced landscape of higher education. This program offers opportunities to connect with diverse groups cultivating a sense of belonging and empowerment.
Programming for Enrolled Students
The RBS PLUS programming continues throughout a student's journey at Rutgers Business School. View the programs and initiatives for enrolled students to learn more about opportunities for enrolled students.
RBS CEO Network (Enrolled RBS Undergraduate and Graduate Students)
With the goal of connecting, engaging, and providing opportunities for students, the RBS CEO Network (Connect, Engage, and Opportunity) creates strategic corporate partnerships and co-sponsors initiatives designed to develop soft skills and leadership capabilities. CEO programs are for both undergraduate and graduate students and provide multi-touchpoint opportunities that position students for successful careers after graduation.
RBS IDEA - Student Ambassador Program
Current Rutgers Business School students from underrepresented and underserved backgrounds can participate in the RBS IDEA- Student Ambassador Program. This program offers students the opportunity to develop their leadership and networking skills while promoting service-learning and community service.
RBS IDEA - Diversity Speaker Series (Enrolled RBS Students, Staff, and Faculty)
The RBS IDEA- Diversity Speaker Series creates a platform for conversation about diversity in business, multicultural issues that impact the global workforce, and other "business intangibles" not often discussed in the classroom. Speakers and lecturers share their learned perspectives and academic/professional journeys to provide a forum for knowledge sharing.
RBS IDEA - Scholarship Program
At RBS we understand and value the ability to provide supplemental funding and resources to assist students and families. The scholarship awards are part of a larger strategy to improve educational outcomes. In this model, scholarship dollars are leveraged and combined with additional educational support from the RBS IDEA Office to become a link in a chain with a combined goal of student success and persistence toward graduation.