Rutgers Future Scholars Program

What is the Rutgers Future Scholars Program?

In his September 2007 Annual Address to the University Community, Rutgers President Richard L. McCormick announced a bold initiative to expand opportunities for talented students from underrepresented communities.

The Rutgers Future Scholars Program is designed to provide academically promising young students from the university’s home communities of Newark, Camden, Piscataway and New Brunswick with opportunities for educational growth, social development, personal enrichment and economic support. The program aims to increase the number of young people from these communities who go to college.

At New Brunswick High School, for example, 57 percent of students pursued post-secondary education in 2004; of those planning to go to college, only 24 percent intended to seek admission to a four-year institution.

 Participants are identified before they begin eighth grade. Those who participate for the full five years and meet Rutgers’ admission requirements will be able to attend Rutgers free of tuition and fees with continued academic support and mentoring. Each year, up to 50 rising eighth-graders from each community will join the program. This means new opportunities for as many as 200 students every year.

Why is Rutgers doing this now?

As the state’s premier public university, Rutgers is committed to making higher education accessible to New Jersey students and to enrolling a student body that reflects the diversity of the state. The university also has a long history of educating a large percentage of students who are the first in their families to obtain a college degree. The Rutgers Future Scholars Program is being undertaken now to continue and enrich these traditions by building an early path to higher education for young students. According to President McCormick, “Rutgers has an imperative to make a difference in the world” through programs such as this.

What are the program’s objectives?

The program aims to:

• Increase the number of students who complete high school and pursue higher education
• Provide opportunities for educational growth, social development and personal enrichment for the target population
• Develop a model for enhancing educational opportunities for first-generation and low-income students that can be expanded across the state and nation.

Who is eligible to participate?

To apply for the program, students must:

• Be enrolled in the Newark, Camden, New Brunswick or Piscataway school district or at the LEAP Academy University Charter School in Camden
• Be about to enter eighth grade
• Be a first-generation college student (Their parents or guardians are not graduates of a four-year college)
• Meet financial need guidelines
• Be highly recommended by a teacher and the school administration.

Students also must:

• Have full support for participation from a parent or guardian
• Be in good academic standing and demonstrate potential in the core academic subjects of math, science, language arts and social studies/history
• Be able to attend five- to eight-day programs during the summer before eighth grade and to attend extended summer enrichment programs during their high school years.

What will the program encompass?

The program features opportunities for students throughout the school year and over the summer.  Rutgers will offer academic support, enrichment, guidance and mentoring to motivated students from families of modest income. Students apply in seventh grade and continue as Future Scholars from eighth grade through high school.

Activities will include:

• A five- to eight-day commuter summer program for rising eighth-graders on their local Rutgers campus 
• A four- to six-week summer campus program for high school students with an emphasis on pre-college programs in varied areas of study
• Rutgers Future Scholars Seminars, a Saturday series for high school students to enhance their academic skills and career options
• Opportunities to attend athletic and cultural events on the Rutgers campuses.
• PSAT, SAT and ACT test-taking training.

What will the students do during the summer program?

The summer program, to be held on Rutgers’ Camden, Newark and New Brunswick campuses, will offer courses designed to stimulate curiosity, creativity and a passion for learning while also exposing students to potential career paths. 

This summer, students will be able to select from a range of grade-appropriate offerings that emphasize fun, hands-on activities. Classes run from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Breakfast and lunch are included in the program, as are transportation to campus, field trips and class materials.

The New Brunswick program will include courses in writing, chemistry, physics, biology, mathematics, forensic science, filmmaking, photography, drama and dance.

The Newark program will include computer applications, criminal justice/law, geosciences, nursing, psychology, urban poetry and music, visual and performing arts, marketing, and history and popular culture.

Classes in Camden will focus on the fine and performing arts including music, set design, dance, photography and theater.  In addition, students will be able to participate in science activities, a law class and recreational sports.

In subsequent years, students also will be able to explore professional opportunities in such areas as law, health care, engineering, teaching or theater.

When will the summer program take place?

• For Camden students: July 7-11 on the Camden Campus
• For Newark students: July 21-July 31 on the Newark Campus
• For Piscataway students: Aug. 4-Aug. 8 on the New Brunswick Campus
• For New Brunswick students: Aug. 11-Aug. 15 on the New Brunswick Campus

What role will parents play?

Parents are expected to encourage their children’s participation. Parents will have the opportunity to attend special workshops and information sessions to learn how to help students with completing homework, partnering with teachers, meeting college admissions requirements, applying to college, and obtaining financial aid. They also will be invited to celebratory occasions to honor student accomplishments.

What is the program’s cost?

The cost per student for pre-college support is projected to total $7,600 over five years. The cost per student during college is projected to total between $36,000 and $75,000, depending on available federal and state financial aid.

The initial cost for the first group of eighth-graders is estimated at $650 to $800 per student for the summer program.

The investment in this program makes good sense for both the university and New Jersey. It furthers Rutgers’ commitment to creating a diverse community that mirrors the population of the state and ensures that more state residents who might otherwise not have gone to college obtain the education they need to become leaders and productive members of the state and regional economy.

How will the program be funded?

As the program expands and students move through high school, program funding is expected to be covered primarily through private donations and corporate gifts. Once the students are in college, all funding is expected to come from private sources or existing federal and state financial aid programs.

Rutgers is beginning a fundraising campaign led by Mark Murphy, president of The Fund for New Jersey, and Luke Visconti, partner and co-founder of Diversity Inc., to ensure a stable source of funding specifically dedicated to this program.

How can private citizens support the program?

Donations can be sent to the Rutgers University Foundation, Michael Marion, 7 College Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ  08901.  To discuss a major gift, contact Michael Marion, director of corporate and foundation relations, at 732-932-8208, ext. 212 or by e-mail at mmarion@winants.rutgers.edu.

For more information about the Rutgers Future Scholars Program, go online to http://futurescholars.rutgers.edu or call 732-932-6712.