This Fall, Rutgers Global is returning with a full line-up of some of our students' favorite events, including Friendship Fridays, but also some new ideas designed to bring together our international and domestic students, as well as the greater Rutgers community. Here are some highlights.
Riding the wave of the global excitement surrounding both the men’s and women’s World Cup, Rutgers Global will co-host two new international student events in September in collaboration with Rutgers Athletics. The first will take place on September 13 at 7:00 p.m., at the Rutgers University Men’s Soccer game against Columbia and the second on September 24 at 1:00 p.m. at the Rutgers Women’s Soccer game against Purdue. “We’re excited to team up with Rutgers Athletics to celebrate our outstanding international students and international student-athletes during the men's and women's soccer games,” said Assistant Director of Programs at Rutgers Global Greg Costalas. “Connecting through sports is a great way to highlight our global community at Rutgers.”
Also in September is a LGBTQIA+ international student welcome event co-hosted with the Rutgers Center for Social Justice Education & LGBT Communities on September 7th and the Graduate Student Resource Fair on September 14th. Rutgers Global’s popular series, Friendship Fridays, returns for the Fall with the kick-off event on September 22nd, a tie-dye party at B.E.S.T. Hall on Busch Campus—shirts and dyes provided (along with advice and help). This series happens in both Fall and Spring and is open to all Rutgers students from 4:00-5:00 p.m. each week. There is a different theme for each Friday, and attendees can enjoy games, activities, and conversation while making new friends from around the world. Lauren Forsman, Program Coordinator, observes about Friendship Fridays, “Every semester, we see students form lasting friendships that transcend borders.” Here is a full schedule for the Fall.
In October, Rutgers Global will host a trip to New York City on October 6th, where a bus is provided for students to and from the city for the opportunity to explore lower Manhattan on their own. On October 11th, Rutgers Global hosts the Fall Study Abroad Fair at Livingston Student Center, where students have the opportunity to learn about the more than 130 study abroad programs available through Rutgers and speak directly to advisors, program directors, and partner institutions. There is also delicious international food, swag giveaways, and the opportunity to win study abroad scholarships.
In November, Rutgers Global celebrates International Education Week on November 13th through the 17th with a lot of great events lined up, including the popular Friendsgiving event on November 15th. A full Thanksgiving feast is prepared for students, and our international students always enjoy the opportunity to sample this delicious part of American culture.
“We are passionate about designing accessible, fun and memorable opportunities for international and domestic students to connect,” said Costalas. “When designing programs, we keep in mind that not every student will have the opportunity to travel to another country during their time here, but that at a place like Rutgers in a state like New Jersey, we have the ability to help students experience many different cultures right here on campus.”
Forsman added, “When our students gather on campus from all over the world, they realize that we all have much more in common than we may have thought and that our differences only make life richer.”
Be sure to look at all of Rutgers Global upcoming events here, and follow us on social media for reminders and updates.