Welcome from the School (recorded videos)
Dean Piyushimita “Vonu” Thakuriah, Associate Deans, and school administrators provide words of welcome to the incoming 2020 graduate students.

Associate Dean

Associate Dean of Faculty

Associate Dean for Research
Live Sessions (all Eastern Standard Time)
Orientation to Bloustein Student and Academic Services
Overview of student support services, advising, registration, term bills, financial aid, career development, activities and student organizations, and the on-campus experience.
AUGUST 17 – 9:30am – 10:30am
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As reviewed and referenced at our morning orientation session on August 17th, please be sure to access the Fall Graduate Orientation Information Portal to review items of student support, academic program information and policy and process that will help orient you in your transition to Rutgers Bloustein School.
Steve Weston, Assistant Dean for Student and Academic Services
Courtney Culler, Assistant Director for Graduate Student Services
Andrea Garrido, Career Management Specialist (Public Policy, Urban Planning, Informatics master’s programs)
Cheryl Egan, Career Management Specialist (Health Administration master’s programs)
Individual Advising Sessions (Optional – sign-up required)
Orientation to Academic Programs
Public Policy Program
AUGUST 4 – 4:30pm to 5:30pm
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Urban Planning and Policy Development Program
AUGUST 18 – 9:00am to 10:30am
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Transportation Concentration
Public Informatics Program
AUGUST 19 – 9:00am to 10:00am, Student Presentation: 10:00am
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Health Administration Program
AUGUST 24 and AUGUST 27 – 5:00pm
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Doctoral Program
AUGUST 20 – 8:30am to 9:30am
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Orientation to Centers and Institutes – Research Fair
Career and Institiute Fair Agenda
August 24 – 12:30 – 5:45pm
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12:30PM – 1:15PM – Welcome and Overview Panel featuring ALL centers and institutes
During this panel, we ask each research center to provide a brief overview of the work being done by their center. Following this panel, we will then have individual, back to back, breakout sessions for each research center. This will provide the centers with the opportunity to speak at greater length about the work they do, current ongoing projects and opportunities they have available for our new grad students to get involved with. Students will also be able to ask you questions directly about your center during your individual breakout session. The agenda for the event is below and you are encouraged to attend the sessions of the specific centers they are most keen on working with. You will have the ability to log in and out of the individual center sessions as you would like, but I encourage you to attend the Welcome.
1:30 – 2:00pm – Bloustein Career Specialists
Representatives: Cheryl Egan and Andrea Garrido
2:15 – 2:45pm – Environmental Analysis and Communications Group (EAC)
Representative: Jeanne Herb, Executive Director (jherb@ejb.rutgers.edu)
3:00 – 3:30pm – Rutgers Urban & Civic Informatics Lab
Representatives: Gavin Rozzi, Research Computing Specialist (gavin.rozzi@rutgers.edu)
3:45 – 4:15pm – Bloustein Local Government Research Center
Representative: Marc Pfeiffer, Senior Policy Fellow and Assistant Director (marc.pfeiffer@rutgers.edu)
4:30 – 5:00pm – Voorhees Transportation Center | Flyer
Representatives: Trish Sanchez, Public Outreach Specialist/Project Coordinator (trish.sanchez@ejb.rutgers.edu)
Stephanie DiPetrillo, Senior Research Specialist (sdipetrillo@ejb.rutgers.edu)
James Sinclair, Research Manager (james.sinclair@ejb.rutgers.edu)
Additional information: https://rutgers.box.com/s/60i9c7lw2fkd8qy6c0zln0y6pn26yqfx
5:15 – 5:45pm – Rutgers Center for Green Building
Representative: Jennifer Senick, Executive Director (jsenick@rutgers.edu)
ONLY ATTENDING THE WELCOME SESSION: Voorhees Center for Civic Engagement
Representative: Kathe Newman, Director (knewman@rutgers.edu)
Nadia Mian, Senior Program Manager (nadia.mian@rutgers.edu)
Additional Centers not available for the Center and Institute Fair:
Bloustein Center for Survey Research
Center for Energy Economic and Environmental Policy
Center for Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
John. J. Heldrich Center
Welcome from Current Students to New Students “Zoom Happy Hour”
A welcome from some of our current students and with an online social gathering to talk Bloustein, Rutgers, New Jersey and more. View Flyer
AUGUST 20 – 6:00pm
Join Meeting
Current Ph.D. Student “Meet and Greet”
New Ph.D. candidates are invited to meet with with current Bloustein School Ph.D. students to discuss doctoral student life, progress and expectations.
AUGUST 26 – 10:00am
Join Meeting
Recorded Orientation Sessions
Orientation to Information Technology Services
Overview of information technology systems at the school, including labs, computing, accounts, virtual options, printing, and more.
Watch Video
Orientation to Bloustein Career Development
Our dedicated career management specialists provide career development support to Public Policy, Urban Planning, Public Informatics and Health Administration graduate students, including personalized individual and group career advising, professional development and networking opportunities to help you achieve your professional goals.
Watch Video
Introduction to Library Services at Rutgers
Introduction and meet Rutgers Library staff that supports Bloustein School students, learn what is available to you online through library services portal
Watch Video | View Slides
Orientation to RU Global for International Students
Program that provides introduction to RU Global staff, supporting Curricular Practical Training (CPT), Optional Practical Training (OPT) and all visa/status documents and issues for international student support.
Link TBD
Orientation to Student Organizations
Provides incoming students with an overview of all Bloustein School and Rutgers student organizations, leadership and honor societies.
EJB | D E S I G N S
Video | Website
Rutgers Graduate Society of Healthcare Leaders (GSHLRU)
Video | Website
Bloustein Graduate Student Association (BGSA)
Video | Website
Women’s Leadership Coalition (WLC)
Video | Website | Slides
International Development Interest Group (IDIG)
Video | Website | Slides
Placement Exams – Online Sessions (all Eastern Standard Time)
Basic Quantitative Methods Placement Exam
Exam session for placement purposes for the course Basic Quantitative Methods 970:515 and 833:521. Read Flyer
AUGUST 25 – 9:30am to 12:10pm EST
To register: email pk480@scarletmail.rutgers.edu before AUGUST 23 at 5:00pm EST
You will need: Non-graphing calculator and pen or pencil
GIS Placement Exam
This is a two-hour, online placement exam. You do not need access to an ArcGIS license to complete. You may find it useful to access online ArcMap help resources. Read Flyer
Between AUGUST 27 and SEPTEMBER 1
To register: To take the exam, first you need permission. Please send a note with a valid email address to Professor Will Payne (will.b.payne@rutgers.edu) by 5:00pm on August 26th. You will receive an email with details on the exam. A grade of 80 percent is a passing grade and you will be notified via email of the results.