Scarlet First
Scarlet First
Supporting First-Generation Excellence at Rutgers
The Educational Equity and Excellence Collaborative (E3C) at Rutgers University is a dedicated resource designed to support first-generation students and students from modest-income households.
Who is a First-Generation Student?
A first-generation college student is typically a student whose parents have not earned a four-year college degree. This definition also includes students who self-identify as having limited prior exposure to or knowledge of the college experience and may benefit from additional resources and support.
Number of First-Generation Students at Rutgers
Rutgers–New Brunswick
Rutgers–Newark
Rutgers–Camden
Rutgers Health
National First-Generation Week 2025
First Generation College Celebration (FGCC) takes place each year on November 8, marking the signing of the Higher Education Act of 1965 by President Lyndon B. Johnson. At Rutgers, the celebration has grown into a weeklong, campus-wide tradition and includes social gatherings, networking mixers, academic talks and workshops, resource fairs, and service activities across Rutgers–New Brunswick, Newark, and Camden.
First Gen Voices: Representation, Leadership, and Belonging in Decision-Making Spaces
On Tuesday, November 11 from 1-3pm, please join the National Partnership for Educational Access (NPEA) in Newark, New Jersey for the next event in the NPEA On The Road Series.
Join us for a timely and thought-provoking conversation featuring two nationally recognized authors whose work is shaping dialogue across education, policy, and community leadership. As part of First Generation College Celebration Day, this event honors the journeys of first generation college graduates whose lived experiences inform their powerful contributions to today’s most pressing conversations.
Announcing the 2025 E3C Innovation Grant Awardees
We are proud to announce recipients of The 2025 E3C Innovation Grants. This year’s awardees represent a diverse and dynamic set of initiatives designed to support first-generation and modest-income students across Rutgers and beyond.
Each funded project reflects a deep commitment to advancing equity, building community partnerships, and improving student outcomes through innovative approaches.
Scarlet-First Success Stories
