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2025-2026 E3C Innovation Grant Awardees

Rutgers University–Camden

Teaching and Learning Practice for First-Gen Success

The Teaching and Learning Practice for First-Gen Success initiative at Rutgers–Camden will launch in Fall 2025 to enhance faculty knowledge and teaching practices that support first-generation and underrepresented students, who make up 52% of the undergraduate population. Through the Student Academic Success Faculty Fellows Program, twelve faculty members will engage in professional development focused on evidence-based strategies to improve retention and graduation outcomes. This initiative aligns with the campus strategic plan and aims to foster a stronger culture of student success through faculty leadership and mentorship.

Rutgers University–Newark

Next Generation Student Success: Understanding and Accounting for the Needs of first-generation College Students

The Next Generation Student Success project will explore the experiences and needs of first-generation college students across New Jersey’s public colleges and universities. Through interviews, focus groups, and collaboration with student support organizations, the project aims to understand key challenges and evaluate current institutional supports. Findings will inform improved policies and resources to boost retention, completion, and overall success for this vital student population.

College & Career Institute

Research shows that precollege and dual enrollment programs improve high school graduation and college enrollment rates, enhance college readiness, and support early degree progress. CCI aims to provide early college experiences, academic exploration, confidence building, and diverse opportunities for students to prepare for college and explore potential career paths.

pantry+ Student and Faculty Ambassadors

This program aims to get the students most likely to experience food/basic needs insecurity connected to the pantry+ resources in the place where they are most likely to be: the classroom. Students and faculty who become ambassadors will have a deep understanding of basic needs, insecurity and its signs and can identify and connect the most vulnerable students to the resources available to address them.

Rutgers University–New Brunswick

Building Bridges: Addressing and Overcoming Academic Achievement Gaps

The Building Bridges project at Rutgers–New Brunswick aims to close academic achievement gaps for first-generation and modest-income students who are often ineligible for existing support programs. By expanding cohort-based support through the Educational Equity Group, the initiative will offer a sense of community, access to resources, and guidance to navigate structural barriers in higher education. This effort directly aligns with Rutgers’ Academic Master Plan to enhance student success and integrate community engagement into the college experience.

Basic Needs Ambassador Internship Program: Experiential Learning Designed to Engage the Rutgers-New Brunswick Community in Promoting Resources, Reducing Stigma, and Improving Student Well-Being

The Basic Needs Ambassador Internship Program is a for-credit, paid experiential learning opportunity designed to address basic needs insecurity through peer-led outreach and faculty engagement. Adapted from a successful model at Rutgers–Newark, the program aims to increase awareness and use of campus resources, reduce stigma around seeking support, and promote student well-being. By training student ambassadors to educate their peers and collaborate with faculty, the initiative supports inclusive student success and aligns with Rutgers’ Academic Master Plan priorities.

Rutgers Health

The Women in Surgery Experience at Rutgers (WISER) Introduction to Surgical Careers (WISC) Program

WISC will provide individualized mentorship and educational opportunities to women and URIM undergraduate students to increase early exposure to and foster interest in surgical careers. The program will help change attitudes and opinions on surgical careers and ultimately increase applications to Rutgers School of Medicine.