Co-Curricular Programs
Honors Academy scholars participate in co-curricular programs throughout their four years designed to help them develop critical analysis skills as well as become engaged community members.
Rutgers Engineers Assessing Literature (REAL)
Rutgers Engineers Assessing Literature (REAL) is a small student-led book discussion forum to explore topics related to technology, science, art, and more through fiction and nonfiction. Past book selections have included Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, Ghost in the Wires by Kevin Mitnick, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, and Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari, among others.
“The program allows students to gain diverse perspectives from classmates, have discussions they would not normally have in an engineering classroom, and foster greater connections within the Honors Academy.”
Dean Jean Patrick Antoine, Honors Academy Director
REAL Program Requirements
Honors Academy students must participate in two semesters of the REAL program during their undergraduate years. Participation includes reading the assigned book and attending all four meetings during the semester with their assigned discussion group. Sign-ups and group scheduling are usually made available several weeks before each semester begins.
Students Living By Community Service (SLCS)
Students Living by Community Service (SLCS) is a required Honors Academy service-based co-curricular program that encourages students to give back through approved community projects. SLCS prepares students to become engaged community leaders able to address real-world local issues and needs.
Accordion Content
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Honors Academy scholars are required to complete 30 SLCS hours through an approved project(s). After completing 30 hours, students submit a one-page report describing their contributions and what they learned from their project.
Students are encouraged to work in groups around shared interests or themes. Students earn collaborative service hours as part of the cohort and may assume cohort leadership positions.
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Projects can be Rutgers and non-Rutgers affiliated, pending approval. Suggested projects include participating in Scarlet Day of Service, volunteering at a local hospital, tutoring middle school, high school, and/or college students, or volunteering at a food bank such as Community Food Bank of NJ.
Keynote Speaker Program
Each academic year, Honors Academy students are required to attend one keynote from the Keynote Speaker Program. Each keynote features a distinguished engineering speaker who discusses their work and journey in engineering thus far. After the lecture, students participate in small group discussions led by a Group Discussion Leader.
