Call for Pre-College Program Proposals

Selected pre-college program instructors will design, develop, and deliver a comprehensive five-day academic program, held in July 2027. The minimum program enrollment target is 30 students.

Program content should be tailored for rising high school juniors and seniors, combining academic instruction, college readiness preparation, while exploring academic areas of interests. Proposals can include either a non-credit or a 1.0 / 1.5 credit course (course must already be in university MCL). 

Proposed programs should:

• Focus on a clearly defined disciplinary theme or interdisciplinary topic that connects academic to career readiness
• Engage students in hands-on, inquiry-based, or project-based learning
• Reflect college-level expectations while remaining accessible to high school students
• Ensure content is age-appropriate, inclusive, and accessible to a diverse student population
• Culminate in a final project, presentation, performance, or showcase
• Include possible structured evening or co-curricular academic enrichment activities (if applicable to learning objectives)

The selected programs will be delivered one of the following weeks during the Summer of 2027:

• July 12-19, 2027
• July 19-23, 2027
• July 26-30, 2027

All Rutgers faculty, teaching and graduate assistants, post doctoral students, and staff members with demonstrated expertise and experience in proposed disciplines are eligible to apply. Proposals from interdisciplinary teams are encouraged.

Selected program instructor will:

• Develop and finalize curriculum, instructional materials, and weekly schedule 
• Develop learning objectives 
• Develop assessment outcomes 
• Teach daily academic sessions (typically 6 hours per day, Mon-Fri) 
• Supervise student projects and provide constructive learning feedback 
• Coordinate with program staff on logistics, supplies, and student support 
• Submit a brief post-program assessment report 
• Apply to ROCS Posting for additional appointment payment

NOTE: Residential supervision, student conduct oversight, and evening programming will be managed by designated residential staff. Pre-college students are directly supervised throughout their experience by program staff. Rutgers Pre-College Summer Programs hires student workers and residential assistants to chaperone students, providing a safe environment, as pursuant to the Rutgers Protection of Minors Policy.

If interested in submitting a proposal, all programs must be first submit a Letter of Intent in the form below by June 22, 2026.

The requirements of the final proposal are:

• Program Overview outline, including title, purpose, academic content, and more
• Learning Objectives
• Instructional Concept Plan Draft
• Estimated Budget, including anticipated instructional materials (if applicable)
• Faculty Qualifications (CV)

The full proposal submission details can be found here.

1. Letter of Intent: Submit a brief concept summary and general details in the form below by June 22, 2026.
2. Full Proposal Submission: Complete proposal submission by September 15, 2026.
3. Review Period: Proposals will be reviewed by the Pre-College Program Committee through October 31, 2026.
4. Notification: Proposal decisions will be communicated on a rolling basis. All applicants will be notified by no later than November 10, 2026.
5. Acceptance/Letter of Commitment: Applicants will need to return a signed commitment letter no later than November 30, 2026.
6. Curriculum Finalization: Submit finalized curriculum (all components - curriculum, syllabus, pacing guide, schedule, and budget) no later than March 21, 2027.