Rutgers University Student Assembly

Standing Committees

RUSA is composed of 8 standing committees: Academic Affairs, Health & Wellness, Internal Affairs, Legislative Affairs, Prevention Assistance & Advocacy, Public Relations, Student Affairs, and University Affairs.

Every elected and appointed member of the Student Assembly must participate in at least one standing committee starting at the beginning of their term. General members are free to join any committee at any time. Led by a chair, these committees are where some of the legislative work and most initiative planning is done. Committee chairs are driven and impassioned to serve our University community and guide you through initiatives and help you develop your own ideas. Before you choose a committee to join, feel free to explore committee channels on Slack and ask them questions as well!

  • Chair: Alyssa Lindsay

    Email: rusa.academicaffairs@gmail.com

    The Academic Affairs Committee shall be responsible for developing and maintaining a good relationship with the administration and faculty to address student concerns. The Committee shall address student academic issues, including but not limited to student advising, course offerings, research, and scholarship opportunities.

  • Chair: Sophia Mendoza

    Email: healthandwellness.rusa@gmail.com

    The Health and Wellness Committee shall be charged to investigate and advocate on behalf of issues affecting the general health and wellness of students at Rutgers University-New Brunswick. It shall also be charged with investigating student use of drugs and alcohol, mental health care, any work with CAPS, and any issue charged to its subcommittees.

  • Chair: Kayla Ferrante

    Email: RUSA.iacommittee@gmail.com

    The Internal Affairs Committee shall be responsible for ensuring that members act in accordance with the RUSA Constitution and Standing Rules.

  • Chair: Isaiah Thompson

    Email: rusa.legislativeaffairs1@gmail.com

    The Legislative Affairs Committee shall advocate for student interests at the local, state, and federal government levels on issues that concern and/or affect the student body. This committee reserves the right to remain unaffiliated with University administration, but may work with them and other groups where student interests and the interests of other groups coincide. The Legislative Affairs Chair should remain in contact with Rutgers’ Office of Public Affairs to this end and track the legislative activities of this Office.

  • Chair: Devaiah Poylangada

    Email: svedepartment@gmail.com

    The Prevention, Assistance, and Advocacy Committee shall address sexual violence, hate and bias motivated incidents, interpersonal violence and related harms affecting members of the University community. The committee shall also focus on prevention and education with relevant University Offices, including but not limited to VPVA, Dean of Students, to address concerns and to promote safety and equity.

  • Chair: Mariella Garcia

    Email: rusa.publicrelations@gmail.com

    The Public Relations Committee’s purpose is to reach out to the Rutgers student body to inform them of the Assembly’s involvement with university-wide affairs. This committee shall strive to maintain a good image of the Rutgers University Student Assembly. The Public Relations Committee shall be charged with devising, recommending, and implementing the Public Relations strategy of the Assembly. 

  • Chair: Alex Lee

    Email: rusa.studentaffairs@gmail.com

    The Student Affairs Committee shall be responsible for working with the campus caucus chairs in hosting at least one RUSA-sponsored event on each campus every year, coordinating RUSA, RHA, and each campus’s respective governing councils. The committee shall disseminate institutional knowledge of Rutgers University, such as various departments and services the University hosts and provides, to Rutgers Students.

  • Chair: Ian Cho

    Email: rusauniversityaffairs1@gmail.com

    The University Affairs Committee shall work to discern the non-academic concerns of students at the University, and work to investigate the source of these concerns and the appropriate branch of the University that is responsible for these concerns. 

Initiatives in the Works

Encouraging and preparing the Student Body to vote in New Jersey’s upcoming Gubernatorial Elections, executing an Advocacy Day to the state legislation or nation’s capital to advocacy on behalf of student concerns (Legislative Affairs)

Leading RUSA’s Doorbell Initiative, which provides off-campus undergraduate residents with a free Doorbell Camera and Birdie Devices for public safety. (Legislative Affairs and Student Affairs)

Reviewing Professional School Academic Policies and Course Registration Procedures. (Academic Affairs)

Leading MidKnight Snacks, an annual event run by the Health and Wellness Committee that helps combat/mitigate binge drinking and unsafe alcohol usage through an event focused on making sure students are well-fed during Syllabus Week and Halloweekend. (Health & Wellness)

Leading Meal Swipes for Charity, an opportunity for students to donate meal swipes to food insecurity students on campus in the Fall and to a charitable organization in the Spring. (University Affairs)