The How & Why of the RLA

Rutgers Athletics has long subscribed to the idea that student-athletes should be learning and acquiring new skills beyond academics and athletes. For years, student-athletes participated in student-development activities modeled after the highly regarded NCAA program, "CHAMPS/Life Skills."

In 2008, a small group of Rutgers administrators and contributors identified the need to do something more to meet the needs of today's college graduate. As they saw it, Rutgers student-athletes had plenty of experience competing in the classroom and on the field, but they needed more training for what comes next: competing in the real world. With that specific goal identified, the RLA was launched in Fall 2009.

OUR MISSION: The Rutgers Leadership Academy (RLA) is a privately funded entity whose mission is to equip the student-athletes at Rutgers University with the knowledge and skills they need to achieve success both during and after their collegiate careers by providing year-round opportunities for advancement in five key areas: leadership training, career development, community engagement, personal enrichment, and letter winner engagement.

OUR VISION: To positively impact the lives of the student-athletes at Rutgers University in their constant pursuit of career, academic and personal success.