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Honors College and Public Outreach and Engagement Team (POET)

Program Overview

The Public Outreach and Engagement Team (POET) at the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Rutgers POET was established in 2016 and is a multidisciplinary group of practitioners and researchers with expertise in planning, public policy, marketing, communication, and public engagement techniques. Rutgers POET specializes in local placemaking and innovative outreach methods tailored to the specific demographic and community profile of the target populations. Rutgers POET also leads national research studies exploring and evaluating topics related to engagement and outreach. In addition to engagement, the POET team also runs local technical assistance programs in communities throughout New York and New Jersey, conducting local planning studies, placemaking initiatives, and downtown revitalization. 

POET Project Examples

  • Vibrant Places Program with NJTPA
    Through an ongoing partnership with NJTPA, our team run the Vibrant Places Program which provides targeted support to municipalities, counties, and community organizations through placemaking technical assistance projects, many of which include strong arts and cultural components. 

    To see samples of this work visit: togethernorthjersey.com/technical-assistance/
     
  • Zero-emission vehicle technical assistance with NJEDA
    NJEDA partnered with POET to offer a help desk for program participants and stakeholders to provide comprehensive technical assistance on all things zero-emission vehicle conversion.
  • Community planning initiatives with NYMTC
    POET has partnered with the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council to execute a series of community planning initiatives within the New York Region.
  • Transit customer satisfaction research for NJDOT and NJ TRANSIT
    Currently researching the best practices and lessons learned in transit customer satisfaction surveys for NJDOT and NJ TRANSIT.
  • UX research on virtual public involvement
    Recently completed a multi-year research study to develop a guidance manual for virtual public involvement (VPI) best practices for transportation agencies. The team used UX research techniques, including one-on-one user testing, to conduct original research on how individuals experience various VPI tools. 
  • Ongoing support to the NJTPA
    Provides ongoing support to the NJTPA through a decade-long partnership dedicated to continuous research and innovation in public outreach for the transportation planning process.

Eligibility and Requirements 

To be eligible, students:

  • Must be in good academic standing at Rutgers-New Brunswick. 
  • May need to take specific coursework in fields related to the identified project(s)
  • Willingness to adjust, take feedback and complete tasks in a specified timeline

Application

Application information is shared with students as projects become available in our weekly Opportunity Newsletter. Students are typically asked to share their resume and a short statement, in lieu of a formal cover letter, explaining their interest in the project and any relevant information about their experiences.

QUESTIONS

If you have any questions, please contact Andrea Rydel, Assistant Dean.