Display of Rutgers Football Heritage Collection at the 2014 Ag Alumni Reception in DC drew considerable attention.

The University has been abuzz about the Big Ten for more than two years, but as of July 1, we officially take our place in the league. To celebrate the occasion, President Robert Barchi has invited the Rutgers community to gather on the field at High Point Solutions Stadium at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 1, 2014, for "R B1G Party." The event will include music by the Rutgers Marching Band; performances by the cheer and dance squads; comments by President Barchi, Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delaney and Athletic Director Julie Hermann; activities on the field; and - at about 9 p.m. - a closing fireworks display. Admission is free. Read the details here.

Alumni and friends will be pleased to know that the Big Ten ag schools have included the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences in their annual Big Ten Ag Alumni Reception in Washington, DC, for the past two years, welcoming our School and Experiment Station even before we were "official." Their enthusiasm and camaraderie have made this new relationship even more exciting for the School's alumni, students, faculty, staff and administration, and we are grateful to our peer institutions for their inclusivity.

Ever wonder how good you are with healthy eating and money management? A quick

Barbara O'Neill

quiz developed by Barbara O'Neill, Rutgers Extension specialist in financial resource management, can help you find out. The "Personal Health and Finance Quiz" is sixth in a series of online self-assessment tools that provide individuals with personalized feedback in such areas as financial fitness, identity theft risk assessment, credit management and more. (Read more about the program.)

This newest quiz asks several questions about health-related and personal finance practices, allowing quiz-takers to earn points by responding "never," "sometimes," "usually" and "always."  At the end of the quiz, they receive their score (80 points is a perfect score) and what it means. I got 70. What did you get? TAKE THE QUIZ

Celebration of Excellence certificates

The 21st annual "Celebration of Excellence" brought together members of the Rutgers community to recognize the work of their peers in the areas of teaching, research, outreach, international programs, staff endeavors and teamwork. Thirteen faculty and staff of the School were honored at a special presentation, along with 26 members of other organizations and institutions who collaborated on the Asian Tiger Mosquito Project, which won the Team Excellence award. A complete list of winners and photos from the event appears in the Newsroom.

July 2014 - Enjoy a 4-H Fair in your county or nearby (read more)

July 1, 2014 - Big Ten celebration at 7 p.m. at High Point Solutions Stadium (see above)

July 9, 2014 - And selected Wednesdays in July and August: SEBS Tour and Information Session for prospective students and their parents (read more)

July 7-11, 2014 - Children's Summer Exploration Camp at Rutgers Gardens

July 26, 2014 - Annual Open House and Wine-Tasting Festival at Rutgers Gardens

August 23, 2014 - Cook Community Alumni Association Fish Fry (register)