The Cranberry Investment

Terms & Conditions

These Terms and Conditions (“Terms and Conditions”) set forth important rules and policies governing Rider University’s Cranberry Investment Program (herein “the Program”) . Please read these carefully. 

1. Description of the Program

The Program is intended to provide resources to Rider undergraduate Students who have complied with the Terms and Conditions of the Program but who have been unable, following appropriate and diligent efforts, to gain an entry-level position or acceptance into a graduate or professional program in their field of study within six (6) months of graduation. As used herein the term “field of study” refers to the major in which the Student has obtained their degree.

For those who do not obtain an entry-level position or graduate or professional school acceptance in their field of study within six (6) months of graduation, Rider will provide focused career coaching and/or either additional undergraduate coursework (up to 9 credits free in which the Student must maintain a GPA ≥ 3.0) or a paid internship to gain experience in their field of study, such benefit to be determined by Rider in its sole discretion. 

To reach this goal, prior to graduation, Rider will support current students by providing career coaching, and career planning workshops provided by Career Development and Success so a student can learn professional development skills, create an action plan; secure an Enriched Career Experience in the Engaged Learning categories of internships, co-ops, and fieldwork; guided research and independent scholarship; or creativity, media and performances and be successful in completing the Cranberry Investment student responsibilities. As used herein, the term “Student” refers to current students and recent graduates who have qualified for the program, collectively “Students” and individually “Student”.

If upon graduation a Student does not have a job or offer of employment, or acceptance to graduate or professional school, in fulfillment of the Cranberry Investment requirements the Student must set up an appointment with Rider’s Center for Career Development and Success (CDS) to develop a job search plan or apply to appropriate jobs/graduate schools. If after six (6) months, the Student is still without a job or graduate or professional school acceptance in their field of study, a Rider career coach will provide focused, field specific career coaching and may recommend additional undergraduate coursework or a paid internship.

2. Policies and Requirements

Undergraduate Students graduating in the Class of 2022 and thereafter who meet the outlined Program requirements, as stated below, are eligible to participate in the Program. While Rider strongly encourages all Students to take advantage of the Cranberry Investment Program, it is an optional program and not mandatory to graduate.

Requirements for All Students

  • Meet with a CDS career coach one time each semester equal to four meetings for a transfer student
    and eight meetings for a four-year student 
    • OR 
      • Attend four CDS/CI Workshops: 
        • crafting a resume & cover letter
        • presenting yourself in person 
        • networking & interviewing
        • creating a career action plan
        • landing a job & steps for the future and meet with a CDS career coach two times 
    • OR 
      • Complete a Career Planning course for academic credit and meet with a career coach two times.
  • Achieve an overall undergraduate GPA ≥ 2.75 or the minimum GPA required in the major, whichever is higher.
  • Abide by the Rider University Academic Integrity Policy.
  • Maintain good academic standing throughout their enrollment period.
  • Comply with all University standards and policies throughout enrollment, including but not limited to those standards and policies set forth in Rider’s Student Code of Social Conduct with no violations of the University’s Title IX Policy. 
  • Have no criminal conviction other than traffic violations.
  • Completion of at least three (3) points in an Enriched Career Experience Engaged Learning category.
  • Meet all financial obligations to Rider University by the date of graduation.  
  • If the Student does not secure an entry-level position at the time of graduation, the Student must work with CDS throughout the next six (6) months to continue the job search.  
  • For Students who return to Rider University and enroll in additional undergraduate courses, the Student must maintain a GPA ≥ 3.0.
  • Create a CDS approved resume. (Approval provided by a CDS employee.)
  • Complete all curricular requirements and graduate within eight (8) semesters [ten (10) semesters if in a double degree program].
  • Meet with a Rider career coach or enriched career counselor at least one (1) time each semester of the first year at Rider and at least two (2) times each semester in all remaining semesters in which they are enrolled. 
  • Complete all curricular requirements and graduate within eight (8) semesters [ten (10) semesters if in a double degree program].
  • Meet with a Rider career coach or enriched career counselor at least one (1) time each semester of the first year at Rider and at least two (2) times each semester in all remaining semesters in which they are enrolled. 

Additional requirements for Transfer Students:

  • Must be on track to complete all curricular requirements and graduate within: six (6) semesters [eight (8) semesters if in a double degree program] OR four (4) semesters [six (6) semesters if in a double degree program], depending on status of transfer Students upon enrollment at Rider.
  • Meet with a Rider career coach two (2) times each semester during their time at Rider University.
  • Participate in a career planning workshop provided by Career Development and Success one (1) time each semester.

Additional requirements for Continuing Studies Students:

  • Continuing Studies requirements may vary based on the Student’s individual situation and prior professional experience. Continuing Studies Students should work with their Career Coach on outlining their requirements for the Program.

3. Program Participation 

  • To qualify for the Cranberry Investment, all Students are required to complete one of the following: 
    • Meet with a CDS career coach one time each semester equal to four meetings for a transfer student and eight meetings for a four-year student 
      OR 
    • Attend four CDS/CI Workshops: crafting a resume & cover letter; presenting yourself in person: networking & interviewing; creating a career action plan; landing a job & steps for the future and meet with a CDS career coach two times 
      OR 
    • Complete a Career Planning course for academic credit and meet with a career coach two times.
  • Participate in a career planning workshop provided by Career Development and Success to with their Rider career coach who can help create an action plan so a Student is successful in completing the Cranberry Investment Student Responsibilities. The career coach will also track the requirements that Students have completed for the Program. 

To take advantage of the Program benefits, the Student must be in good standing with Rider and must meet the requirements set forth in Section 2. To claim eligibility, starting upon graduation and after six (6) months of applying to jobs or graduate or professional  school, the Student must set up an appointment with a career coach in CDS to begin discussing next steps.

The Student must contact CDS at the time of graduation if they do not have a job either starting upon graduation or scheduled to start after graduation and work with CDS for six (6) months to find a job. After six (6) months, if the Student still does not have a job, then a career coach will work with the Student to evaluate their situation and develop a plan that may include at Rider’s determination: 

  • supplemental professional development training, 
  • courses up to 9 credits at no added cost to the Student, or 
  • a paid internship aligned to the Student’s major or area of study based on their degree and individual experience. 

The details of the plan are at the sole discretion of the career coach based on their assessment of the professional development needs of the Student. Additionally, the career coach will continue to support the Student providing professional assistance and follow up for six months while the graduate is employed in the internship.

4. Reservation of Rights

Rider University reserves the right to change the Terms & Conditions of the Program, or terminate the Program, in its sole discretion with reasonable advance notice.

While Rider offers the Program to help ensure the success of its graduates, the limit of Rider’s commitment under the Program and the Student’s exclusive remedy is for Rider to provide career counseling and/or course credits, or to help secure an internship at not less than federal minimum wage, as described herein. In no event shall Rider be liable for damages of any kind, including but not limited to any special, indirect, incidental, consequential or punitive damages.

If you have difficulty accessing these Terms and Conditions, including our policies and requirements, please contact Rider University at 609-896-5000. We will be happy to provide these Terms and Conditions in an alternative format or assist you in some other manner as reasonably necessary to enable you to access these Terms and Conditions.

Effective Date

The effective date of the terms and conditions is April 2, 2021. Updated October 2024.