Board of Trustees Frederick L. Gruel Chairperson Anna Marie Mascolo Vice Chairperson Deborah Zastocki Secretary Maureen Conway ‘66 Lourdes Cortez John Galandak Robert Guarasci Brad Neilley ‘80 Linda Niro ’76 William J. Pesce ‘73 Henry J. Pruitt, Jr. Michael Seeve Robert Taylor (Trustee Emeritus) Jessica Super (Student Trustee) Kathleen M. Waldron, ex officio Robert Seal, Chief of Staff to the President and Board of Trustees
President’s Message In line with our Strategic Plan 2012-2022, William Paterson University is dedicated to providing an excellent and affordable education to our students. I am proud to report that we made substantial strides forward in 2014-15 and are positioned strongly for the future as we continue to prepare students for success by creating unique opportunities, life-changing experiences, and an excellent education. I am pleased to report that this year three new members joined the University’s Board of Trustees: Brad Neilley, Michael Seeve, and John Galandak, bringing the total number of Board members to 12. Brad Neilley ‘80 graduated with a degree in business and has served as a member of our Foundation Board. He is global vice president for human resources at Pentax Medical, an international corporation. Michael Seeve is president of Mountain Development Corporation, a real estate development company, and has been a longstanding friend of the University, serving as president of our Foundation Board for six years. John Galandak is president of the Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey, a membership organization of 800 businesses working to promote business development in the State. In 2014-15, the University successfully launched its second doctoral program in clinical psychology following the creation of the doctorate in nursing practice in 2011. Both doctoral programs will strengthen already excellent undergraduate and master’s programs in nursing and psychology and enhance our ability to attract and retain faculty. The University also established its first fully online master’s degree program in middle level education, as well as a new master’s in higher education administration and a new concentration in autism spectrum disorders and other significant disabilities within the master’s in special education. A new undergraduate degree in computer information technology was approved, along with a host of new multidisciplinary minors in the humanities and social sciences. The University carefully selects areas of need when developing new programs and builds on the strength of its faculty and
resources. While we do not expect to add additional doctoral programs at this time, we will continue to expand master’s level programs, allowing alumni and neighbors to seek advanced degrees in this very competitive northern New Jersey economy. To support new disciplines, the University added three new fulltime faculty and increased its financial support for research and scholarship. The University also achieved some milestones in fundraising and grants. In 2014-15, over $5 million in grants supported the institution, most noticeably in the College of Education, which has become a leader in the professional development of middle school and high school teachers and principals. Already a Woodrow Wilson Foundation grant recipient, the College this year received almost $2 million from the U.S. Department of Education in leadership development and additional support from the Dodge Foundation. In recognition of the good work done with students who have financial need at William Paterson University, the Taub Foundation awarded $1 million for scholarships, significantly increasing the financial support we provide to the 11,000 students attending our institution. Finally, a generous gift from alumni William ’73 and Henrietta ’72, MA ’75 Pesce allowed us to open the Pesce Family Mentoring Institute which this year provided individual mentoring to more than 65 students soon to graduate. One of our long-term goals is to ensure that students graduating from the University are prepared for their next steps, whether that is a career or post-graduate education. We want students to be prepared and guided by professionals above and beyond the advising provided by faculty and staff. This important initiative will only grow in the years ahead and we invite interested alumni and friends to consider becoming a mentor. Another key area in which we create significant opportunities for students is civic engagement— both in the classroom and beyond. The University is unique among New Jersey academic institutions in that civic engagement is a cornerstone of our core curriculum. Building on recent successes, we plan
to provide opportunities for all students to be civically engaged so that upon graduation they will have had experience with advocacy, citizenship, voting, and political debate. We are actively developing regionally and nationally recognized cocurricular activities linked to academic progress through community service projects with surrounding towns and cities. We are also enhancing the array of extracurricular programs that develop personal skills, leadership capabilities, ethics, professional capacities, healthy lifestyles, and civic responsibility. Our ultimate goal through these initiatives is to build a community of civically engaged students who will carry these experiences with them into their lives, careers, and communities. We are committed to providing our students with top-notch facilities and I am very pleased to report that University Hall, our new $40 million academic building, which is being funded in part by the Building Our Future Bond Act, will open in spring 2016, six months ahead of schedule. This early opening will enable us to move even faster to modernize the academic core of our campus with the renovation of the Hunziker Hall and Hunziker Wing buildings. When University Hall and the renovated Hunziker Hall and Wing are fully operational, we will have a dramatic campus upgrade and significant increase in the number and sophistication of classrooms on the main campus. This Annual Report 2015 highlights our major achievements in keeping with the goals of our Strategic Plan and includes many wonderful accomplishments by our faculty, students, and staff. These accomplishments provide a foundation for the future of William Paterson University. I look forward to all that we will continue to achieve in the years ahead.
Kathleen Waldron, President William Paterson University
1
I.
Academic Excellence
This year, the institution continued to hire full-time faculty who are not only expert scholars but also active in their fields of study and who bring their real world knowledge into the classroom. We also continued to create new academic programs to meet the needs of undergraduate and graduate students as they prepare for careers and advanced study. In addition to many new professors, Jonathan Lincoln joined the University as associate provost for curriculum and international education. At William Paterson, he will play a key role in working with faculty on curriculum development at both the undergraduate and graduate level. Edward OwusuAnsah also joined the University in summer 2015 as dean of the David and Lorraine Cheng Library. He comes to us from East Stroudsburg University, where he served as dean of library and university collections since 2009, and was heavily involved in the strategic planning efforts of the university.
Faculty Achievements Overall, the University’s faculty of teachers/ scholars had a very productive year, with more than 525 publications, including books, book chapters, and articles in journals and other publications; more than 230 artistic artifacts/events, including performances, productions, and exhibitions; and nearly 1,200 lectures, presentations, and workshops at academic conferences and other settings. This year, three professors received recognition through the Fulbright Program, America’s flagship international educational exchange program, bringing the number of Fulbright Scholars on the faculty to 41. Claire Donaghy, professor of nursing, and He Zhang, associate professor of art history, were selected as Fulbright Scholars. Donaghy taught nursing courses and assisted with Aaron Tesfaye faculty development at the University of Rwanda in Kigali. Zhang traveled to India, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan to conduct research. Aaron Tesfaye, professor of political science, was named a Fulbright Specialist in Political Economy, Comparative Politics, Public Policy 2014-2019. 2
Bill Charlap
Maya Chadda, professor of political science, was appointed a Visiting Fellow at the Observer’s Research Foundation in New Delhi, India for spring 2015. Bill Charlap, the internationally acclaimed jazz pianist, was appointed director of the Jazz Studies Program beginning in fall 2015. Charlap is the fifth world-renowned musician to lead the program. Considered one of the world’s premiere jazz pianists, Charlap has performed with many leading artists, ranging from Phil Woods and Tony Bennett to Gerry Mulligan and Wynton Marsalis. William Paterson University submitted its first provisional patent application for Emmanuel Onaivi, professor of biology. Guided by legal counsel, the University worked with Onaivi and his external research partner to submit this application, the first step in a series that will lead to a patent for the creation of a new mouse model for studying substance abuse and other conditions. Onaivi recently held a Fulbright award in Africa and is a highly respected scholar. James Teng, professor of marketing and management, received the Bright Idea Award, sponsored by Seton Hall University and the NJPRO Foundation, for his article, “Stackelberg Solution in a Vendor-Buyer Supply Chain Model with Permissible Delay in Payments.” In past years, several faculty members from the Cotsakos College of Business have won this recognition. Pete McGuinness, assistant professor of music and an acclaimed jazz composer/arranger, trombonist, and vocalist, and Rufus Reid, former director of the Jazz Studies Program, each received two Grammy Award nominations. McGuinness was nominated for Best Arrangement: Instrumental or A Cappella for “Beautiful Dreamer” and Best Arrangement: Instrumental and Vocals for “What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?” Reid was nominated for
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album for Quiet Pride: The Elizabeth Catlett Project and Best Instrumental Composition for “Recognition.” Zhiyuan Cong, professor of art, had a major solo exhibition entitled Journey Long and Long Journeys: Zhiyuan Cong Art Exhibition at the National Museum of China in Beijing during June 2015. The exhibition also included a 252-page authored exhibition catalog.
Sondra Akins, assistant professor of secondary and middle school education, who has dedicated her career to science education, was one of 211 African American scientists included in the HistoryMakers Collection, an oral history collection recently acquired by the Library of Congress. Robin Schwartz, associate professor of photography, received national publicity for her new book, Amelia and the Animals, which featured 75 photographs of Schwartz’s daughter, Amelia, taken over a 12-year period. The book was featured in Time’s guide to the best fall photo books. Her award-winning photography and images of animals have appeared in museums and galleries around the world.
Grants to Support Academics Zhiyuan Cong (front, fourth from right) with University students and faculty at his exhibition, part of this year’s Summer in China study tour
Corey Basch, associate professor of public health, conducted a study, “Pedestrian Behavior at Five Dangerous and Busy Manhattan Intersections,” that was published in The Journal of Community Health, which garnered widespread visibility in the media. John Malindretos, associate professor, and Ge Zhang, assistant professor, both in the Department of Economics, Finance, and Global Business, served as co-editors of The International Journal of Finance, which is now published in the Cotsakos College of Business. With a 25-year tradition of publishing research of high quality and academic rigor, this respected journal provides outreach to more than 3,000 professors, chairs, and deans nationally and internationally every few months. Alejandro Anreus, professor of art history and Latin American/Latino studies, won a first place award for Art Book in English with his monograph on the CubanAlejandro Anreus American painter, Luis Cruz Azaceta, part of the A Ver monograph series in the International Latino Book Awards.
This past year, support from grants and contracts from federal, state, and local government agencies as well as some private organizations increased by 7.5 percent to $7.5 million, supporting a wide range of faculty and academic initiatives, including programs that address issues of national and local importance and range from arts programming to scientific research. Of this total, the College of Education received $3 million and the Center for Continuing and Professional Education received nearly $2 million. In the College of Education, Holly Seplocha, professor of elementary and early childhood education, and Pamela Brillante, assistant professor of special education and counseling, received a $2,037,990 grant from the College of Education Dean Candace Burns New Jersey Department of Education for Race to the Top, GrowNJ Kids Ratings Projects: NJ Center for Quality Ratings, which supports the development and implementation of a quality rating improvement system for programs, schools, and centers serving children age five and under across the state. Brillante also was awarded $529,200 to coordinate courses leading to endorsements in two programs: the Teacher of Students with Disabilities (TOSD) and Learning Disabilities 3
Teacher-Consultant (LDT-C). Manina Urgolo Huckvale, associate professor and chair of the Department of Special Education and Counseling, was awarded $395,560 from Paterson Public Schools for a Teacher of Students with Disabilities Endorsement and Certificate Project. In addition, for FY2016, the College of Education was awarded a $1,999,266 Turnaround School Leaders Program Grant from the U.S. Department of Education to develop leadership programs at four public schools in Paterson and, in cooperation with Kean University, at several schools in Plainfield. Through this grant, the University will establish the Turnaround Partnerships-New Jersey (TAP-NJ) project in collaboration with School 6, School 13, School 28, and the New Roberto Clemente School in Paterson as well as the district leadership of Paterson Public Schools. Summer youth programs
Services for their project, Strategic Prevention Framework Partnership for Success. Jennifer DiNoia, associate professor of sociology, was awarded a $274,967 grant from the USDA Center for Collaborative Jennifer DiNoia Research on WIC Nutrition Education Innovations for her project, Online WIC Nutrition Education to Promote Farmers’ Market Fruit and Vegetable Purchases and Consumption. Amy Learmonth, associate professor of psychology, received a grant for $128,899 from the New Jersey Autism Center of Excellence (NJ ACE) Clinical Research Program for her project, Can Video Speak the Language of Autism. Amy Learmonth
The Center for Continuing and Professional Education was awarded several Skills4Jersey grants totaling $1,676,160 by the New Jersey Labor and Workforce Development (NJLWD) to fund on-site training programs for manufacturing, healthcare, assisted living, hospitality, finance, mental health, and addiction recovery companies throughout the state. The Center also was awarded $193,430 from the New Jersey Office of Higher Education for the 2015 Aim High Academy: A Summer of Science, which provided 48 low-income, high-achieving New Jersey high school students with an intensive three weeks of college experiences at the University in July. Glen Sherman, associate vice president and dean of student development, William Kernan, associate professor and chair of the Department of Public Health, and Sherrine Schuldt, CHES prevention specialist, received a $481,440 grant from the New Jersey Division of Mental Health and Addiction 4
Kathleen Muldoon, regional director of the Small Business Development Center, received $235,019 from the U.S. Small Business Administration and the NJ Business Action Center as sub-awards through Rutgers, The State University, and the Paterson UEZ Program for five one-year projects. The William Paterson SBDC works with entrepreneurs to start new businesses and with existing small businesses to grow and mature. Warren Sandmann, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, and Jean-Fuller Stanley, associate dean, College of Science and Health, received $142,080 from the National Science Foundation through a sub-award from Rutgers, The State University for Garden State LSAMP, Phase 2, which continued a very successful program to improve retention and graduation of students in the sciences. Michael Griffiths, assistant professor of environmental science, received a $54,956 grant from the American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund for his project, Late Phanerozoic Evolution of Seawater Temperature and Sr/Ca: New Insights from “Clumped Isotope” Thermometry in Biogenic Apatite. Kem Louie, associate professor of nursing, received $57,051 from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration for the Nurse Faculty Loan Program.
At the undergraduate level, a new bachelor of science in computer information technology was approved, with the major scheduled to be implemented in spring 2016. New multidisciplinary minors also were approved in American studies, Italian and Italian American studies, public policy and administration, religious studies, Spanish for the professions, and world literature.
Academic Highlights Graduate students in psychology
New Academic Initiatives and Outstanding Programs To meet the needs of graduate students, this year the University announced the launch of two new master’s degree programs: the MEd in middle level education, the first in New Jersey and the University’s first fully online degree, and the MA in higher education administration designed for education administrators. The MEd in middle level education is a 30-credit online program designed for practicing educators. The program prepares graduates to be effective middle level educators and provides a solid foundation for doctoral level study. The new MA in higher education administration offers a hybrid format of online and on-campus classroom courses to prepare graduates for a variety of college and university administrative positions, as well as career opportunities with educational foundations and federal and state government positions. A new concentration in autism spectrum disorders and other severe disabilities is now available within the MEd in special education. The program is the only one of its kind in the state specifically designed to help teachers working with students on the autism spectrum who have significant intellectual disabilities. The first class of doctoral students for the new PsyD in clinical psychology program was admitted for fall 2015. A professional doctorate designed to prepare graduates for practice in psychology, the new program will provide training and coursework in clinical practice and research.
William Paterson University garnered many accolades and sponsored events that highlight our distinguished professors and excellent programs. The University was recognized in the 2015 list of Top University Sales Programs for its Russ Berrie Institute for Professional Sales in the Cotsakos College of Business. The list, released by the Sales Education Foundation of Dayton, Ohio, highlights William Paterson University as one of the best locations for hiring sales professionals. William Paterson has been included in the organization’s annual list of top sales programs since it began the list in 2007. For the fourth consecutive year, the University is featured in Financial Planning Magazine’s list of “35 Great Schools” for future financial planners. Through the program, William Paterson students have many opportunities to gain hands-on experience through internships with a variety of financial planning firms, brokerage firms, and insurance providers. The University hosted its annual Research and Scholarship event showcasing the new research, creative activity, and scholarship being conducted by faculty, librarians, and students. Poster sessions and oral presentations of more than 200 participants were featured over two days in the University Commons. The College of Science and Health held its 9th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium in the Biological and Chemical Sciences in the spring, providing a forum for undergraduates from the 5
tri-state area to present their original research. This year more than 157 undergraduates from 30 area colleges participated. The College of Humanities and Social Sciences conducted its third annual multidisciplinary conference, “Digital U: The University in the Internet Age.” The conference explored questions and opportunities for higher education posed by newly emergent technologies and examined the social and humanistic issues raised for education in the digital age. During the year, dozens of additional academic seminars were held on campus, often bringing distinguished guest speakers. These included the University’s Tinker Foundation Latin American Studies Lecture Series, which featured noted Colombian scholar Alma Guillermoprieto; the Cotsakos College of Business Leadership Forum, which featured Michael Mendillo ‘88, regional president, Mid Atlantic FirstService Residential; an address to STEM majors by Dr. Margaret Landi ‘74, chief of animal welfare, ethics, and strategy for GlaxoSmithKline; and the inaugural New Jersey Social Media Summit, a daylong event sponsored by the University’s graduate program in professional communication.
New Jersey Social Media Summit
II.
Student Success
In fall 2014, the University enrolled more than 3,500 new undergraduates and more than 600 new graduate students, with overall enrollment of 11,048 students, about the same as the prior year despite a large graduating class in 2014. In 2015, the University graduated nearly 2,600 students. In recognition of our success in serving Hispanic students, the University was featured in Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education’s list of “Top 100 Colleges and Universities for Hispanics” (May 2015). William Paterson is ranked 75 on this year’s list and was 99 in 2014. Hispanic Outlook magazine’s annual ranking is based on Department of Education statistics including total bachelor’s degrees granted, graduate student enrollment, and undergraduate enrollment (two- and four-year schools).
College Completion Initiatives A key initiative to support our efforts to increase graduation and retention rates for students is the continuation of our highly successful Student Success Scholarship program. Last year through this program, we awarded $1,000 scholarships to more than 400 sophomores who entered the University in fall 2013 and a year later had completed 30 credits with a GPA of 3.0 or above. The scholarship is renewable for junior and senior years if an additional 30 credits are completed with a 3.0 minimum GPA prior to September of each respective year. Additional new initiatives to impact student success included: • Registering about 50 percent of incoming freshmen in linked courses where two courses held the same group of students. According to national research, linked courses stimulate friendships and partnerships that help keep students engaged and on track. • Expanding supplemental instruction to provide more academic support in high-risk courses. This year, 19 student assistants were placed in a dozen courses to provide tutoring and academic support, working with course instructors.
6
• Expanding the Peer Leader program so that the majority of First-Year Seminar sections had a successful and trained upper level student Peer Leader to help students make the adjustment to William Paterson University. • Implementing the new online student degree audit system called Degree Works for use beginning in fall 2015.
Student Honors With support from the University, both inside and outside the classroom, this year William Paterson students earned a vast array of accolades in areas ranging from academics to athletics. William Paterson students participated in the Sixth Annual Garden State Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation in STEM conference and poster presentation under the guidance of Jean Fuller-Stanley, associate dean of the College of Science and Health, and Jeung Woon Lee, assistant professor of biology. University students majoring in science, technology, and math entered 11 posters about the research they conducted with faculty, and won four awards. Adonis Rivie, a senior majoring in biology at William Paterson University, won a first place award for his poster presentation among 1,500 competitors at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students Adonis Rivie (ABRCMS) held in San Antonio, Texas. Rivie also was named the 2015 Outstanding Senior at William Paterson by the University’s Alumni Association. Adrian Plummer, a senior biology student, received an award for his presentation at the ASLO 2015 Aquatic Sciences Meeting in Granada, Spain. The William Paterson University Sales Team from the Cotsakos College of Business won first place at the Russ Berrie Institute for Professional Sales 8th Annual National Sales Challenge, where 40 university teams competed for the honor. This was the first time that the William Paterson team, composed this year of seniors Denzel Bland and Austen Mahoney, professional sales majors, won first place.
Prabakar Kothandaraman, associate professor of professional sales, with students Denzel Bland and Austen Mahoney
The Roundabout, a student-produced television talk show, was the recipient of a 2015 Gracie Award, presented by the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation. The Roundabout is one of 68 local, public, and student radio and television award winners who were honored at an industry luncheon hosted by NBC’s Tamron Hall at the Hilton in New York City. The Roundabout was the only New Jersey student-produced television show to be honored. William Paterson University’s student-run radio station, WP 88.7 FM Brave New Radio, won the inaugural “Best College Radio Station of the Year” award at the 2015 New Jersey Broadcasters Association Awards Conference and Gala. In addition, broadcast communication major Sebastian Escobar was named “Best On Air Personality in the Nation” by Intercollegiate Broadcasting System for his work as a host on the radio station. Matthew Orso, communication major, published his second book about baseball entitled Baseball Card Generations, a children’s book about a grandfather teaching twin grandchildren life lessons through baseball cards. Matthew Orso
Professor Ron Verdicchio and six anthropology/education students took their ethnographic field study of the cultural changes in Prospect Park and turned it into a 128-page book published by Arcadia Publishing. The six students 7
who co-authored the book are Eman Al-Jayeh, Bria Barnes, Kelly Ginart, Amani Kattaya, Megan Perry, and Paige Rainville. All royalties and net proceeds from book sales will be donated to a scholarship set up in the authors’ names through the William Paterson University Foundation. Students David Blauvelt and Lisa Albertini, the creators of HexaComb Shelving, a hexagon-shaped modular shelving system, won first prize in William Paterson University’s fourth annual Business Concept Competition. Blauvelt and Albertini won the top prize of $1,200 in the contest.
The first William Paterson University Tau Sigma National Honor Society Induction ceremony was held last fall, honoring 72 students. Tau Sigma National Honor Society was designed exclusively for transfer students to recognize and promote their academic excellence. The softball team reached the NCAA Tournament Union Regional final, while the men’s basketball team was selected to host the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the second round. Academically, freshman Katie Stetser was honored as a National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Scholar of Distinction, and sophomore Vera Blazevska was selected to the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Scholar All-America Team Honorable Mention. Four student-athletes were named to the Capital One/College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District Team for their respective sports – K.C. Abel (baseball), AJ Flores (baseball), Lachelle Rouse (softball) and Jake Stockton-Rossini (football). In all, the Pioneers garnered 92 all-academic awards from conference and national organizations.
David Blauvelt and Lisa Albertini
Graduate student Cristina Darius ’13, MS ’15 participated in the prestigious Speech-Language Hearing Association’s (ASHA) Minority Student Leadership Program. She was one of just 40 students from across the country selected for the program. Barbara Krasner, an adjunct professor of English who is pursuing a master’s degree in applied historical studies, received the Sydney Taylor Honor Book Award from the Association of Jewish Libraries for her children’s book, Goldie Takes a Stand: Golda Meir’s First Crusade. 8
The ice hockey team, a club sport, ranked number one in the Super East League Championship; finished second in the SECHL Conference; earned a bid to the National Championship; and is currently ranked fifth in the nation. The bowling team, also a club sport, won all four northeast tournaments during the recent semester.
William Paterson University softball team
III.
Unique Learning Opportunities
Civic engagement is a cornerstone of the University Core Curriculum (UCC) and is a unique requirement among institutions in the State. We now have more than 40 courses in this area, many with multiple section offerings each term. All new first-year students and most transfer students who come to William Paterson without having completed an AA degree must complete a civic engagement course before they graduate. Faculty are encouraged to develop experiences for students linked directly to coursework and to emphasize civic engagement opportunities for students, including activities through the American Democracy Project, Campus Compact, and community service projects. Our inaugural Civic Engagement Day celebration was held last fall. Organized by the Civic Engagement Strategic Planning Committee, the event was designed to raise awareness of the wide array of civic engagement activities underway at William Paterson. Events included a Community Partners Fair, a panel discussion by several students who have been involved with course-based or extracurricular service learning activities, and a panel discussion with faculty and staff focused on successful course-based service learning and extracurricular community service activities. Major service learning activities available or under development for students include alternate spring break service projects, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service activities, the Pioneer Leadership Institute, learning communities and living learning communities with a significant civic/service component, study abroad with a service component, and campus or community leadership positions that include a significant service and reflection component. In observance of Veteran’s Day on November 11, student veterans, members of the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity, and Alpha Kappa Psi-Chi and other members of the campus community participated in the planting of more than 6,800 U.S. flags representing service members killed in action since 9-11-2001 in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
President Waldron and student veterans place flags on campus on Veteran’s Day
Pam Brillante, assistant professor of special education and counseling, organized more than 50 student and faculty volunteers from the College of Education and College of Science and Health to assist with the Special Olympics 2014 USA Games, which were held for the first time in New Jersey. The volunteers assisted in several events, including the Young Athletes Festival, which provided an opportunity for children with disabilities ages two to seven to be introduced to the world of sports.
Significant Opportunities for Students To help students achieve success, William Paterson University provides real world experiences and career networking opportunities. This year, the University launched the Pesce Family Mentoring Institute, which was made possible through a generous gift by Board of Trustees member William J. Pesce ‘73 and his family to the William Paterson University Foundation. Housed in the Career Development Center, the Institute was created to help prepare students for careers or graduate education by connecting successful professionals, including alumni and local community business partners, with select William Paterson University undergraduate students. Dana Havey, human resources manager for Enterprise Rent-a-Car and coordinator of Enterprise’s mentoring program, addressed the attendees at an opening event last fall about the importance of mentoring and networking. In total, this academic 9
IV.
Community Outreach
The University developed a collaborative relationship with Haier America in Wayne for workforce development, training, and employment. Programs conducted by William Paterson include an on-site course on Mandarin for Business, and 24 customized business management and marketing training courses. Haier America has also employed several recent University graduates.
William J. Pesce ’73 with his wife, Henrietta ’72, MA ’75 and their children Katie and Michael
year the Pesce Mentoring Institute held two formal on-campus meet and greet/educational events, created a LinkedIn professional community, and made 65 mentor/mentee matches. The Career Development Center also hosted three major job fairs, including fall and spring career and internship fairs and an education job fair. Two new networking initiatives were also introduced: a Meet the Accounting Firms event and a Cotsakos College of Business Networking event. In total, more than 200 employers and nearly 900 students attended these career development events. With a vibrant and supportive campus life for both resident and commuter students, the Office of Campus Activities and Student Leadership this year sponsored 15 Pioneer Café Live events and enhanced its Friday Night at the Rec programs. A variety of health and wellness programs were offered, including expanded finals/de-stress programs. The Office also worked to increase school spirit through programs including Welcome Week and Pioneer Appreciation Week, activities and giveaways at athletic competitions, fan buses for major/ post-season athletic events, and enhanced promotion of club sports including a Club Sports Carnival that was attended by approximately 700 students. The annual Club Fair
10
Siamack Shojai, dean of the Cotsakos College of Business, was one of five thought leaders discussing key economic issues as part of the “New Jersey Business & Economic Roundtable” held by the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants in Atlantic City. The roundtable was part of the 10th annual NJCPA Convention and Expo celebration. The University sponsored a wide range of outreach programs that bring high school students, as well as their parents and teachers, to campus. This year’s New Jersey National History Day had its largest program to date. This event is part of a rigorous academic program in which middle and high school students compete for a spot in a national history contest. William Paterson has been the sponsor of New Jersey National History Day since 1988, and this program brought a record-breaking 600 students, their teachers, and parents to campus. More than 600 middle and high school students recited poetry in a range of languages in the 32nd Annual Orlando Saa Foreign Language Poetry Recitation Contest. Students from 48 schools throughout northern and central New Jersey and New York’s Rockland County participated.
Student winners of the Orlando Saa Foreign Language Poetry Recitation Contest
Alumni Engagement University alumni are a significant component of the William Paterson community. We continue to work to engage alumni in University life and events and to increase alumni event participation. Homecoming 2014
The Ghandian Forum for Peace and Justice, organized by political science professor Stephen Shalom, featured Katha Pollitt, award-winning feminist writer, poet, and columnist for The Nation in a lecture about abortion rights. The forum, which includes a peace and justice writing contest for Paterson High School students, seeks to engage high school, college, and university students and teachers and community members in innovative and practical ideas, actions, and programs that promote peace and justice. In the summer, the Center for Continuing and Professional Education sponsored the Aim High Academy, a pre-college science enrichment program for high-achieving high school seniors, sponsored by a grant from the Commission on Higher Education. The Center also offered a wide range of summer precollege youth programs for middle school and high school students including the annual Summer Jazz Workshop, pre-college workshops, and courses on topics such as wealth and management, web design, computer painting and digital art, and forensics, among others. In recognition of the University’s connection with Paterson, a new multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary research center dedicated to research focused on the Paterson metropolitan area was launched on campus this year. The Paterson Metropolitan Region Research Center seeks to promote a greater understanding of the history, importance, and contemporary relevance of the Paterson metropolitan area to North Jersey’s citizens. Its primary mission is to provide opportunities for faculty and student research about the region. Vincent Parrillo, professor of sociology, serves as interim director.
During Homecoming 2014, the University hosted almost 1,200 alumni and guests for two days of programming, including tailgating, a “Power Breakfast with Dean Shojai,” the Homecoming football game, and an alumni reunion event. Participants were also treated to an alumni softball game and barbecue, a digital archives event in the Library, a lecture and stargazing event, and an exhibition and reception in the University Galleries for the exhibition, 35 in 350: The Story of New Jersey, in celebration of the 350th anniversary of New Jersey. Homecoming concluded with the William Paterson University Foundation Golf Outing 2014 Annual Golf Outing. The University also celebrated its first Family Weekend on campus for parents and family members of first-year students. The weekend’s many events included a performance by the Capitol Steps, sports events, a brunch with President Waldron, activities for younger family members, a family hike, a jazz performance at Shea Center, a tour of the outdoor sculptures on campus, and a chocolate cupcake tasting contest in celebration of National Chocolate Cupcake Day. 11
V.
Outstanding and Affordable Education
In an effort to keep the cost of education more affordable for students, the University is raising undergraduate tuition and fees by just 1 percent for 2015-16. This year’s 1 percent increase is the smallest percentage increase in more than a decade and marks the fifth straight year that the University has held the percentage increase to 2 percent or less. Over the past couple of years, the University made strategic investments in line with our Strategic Plan, not only in facilities, but also in academic programs, enrollment and retention, faculty research, and student development. This year, the University increased weekend and evening programming for students, expanded graduate recruitment efforts, and added to the fund for undergraduate research.
Academic Zone Master Plan and Facilities Upgrades To ensure that students can take advantage of the most advanced facilities, the University is moving rapidly and making major strides in its long-range plan to modernize the academic core of campus. Construction of University Hall, the new academic building, is well underway with the building scheduled to open in spring 2016, six months ahead of schedule. This new $40 million project is funded in part by $30 million from the state’s “Building Our Future” Bond Act. This earlier-than-planned opening of University Hall will enable us to start the renovation of the Hunziker Hall and Hunziker Wing buildings sooner than planned so that we can accelerate our enhancements of the academic facilities. William Paterson’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and to becoming a fully green campus, which was solidified as a goal in the University’s Strategic Plan, continues to expand with a variety of initiatives on campus. The University’s “Green Team,” appointed as one of the implementation committees for the Strategic Plan, developed a series of recommendations that are charting the direction for ongoing sustainability efforts. Recent energy conservation initiatives include the installation of filtered water fountains in
University Hall
Rendering of Speert Plaza and Hunziker Wing
12
Fundraising Raising funds for scholarships is a primary focus of our Institutional Advancement division. This past year, 57 percent of the $3.56 million in donations to the University were for scholarships. Over the last four years, the endowment for scholarships increased by 68 percent to $6.4 million. Additionally, 58 percent of the Foundation’s overall endowment is designated for student scholarships.
Pioneer Parking Garage ribbon cutting ceremony
the University Commons for students who wish to fill water bottles, leading to less use of plastic water bottles. The University is also working to reduce the use of non-recyclable items, including sending food waste out for composting instead of as trash.
The William Paterson University Foundation raised more than $300,000 in support of scholarships at the 25th annual Legacy Award Gala, a record-setting total for this event. The gala is the Foundation’s largest event to raise funds to support the University’s mission of promoting student success and academic excellence. Alumni Nancy (nee Levenstein) Salvini ’72 and Emil Salvini ’71; Michael Allen Seeve, president, Mountain Development Corp., and ICA Risk Management Consultants were honored for philanthropy, leadership, and community service at the event.
Campus construction projects are also designed to maximize efficiency. The new 1,000-space Pioneer Parking Garage, which opened in September and increases the University’s parking capacity by 22 percent, garnered a Green Design Award from the Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders for its energy-efficient LED lighting technology. In another demonstration of our commitment to sustainability, five electric vehicle charging stations are now available in Lot 4 through a program administered by Public Service Electric & Gas. The charging stations provide free electricity in the dedicated parking spaces for electric vehicles operated by University faculty, staff, and students.
President Waldron with Legacy Award honorees Barron Wall of ICA Risk Management Consultants, Michael Seeve, president, Mountain Development Corp., and alumni Nancy Salvini ’72 and Emil Salvini ’71
The Henry and Marilyn Taub Foundation has awarded $1 million to establish the Henry Taub Scholars Program. The donation marks the largest single gift specifically for scholarships in William Paterson University history. The award will provide $250,000 per year for four years for scholarships covering tuition and fees for students with financial need, providing critical support for between 30 and 50 students. The first scholarships will be awarded to members of the incoming fall 2015 freshman class. This donation continues our efforts focused on raising funds for student scholarships and brings annual Foundation scholarship awards to over $800,000 a year. Charging Station
13
The Henry and Marilyn Taub Foundation also awarded $20,000 in support of the College of Education’s professor-in-residence program in School No. 28 in Paterson to serve students from preschool to second grade. This program places a University professor into a high-needs school in an advisory position to share his or her expertise with teachers on staff. A generous gift of $400,000 from the Holly Beach Public Library Association will be used to establish an endowed scholarship to support students with financial need. Joan T. Hall established a $200,000 endowed scholarship in memory of her sister, Marie Louise McCarthy ’44. The scholarship(s) will be awarded to students who are enrolled full time at William Paterson, maintain a 3.0 GPA, remain on track to graduate in four years, and demonstrate financial hardship. Preference will be given but not limited to students from Garfield High School, where Mrs. McCarthy taught for 40 years. The 2014 Scholarship Reception brought together more than 400 donors and scholarship recipients. The annual dinner is a celebration of the partnership between the University’s outstanding scholarship recipients and the many generous alumni and friends who make the William Paterson University Foundation and Alumni Association scholarship programs possible.
Professional Development As part of our strategic effort to support and develop University faculty and staff, this year the University launched a new campus program designed to recognize the extraordinary efforts, contributions, commitment, and innovation of colleagues throughout campus. The WP P.R.I.D.E. (Praising Results Innovation Dedication and Excellence) Awards Program was launched in October and over the course of the year, 63 employees were recognized. A special website, wppride.teamphoria.com, allows faculty and staff to recognize a colleague or team for a job well done by giving them a virtual medal.
Visibility In 2014-15, William Paterson University made great strides in its efforts to build institutional identity and expand visibility. During the course of the year, we hosted notable speakers and events, earned various recognitions, and achieved positive media coverage as well as momentum in social media.
William J. Pesce
Basem and Muna Hishmeh with scholarship students Sandy Ibrahim and Bayan Hammoudeh
14
William J. Pesce ‘73, retired president and CEO of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and Board of Trustees member, gave the commencement address at William Paterson University’s 192nd commencement ceremony at the Prudential Center in Newark. During the ceremony, the late Kurt Landsberger, a New Jersey businessman, environmental activist, and philanthropist who died in December 2014, was awarded an honorary doctor of humane letters degree, posthumously. His son, Allen Landsberger, was present to accept the honorary degree.
The University also earned other awards and recognitions, including the 2014 Wayne Corporate Citizen of the Year Award from the Economic Development Council of Wayne. The award was presented to President Waldron at the Wayne Corporate Appreciation Breakfast attended by more than 200 corporate and community leaders. The award was in recognition and appreciation of the University’s numerous contributions to Wayne.
Patricia Powell ’73, 2013 Distinguished Alumna Legacy Awardee and a Foundation Board member, was chosen by Beta Gamma Sigma as one of the speakers for its Meet the Leaders of Business Speakers Series. Powell is the founder and president of The Powell Financial Group, and an adjunct faculty member in financial planning.
The University also was honored by the New Jersey Subcontractors Association for extraordinary vision in making large-scale capital investments in facilities that will benefit students as well as an enormous and important investment in the local economy. President Waldron was the recipient of the Driving Your Business Excellence Award, granted by the accounting firm Citrin Cooperman. The awards were presented to four woman leaders who demonstrated a distinguishing approach to driving their businesses and empowering New Jersey women. Five outstanding women received the 2015 Women of Vision Award during the tenth Annual Red Dress Dinner, which supports the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women campaign promoting awareness of heart disease in women. Honorees included Charley Flint, professor of sociology; Darlene Russell, professor of secondary and middle school education; Bernadette Tiernan, executive director of continuing and professional education; Xiana Gutierrez ’16, student; and Trishia Omana ’15, student. As part of the 35th season of the Distinguished Lecturer Series, Robert Krulwich, co-host of WNYC’s “Radiolab,” a Peabody Award-winning show, spoke about big questions in Mitch Albom science, philosophy, and the human experience. The series also featured bestselling author and sports reporter Mitch Albom, who discussed his 35 years of sports coverage—from the biggest names in sports to the dangers of fandom.
President Waldron on NJTV
President Kathleen Waldron appeared in an interview on NJTV to discuss the question of college costs. She spoke about experimental programs in Texas and Arizona offering $10,000 degrees and also discussed efforts of William Paterson University and other state colleges and universities to provide affordable, high quality education in New Jersey.
Beth Marmolejos (center) of En Directo TV, with University Spanish professors (left to right) Ellen Frye, Grisel Maduro, Octavio de la Suaree, and Maria Tajes
The University produced its first Spanish language advertising on En Directo TV – Mundo Fox—a 30-second commercial that ran several times during programming in April. The network also covered Accepted Students Day in the spring with interviews of University administrators and faculty. 15
Justin Kauflin and Alan Hicks
Keep On Keepin’ On, the award-winning documentary about the poignant relationship between the late jazz legend and William Paterson University permanent artist-in-residence Clark Terry and former student Justin Kauflin ’08, opened in theaters last October. The film was directed by William Paterson University jazz alumnus Alan Hicks ’07, and produced by Quincy Jones, who was taught by Clark Terry. Jones and Kauflin were interviewed on NBC’s TODAY Show. Additionally, the film was featured in articles in the New York Times, The Record, and the Herald News. A screening of the film was held on campus in March and included a performance by Hicks and Kauflin. Billboard named William Paterson University among the top schools to learn about the music industry. In a report on music business education for the September 27, 2014 issue, Billboard surveyed a sample of schools and William Paterson was one of the institutions gaining notice. The University is known for its excellent music programs, with unique program offerings including the MM in music management and the MBA with a concentration in music management. 16
The Center for Chinese Art at William Paterson University in cooperation with the Asian Cultural Center opened the show Collision and Confluence: Chinese-American Art Faculty Exhibition and Symposium in New York City at the Asian Cultural Center, Manhattan Art Gallery. The symposium was co-sponsored by the Art Department, the College of the Arts and Communication, and the China International Cultural Association. President Waldron, Dean Daryl Moore and art professor Zhiyuan Cong welcomed the guests at the opening, including prominent Chinese dignitaries, international art curators, and benefactors and world-renowned artists. Humans of WP, a student-driven project dedicated to celebrating the faces and stories of the William Paterson University community, debuted across social media platforms last September, encouraging William Paterson University pride and diversity among its growing audience. Partnering with the Marketing and Public Relations Department, students Jaclyn Antonacci ’14, Kim Casamento ’13, MA ‘15, and photographer Catalina Fragoso ‘15 developed Humans of WP as a way to engage with all of the William Paterson University community including students, faculty, staff, alumni, and families.
Mission
Vision
William Paterson University of New Jersey is a public institution that offers an outstanding and affordable education to a diverse traditional and nontraditional student body through baccalaureate, graduate, and continuing education programs. The University’s distinguished teachers, scholars, and professionals actively challenge students to high levels of intellectual and professional accomplishment and personal growth in preparation for careers, advanced studies, and productive citizenship. Faculty and staff use innovative approaches to research, learning, and student support to expand students’ awareness of what they can accomplish. The University’s graduates embody a profound sense of responsibility to their communities, commitment to a sustainable environment, and active involvement in a multicultural world.
The University in 2022 William Paterson University will be widely recognized as the model of outstanding and affordable public higher education characterized by rigorous academic preparation and a wide array of experiential, cocurricular, and extracurricular opportunities. The University will be distinctive for nationally recognized programs that prepare its students for the careers of today and tomorrow and known for its support of the personal growth and academic success of a highly diverse student body. It will be an institution of first choice for students committed to transforming their lives and making a difference.
About William Paterson University William Paterson University is a leading public University with more than 11,000 students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate degree programs offered by five academic colleges: Arts and Communication, Cotsakos College of Business, Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Science and Health. Its 370-acre wooded campus is located in suburban Wayne, New Jersey, just 20 miles from New York City, adjacent to 1,200 acres of wetlands and woodlands, and only three miles from the historic Paterson Great Falls. The University offers a wide range of learning opportunities in its classrooms, laboratories, and studios, and throughout the campus, as well as at various off-campus locations. William Paterson’s faculty members provide a valuable blend of accomplished scholarship and practical, applied experience. Among the University’s faculty are 41
Fulbright scholars and recipients of numerous other awards, grants, and fellowships. Students benefit from individualized attention from faculty mentors, small class sizes, and numerous research, internship, and clinical experiences. The institution’s more than 70,000 alumni can be found throughout New Jersey, the nation, and the world, using their William Paterson degrees and experiences as a springboard to professional accomplishment and personal growth. They are leaders in the arts, business, health care, sports, entertainment, the media, and education. They are public servants, artists, musicians, teachers, scientists, television personalities, authors, politicians, crime fighters, and entrepreneurs. Their achievements reflect the University’s mission and commitment to preparing graduates for success in their careers, communities, and lives.
Wayne, New Jersey wpunj.edu