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November 4, 2024
Dear William Paterson Faculty and Staff,
Happy November! The clocks have fallen back, but we will continue to press forward toward the end of the semester and use our Will.Power. to make WP a true Powerhouse of Progress.
And while we should take every opportunity to celebrate the gains we have made in addressing our budget challenges, as well as our enrollment and retention gains, I want to remind everyone that while things have, indeed, improved, we are still not at a balanced budget. As was shared with the community at the recent Enrollment and Budget Forum, we will end the 2024 Fiscal Year with an approximately $2 million operating deficit (unaudited) and are projecting a $5.9 million deficit for our current fiscal year.
There have been several conversations recently which suggest that there is a mistaken belief in our community that we have solved all of our challenges. We have made great strides in that direction, but we are not yet out of the woods. I truly appreciate all the hard work that everyone has put in and the sacrifices that everyone has made, and continues to make, to help correct our course. However, projections indicate that it will take another two or three years before we achieve a balanced budget, and those projections are contingent upon our receiving state support at current levels – never a guarantee – while also achieving our enrollment and retention goals. The changes we have made in recent years are working, so let’s continue building a stronger, more stable William Paterson for everyone.
As just one example of the hard work mentioned above, please join me in congratulating this year’s Pioneer Award recipients for their exemplary contributions, leadership, and dedication. The honorees’ achievements will be celebrated throughout the year at various University events, where their impact will be further recognized. They are: for “Leadership and Innovation,” Carmen Ortiz, Executive Director EOF and Academic Achievement (Student Development); for “Leadership and Team Spirit,” Kevin Rodgers, Head Volleyball Coach (Athletics); for “Leadership and Professional Achievement,” Francisco Diaz, Associate Vice President for Student Development; for “Community Leadership,” Jan Pinkston, Assistant Director, Honors College; for “Faculty as Mentor,” Associate Professor of Communication Nicholas Hirshon and Professor of Biology Joseph Spagna(posthumously).
Tomorrow is Election Day. In addition to casting your ballot, if you haven’t already, I encourage everyone to bear in mind that it may be several days or more before we know the outcome of the race for President. That uncertainty, as well as the result when it comes, are likely to be sources of anxiety and strong emotions for many in our community. I ask that we all be sensitive to this, especially when interacting with our students.
I hope to see you all for “First Thursday” on November 7, when we will gather from 4:00 to 5:30 in Morrison Hall (use the main entrance, opposite the Shea Center) for an opportunity to socialize and check out the building’s recent refresh, featuring our updated branding elements.
I also hope you and your families can join us for what promises to be another great Homecoming and Family Day this Saturday, November 9, beginning with the Pre-game Tailgate in Lot 2 at 9:30 a.m. Please click here for a full schedule of the day’s events.
You can start or continue your support for our students on William Paterson’s Fall Giving Day (November 20), which is a great opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the life of a student. Every gift given has the power to transform a student’s experience, and I hope that you will consider supporting one or more of the seven worthy projects. Please visit the Fall Giving Day page to learn more, and thank you for your support.
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