October 21, 2024

Dear William Paterson Faculty and Staff,

William Paterson has reached an important milestone, and we should all be proud. Our total enrollment currently stands at 11,792 students, with Census II just two weeks away. This marks our highest headcount since 1980, when enrollment reached 12,517. While that historic figure was composed primarily of undergraduate degree-seeking students, our current headcount reflects a broader mix of student types, including both undergraduate and graduate students, dual enrollment participants, and students across both campuses. This comprehensive achievement is a testament to our ability to adapt to changing markets and demographics, and it underscores all of your efforts to grow and diversify our enrollment base. Additionally, we are seeing strong interest in our upcoming Open House on Saturday, October 26th, with a record 648 registrants! This enthusiasm speaks to the appeal of WP and our commitment to welcoming the next generation of Pioneers. Thank you all for making this happen, and let’s keep up the good work!

This is an especially busy time of the semester, so I want to remind everyone of several important upcoming events, as well as some fun ones. This Thursday, October 24, please join us in the Cheng Library Auditorium from 12:30-1:45 p.m. for the Enrollment and Budget Forum, where Vice President for Enrollment Management George Kacenga and Vice President for Finance and Administration Kirsten Loewrigkeit will update us and take questions on the current and projected state of University enrollment and finances. 

Thursday is also when the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences will hold its CONTEXTS Conference 2024. I encourage you to check out the full schedule of presentations on the theme of “Youth Rights: Education Opportunities, Environment, Media Content”.

Later Thursday, I will host Office Hours for faculty and staff at 4:00 p.m. in the Hobart Manor Green Room. Please come to ask questions and share your news.

Also, please put on your best WP orange and join us at Paterson’s historic Hinchliffe Stadium this Saturday, October 26, at 12 p.m., where our Pioneer football team will take on Montclair State. We aim to “orange out” the stadium as we cheer on our Pioneers.

This week’s WP: We are Proud – William Paterson is one of only 100 predominantly bachelor’s degree granting institutions, nationwide, that the U.S. Department of Education says, “clearly have a story to tell that demonstrates what institutions do matters to ensure student success” and are invited to apply for its Postsecondary Success Recognition Program. The program is part of U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona’s “Raising the Bar” initiative, which supports colleges that excel at pursuing a variety of missions. In creating the list, the Department considered, “the extent to which institutions: 1) Enroll low-income students and students of color in their state; 2) Help those students graduate or transfer successfully; and 3) Prepare them to enter the career of their choice and enjoy upward mobility, including recouping their costs and earning a premium over high school graduates in their state.” We will accept this invitation to apply, and the results will be available early next year, but just making it onto this short list is a great recognition of the work we are all doing to make William Paterson a “Powerhouse of Progress.” Congratulations!

Enjoy this beautiful autumn weather, and have a great rest of your October!