Shortly before the winter break, I had opportunity to go to Washington, DC with colleagues to engage for two days with other college and university leaders. The event was entitled, IGNITED, with the goal of engaging the challenges of our moment, and how to imagine solutions that bring one’s community together to solve them. The planners labeled their presentation, Reckoning with Relevance, and had these topics:
Public Perception of Higher Ed Value
Enrollment and Demographics
Sustainable Business Models
Student Readiness and Well-Being
Hybrid Campus
Artificial Intelligence
I confess that on one level, it was a painful experience. Why would anyone want to work in an industry that is seemingly so perilous with declining public confidence, a demographic cliff, tuition too high and state support too low, students not recovered from the pandemic, too much empty or underutilized physical space, and AI poised to upend everything? Yet on another level, as I heard many attendees lament their circumstance, point out innumerable barriers to real solutions, and talk about what they wished they could do to change things, but felt they couldn’t, I found myself oddly energized. Yes, we have had these challenges, but we’ve done something about them, however hard it has been. We deployed a new marketing plan with additional dollars and brand focus. We built WP Online to tap into the real growth opportunity, adults, and hired or promoted talented leaders in Enrollment Management to strengthen our admissions, onboarding, and student support efforts. We received a $7.5 million supplement to our budget from the state, in part because we have been doing the difficult work of resource stewardship. We launched Will.Power. 101 and 102 and expanded our student counseling services with teletherapy, also landing a $462,000 grant to further enhance services. Yes, we have some empty space, but we are also partnering to fill it—the Wayne School District and the New Jersey Department of Education’s Regional Learning Center are just two examples. As for AI, we’ve not shied away from it; faculty all over campus are experimenting, and I just approved a sabbatical for a faculty member who is poised to do something very interesting with it. And, perhaps in the not-too-distant future, we will have a degree or certificate offering in it.
So as for that presentation label? Yes, we have been reckoning, but it is not with relevance, it is what it means to be a regional state university that is meeting challenges, serving students well, and positioning to be around for a very long time. For kicks, I recently asked ChatGPT this: “What are five characteristics that make William Paterson University unique?” Ostensibly it mined everything about us, and this is what came back:
- Location and Campus Setting
- Affordability
- Cultural Diversity
- Community Engagement and Partnerships
- Particularly Strong Programs in Education, Business, Music, Communication, and Health Sciences
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Whereas there are no doubt answers ChatGPT might have returned if I worded my question in some different ways, these five are, for sure, some of the things that I think make us distinct and relevant. Challenges be damned, opportunity be championed. Let’s embrace positive labels, continue to be relevant, and lead with passion and integrity in the belief that a college education is life changing and a noble calling for all of us! |
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MLK Day of Service and the Faculty as Mentor Initiative. Thanks so much to all in Student Development who organized such a wonderful MLK Day of Service event last Friday. And a special shout-out to the faculty mentors in our sophomore mentoring initiative who participated, and the mentees who also joined. The intent was to help normalize a relationship between a professor and a student, and what better way than to bond in service to others. Faculty mentors, thank you for your ongoing efforts to connect with your mentees. You bring something valuable to them, and often activities or events can make such connection easier. Please collaborate with your fellow mentors in your department or college on ways you might gather mentees. Upcoming opportunities include the Majors Fair on February 29, the Career Fair on March 7, and the Minors and Certificate Programs Mixer on April 4. For information, contact Deborah Sheffield: sheffieldd1@wpunj.edu.
Academic Affairs Mid-Year Update. All are invited to tune in to the Academic Affairs Mid-Year Update on Friday, February 9 from 12:30-1:30 p.m. (via Zoom). Here is a link to the session: [LINK HERE]. Provost Powers and Associate Provosts Rabbitt, Hill, and Lincoln will be presenting, providing updates on activities, plans, and opportunities for engagement.
Program Vitality Reports. Please visit the Provost’s Office website through THIS LINK for the just posted Fall 2023 Program Vitality Reports. These annual snapshots in one place provide a window into all majors, minors, and certificates at the University in the areas of enrollment, graduation, new student admissions, and new students enrolled, as well as external context on the labor market in that field and competitiveness of offerings of the same degree by other institutions in our region. There is one Excel report for each college.
WP Center for Degree Completion and Adult Learning received a $150,000 state grant to assist adult learners to allay financial challenges that might impact their degree completion. The grant also supports an innovative Peer Career Learning course for returning adult students that connects them with career supports, peer networking, and credit for prior learning opportunities.
What Works Conference materials. Thank you to all presenters and planners of the What Works for Student Success Conference in December. Many great and innovative ideas of benefit inside and outside the classroom were shared. Here’s a link to the website where you can see the presentation titles and listen to a recording if you wish, including the amazing keynote address by Jose Antonio Bowen on “Teaching and Thinking with AI.” His handout materials are also posted to the site.
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Number of colleges or universities in New Jersey, public or private, that had a larger percentage increase in graduate student enrollment than William Paterson between 2022 and 2023:
0
Number of MBA degrees awarded at Montclair State, Fall 2022 (most recent available data) vs. the number awarded by William Paterson, Fall 2023:
260 vs. 311
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From the just published 2024 Regional Public Colleges Study by the Chronicle of Higher Education, a survey of 404 presidents, provosts, deans, and department heads at regional state universities like William Paterson University across the United States:
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“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
— Margaret Mead
“If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.”
— Derek Bok
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The Provost’s Office is Brenda L., Claudia T., Claudia C., Jonathan, Kara, Rhonda, Sandy, and Josh. You can reach us at 973.720.2122 provost@wpunj.edu
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