Annual Report2014

Mission 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.

VisionThe 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.

Board of Trustees

Frederick L. Gruel Chairperson

Maureen Conway ’66 Vice Chairperson

Anna Marie Mascolo Secretary

Lourdes Cortez

Robert Guarasci

Brad Neilley ‘80

Linda Niro ’76

William J. Pesce ‘73

Henry J. Pruitt, Jr.

Robert Taylor (Trustee Emeritus)

Nazila Yekanifard (Student Trustee)

Deborah Zastocki

Kathleen M. Waldron, ex officio

Robert Seal, Chief of Staff to the President and Board of Trustees

President’s messAgeFour years ago, we developed a strategic plan to guide the University in its development over the next decade. Since then, much was accomplished and more remains to be done. The United States economy has improved and more students graduating are able to enter the fields of their choice. We began several construction projects supported by New Jersey state funds and will see the results of those projects in 2016. Yet higher education is increasingly criticized as too costly and unattainable for many young people and many question the value of a college degree in a still depressed labor market. At William Paterson University, we are concerned about students’ need for an affordable education and have deliberately reduced annual tuition and fee increases to record low levels. We hope to continue this effort in the years ahead while at the same time achieving more efficiencies and better use of technology. Other strategies are also underway with some major accomplishments in building academic programs of excellence, assisting students to complete their studies in a more timely manner, developing cocurricular programs for students in service learning and career planning, raising the visibility of the University, and enhancing community relations and involvement.

This past year was marked by significant changes in leadership at the University, primarily due to retirements. Warren Sandmann completed his first year as provost, leading a strong initiative to enhance academic support to students. Long-serving Vice President for Student Development John Martone retired in December and we welcomed Miki Cammarata to that position. Reginald Ross joined our community in May as vice president for enrollment management and Siamack Shojai became dean of the Cotsakos College of Business in June. Dean Anne Ciliberti retired after 35 years as head of the David and Lorraine Cheng Library to be replaced by Paul Glassman who joined us in August, coming with many years of administrative and innovative library leadership experience. These individuals will play important roles in the years to come as the University aims to introduce new academic programs and strengthen existing ones with new faculty and support. Fortunately, the University continues to attract excellent faculty as one of our strategic goals is to increase the overall number of full-time faculty. In 2014, we hired 17 professors from various disciplines with an emphasis on supporting our new doctoral programs in nursing and clinical psychology and new master’s programs in the sciences and health. We expect the focus on offering selected advanced degree programs will serve a need in our state and contribute to the intellectual climate of our campus.

The University also achieved some milestones in fundraising this year with several substantial new gifts. Most noteworthy was the gift from William Pesce ‘73 and Henrietta Pesce ‘72, MA ‘75 and family to create and endow the Pesce Family Mentoring Institute. The Institute will help prepare students for their careers and post-graduate pursuits by connecting successful professionals, including alumni and community partners, with selected William Paterson

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undergraduate students. In addition to the Pesce Family gift, the University received a generous gift from Zhipeng Ding and Shengzhan Ding, successful Chinese businessmen who are supporting the Center for Chinese Art at William Paterson University. The Center is a unique institution that invites artists from China to our campus to interact with students and our community.

We took a big step toward preparing our campus to meet the future needs of students and faculty with construction now underway on a new academic building which will become the home to our departments of nursing, communication disorders, and public health, in addition to providing additional classrooms and student space. We are pleased that New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Secretary of Higher Education Rochelle Hendricks joined us on campus in June for the groundbreaking ceremony for this building, which is being funded in part by the Building Our Future Bond Act. The new building is just the first stage in our overall plan to modernize the academic core of our campus with renovations to Hunziker Wing and Hall planned for 2016 and 2018, respectively. The University also completed the total renovation of two music recital halls in Shea, allowing our faculty and students to have superb performance and practice space. This accompanied a major renovation of Shea Auditorium and the construction of new music practice rooms. We also modernized the broadcast TV studios and equipment to create state-of-the-art space for classes and productions. This space is now among the best in the state at any institution of higher education. At the same time, the long–awaited parking garage is complete and will open this fall. The campus watched in amazement as this 1,000-space garage went up near the Science Complex as it promises to relieve parking problems that have long plagued our community. As a public university, William Paterson University plays a key role as a center for public discourse. I am proud that the University was selected to host one of the two New Jersey gubernatorial debates last fall. The event, held on campus last October, generated significant visibility for the University. I am also proud that throughout the year, we continue to host musicians, artists, scientists, writers, journalists, business executives, leading educators, and scholars from many disciplines, who spend time with our students and enhance the intellectual life of our community.

This Annual Report 2014 highlights some of William Paterson University’s many accomplishments this past year as we strive to give students the power to achieve success, both on campus and throughout their lives. I look forward to continuing our positive momentum in the year ahead.

Kathleen Waldron, PresidentWilliam Paterson University

William Paterson University offers the highest academic quality to our students through our distinguished faculty and outstanding academic programs, as stated in our Strategic Plan.

Faculty Achievements Our renowned faculty stand out as teachers and scholars, while gaining national and state grants and honors to support our excellent academic programs and research that benefits our students. Overall, the University’s faculty of teachers/scholars had a very productive year, with more than 450 publications, including books, book chapters, and articles in journals and other publications; more than 220 artistic artifacts/events, including performances, productions, and exhibitions; and nearly 700 lectures, presentations, and workshops at academic conferences and other settings.

In keeping with our tradition of success in the Fulbright Program, William Paterson was named a 2013 Fulbright Program Top Producer, with 40 Fulbright scholars among the faculty. The Fulbright Program’s sponsor, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and the Institute of International Education acknowledged the University’s “…fantastic work to ensure the program’s success” at William Paterson University. Music professor Payton MacDonald, biology professor Emmanuel Onaivi, and marketing and management professor Mahmoud Watad were named Fulbright Scholars for academic year 2013-14. MacDonald studied classical Indian vocal music in India, Onaivi conducted research and lectured on pharmacological and neural basis of behavior at Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia, and Watad conducted research on organizational innovation in Morocco. Kathleen

Malu, professor of secondary and middle school education, was named a Fulbright Specialist.

College of Science and Health Associate Dean Jean Fuller-Stanley received the

Women in STEM Award from the New Jersey Liberty Science Center Women’s Leadership Council in recognition of her efforts to provide opportunities for women and minority students in STEM fields.

The Cotsakos College of Business is well-positioned for the future under the leadership of its new dean, Siamack Shojai, who joined this summer.

Our business faculty also received accolades, including marketing and management professors Cesar Perez-Alvarez and Mahmoud Watad who were honored with a New Jersey Bright Idea Award for their winning paper, “Cultural differences in information technology

settings: Impacts on creativity and knowledge-sharing.” The winning paper was one of the top 10 manuscripts from over 143 publications submitted in the statewide competition, which was sponsored by the Stillman School of Business at Seton Hall University and the NJPRO Foundation, the public policy research affiliate of the New Jersey Business and Industry Association (NJBIA). Marketing and management professor Robert Laud’s article, “Progress and Regress in the MBA Curriculum: The Career Practice Skills Gap,” which appeared in the teaching and learning section of Organization Management Journal, won an award for Best Management Education Article of 2013 in the journal. Kate Muldoon, regional director of the University’s Small Business Development Center, which is housed in the Cotsakos College of Business, received a “State Star” award at the annual Association of Small Business Development Centers national conference in September.

In the College of the Arts and Communication, Professor Robert Quicke led campus radio station WPSC 88.7 FM in its third annual College Radio Day in October. The stations participated in the national 24-hour live broadcast celebrating the unique programming of student radio. The event has grown

I. Academic Excellence

Dean Siamack Shojai

Associate Dean Jean Fuller-Stanley

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Emmanuel Onaivi

to include participants from more than 700 college and high school radio stations in 43 countries. Communication professor Loretta McLaughlin-Vignier won a Bronze International Cindy Award for her role as executive producer and faculty advisor of The Roundabout, a University-produced talk show

she developed to give college women a voice while promoting positive images of women in the media. Art history professor Claudia Goldstein was awarded the Joop Witteveen Prize from the University of Amsterdam for her book, Peter Bruegel and the Culture of the Early Modern Dinner Party. The prize is given each year to the author of an outstanding publication on the history of food. Music professor Carol Frierson-Campbell spent three weeks teaching at the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music, including teaching proper marching band drill technique to students. She also visited branches of the Conservatory in Ramallah, Bethlehem, Nablus, and Jerusalem to strengthen a partnership that began in 2010 with a grant from the Muna and Basem Hishmeh Foundation designed to provide faculty and students with an opportunity to participate in a music and cultural exchange program.

Our David and Lorraine Cheng Library is poised for the future under the leadership of the new dean, Paul Glassman, who joined this year and brings with him many years of administrative and library leadership experience.

Grants to Support AcademicsThis past year, the amount of national, state, and privately funded grants and gifts increased by 28 percent to nearly $11.5 million, supporting a wide range of faculty and academic initiatives, including programs that address issues of national importance.

In line with the national effort to improve teacher education, our College of Education gained signifi-cant grant support this year. The College received a $3.2 million, five-year Leaders as Learners grant from the U.S. Department of Education to prepare and support educational leaders in partnership with the Paterson Public Schools. The grant is focused on the development, enhancement, and expansion of inno-vative programs to recruit, train, and mentor princi-pals for high-needs school districts. William Paterson is one of only 20 projects funded nationwide, and the only New Jersey university to receive funding.

The College of Education was awarded a $130,000 grant from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation to continue a project in the Paterson Public Schools that promotes the interrelationships among disciplines in the arts and sciences. The funds will support STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) projects in Paterson schools focusing on work with the Great Falls National Historic Park.

The College also will play a major role in the New Jersey Department of Education’s federal grant for the Race to the Top (RTT) Early Learning Chal-lenge. The NJDOE is awarding William Paterson more than $2 million over four years toward the de-velopment and implementation of a Quality Rating Improvement System for all programs, schools, and centers serving children age five and under across the state. Early childhood education professors Holly Seplocha and Pam Brillante are leaders of this project in the College of Education under the leader-ship of Dean Candace Burns.

In addition, the College was awarded an $85,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education as part of the Fulbright-Hays Short-Term Projects Abroad program for six teachers and six William Paterson students to study in South Korea in summer 2014. The project is one of only 16 funded nationally and the only group project funded in New Jersey.

Dean Paul Glassman

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Claudia Goldstein

This year the University succeeded in gaining grants to bolster higher education and adult learning. In the College of Science and Health, environmental science professor Nicole Davi received a grant for $235,777 from the National Science Foundation for her project, Collaborative Research: TUES Type I: Using Tree Rings to Develop Critical Scientific and Mathe-matical Thinking Skills in Undergraduate Students. Additionally, the Center for Continuing and Pro-fessional Education was awarded three state grants totaling $575,000 to develop customized training programs for numerous companies in the state. The grants were awarded by the New Jersey Labor and Workforce Development (NJLWD) Customized Training Program, and will fund training programs for three consortia of healthcare, hospitality, and advanced manufacturing companies. In our College of Humanities and Social Sciences, professors gained national and state grant funding to address issues of widespread concern. Sociology professor Jennifer DiNoia earned a $275,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Center for Collaborative Research on WIC Nutrition Education Innovations to promote fruit and vegetable consump-tion among WIC recipients In addition, psychology professor Amy Learmonth was awarded $125,901 from the New Jersey Department of Health and Hu-man Services and the New Jersey Autism Center of Excellence Clinical Research Program for her project, “Can Video Speak the Language of Autism?” which seeks to determine whether videos can be used as interventional therapy for children with autism. This award is the first sponsored project of any type focusing on autism.

New Academic Initiatives and Outstanding ProgramsThis academic year marked a milestone for William Paterson University with the May 2014 graduation of the inaugural class of doctor of nursing practice (DNP) students. The DNP is the highest-level clinical degree in nursing.

This year, the University also announced the launch of its second doctoral level program: the doctor of psychology (PsyD), which will provide training and coursework in clinical practice and research designed to provide the knowledge,

skills, and competencies that psychologists use in clinical practice. The new doctoral program builds on our successful master’s program in clinical and counseling psychology and will begin enrolling students for fall 2015.

To meet the needs of graduate students, in fall 2013 the University introduced new online programs in the College of Education, including the MEd in literacy with concentrations in reading and language arts; the MEd in curriculum and learning with a concentration in school library media; the certificate in learning technologies; and the endorsement in associate school library media specialist.

The University’s graduate program in communication disorders received unconditional reaccreditation from the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. The first program in New Jersey to earn accreditation, it has received unconditional reaccreditation since 1981.

Academic HighlightsIn recognition of our excellent academic offerings, the University received many accolades this year and sponsored events that spotlight our outstanding programs and faculty.

The AACSB-accredited Cotsakos College of Business received recognition in a variety of areas including a listing in Princeton Review’s annual “Best Business Schools” guide for the sixth consecutive year. Financial Planning Magazine also cited the Cotsakos College of Business as one of the nation’s top 30 schools for financial planning. This is the third consecutive year the University has been included.The Cotsakos College of Business was recognized in

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The inaugural class of DNP graduates with President Waldron

the 2014 list of Top University Sales Programs for its Russ Berrie Institute for Professional Sales (RBI), which celebrated its tenth anniversary this year. In November, RBI hosted the 7th Annual National Sales Challenge, an intense series of selling competitions and workshops held on campus. More than 100 college students representing 37 universities from 23 states, as well as from Windesheim University in the Netherlands and Edinburgh Napier of Scotland, participated in the competition. This event marked the largest number of students and corporate sponsors to participate in the annual event to date.

The Cotsakos College of Business has established a collaboration with the International Journal of Finance. The peer-reviewed journal, which will be housed in the College, publishes original research regarding corporate finance, investment and portfolio analysis, financial institutions, and international finance.

The College of Science and Health hosted its 8th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium in the Biological and Chemical Sciences, drawing more than 100 students and faculty members from 25 colleges and universities. The symposium provides a forum for undergraduates from the tri-state region to present their original scientific research. This year’s event included an address by Nobel Laureate Sir Harold Kroto.

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences held its second College-Wide Conference in November, entitled “Whose University? The Future of American Higher Education.” More than 600 students, faculty, and community members attended.

We are successfully enhancing student recruitment, student engagement, academic support, and career guidance to ensure that every student has a positive college experience consistent with the commitment expressed in our Strategic Plan.

This academic year brought changes in key leadership in these areas. Miki Cammarata joined the University as vice president for student development, and Reginald Ross was selected as vice president for enrollment management, joining the University in June 2014.

As of fall 2013, the University enrolled nearly 11,500 students: 10,027 undergraduates and 1,387 graduates. Of these, about 2,200 reside on campus.

William Paterson is the third most diverse public university in New Jersey and has the second highest percentage of Hispanic students. The University is the sixth largest producer of college graduates in New Jersey. In 2014, the University graduated nearly 2,400 students, and living alumni number more than 67,000.

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Professional sales professors William Healey (left) and Prabakar Kothandara-man (right) with WP sales students at the RBI National Sales Challenge

II. Student Success

Miki Cammarata

Reginald Ross

President Waldron with a new graduate after the 191st Commencement

The University has been honored as a “Military Friendly School” by militaryfriendlyschools.com and has been included in their Guide to Military Friendly Schools each year since 2011.

College Completion InitiativesOver the last two years, the University has made college completion a strategic, focused priority initiative. For the benefit of our students—academically, financially, and professionally—the University aspires to perform at levels above our peers and above the national norms.

The University has developed and implemented a cross-divisional Student Success Team. This team—under the direction of the vice presidents for academic affairs, enrollment management, and student development—oversees all initiatives designed to improve student retention and help students successfully complete their degrees in a timely fashion. These programs involve students, their parents, and the entire University community, beginning at First-Year Orientation and continuing throughout their William Paterson enrollment.

This past year the team coordinated efforts including a calling campaign to improve timely student registration, and expanded academic and student support initiatives to help students identify and overcome barriers to academic success at the University.

This fall, the University will implement three new activities. First, at least 50 percent of incoming first-year students will be registered for linked courses, meaning they will have at least two courses with the same group of students. This will allow students to create friendships and partnerships with each other, improving their likelihood of academic success.

Secondly, we will increase the use of supplemental instruction, providing additional academic support for students in high-risk courses. Finally, we will be expanding the Peer Leader program so that all sections of First-Year Seminar will have a Peer Leader to assist with the course and help new students with the academic and personal adjustment to William Paterson.

The University has reorganized and expanded its academic development services to provide a more comprehensive program that will better serve a larger number of students. Academic advisors are now assigned to each college, and both a Sophomore-Junior Experience Office and a Transfer Student Experience Office were created in the academic development area.

To support freshmen with high academic standing, the University introduced a scholarship program for all freshmen completing 30 credits at the end of their first year while maintaining a 3.0 or above GPA. We expect to award 300 to 400 new scholarships this year.

In addition, the University has authorized the acquisition of Degree Works, a new system designed to enable students to more easily review their transcripts and plan their course of study.

In an effort to continue the athletic department’s focus on academic progress for student-athletes, the Faculty Athletic Support Team (FAST) was established in the fall of 2013. FAST currently includes 23 faculty members, representing programs in all five colleges, who attend sporting events and correspond and/or meet with student athletes in order to provide encouragement and support.

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Veterans Day on campus

Freshman Orientation

Student Honors The University supports students in their pursuit of excellence both inside and outside the classroom. This year our students attained a wide variety of honors and accolades in areas ranging from academics to athletics.

Allison Liberato was one of 37 students nationwide selected as a member of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Honor Society, which recognizes exceptional undergraduate juniors and seniors pursuing a degree in the molecular life sciences.

Eight honors students—Caitlin Hoolihan, Katherine Pirera, Neal Joshi, Alexis Martinez, Tanya Monroe, Devin Pendergast, Chris Polakowski, and Rebecca Wance—presented their honors thesis research at the Northeast Regional Honors College Conference in Niagara Falls in April.

Jazz studies professor Timothy Newman led a group of University jazz studies students—Timothy Ford, Matt Tischio, Kelly Green, and Daseul Kim—on a two-week tour of Colombia in June 2014. The students performed at festivals and taught at jazz camps in the cities of Medellin, Manizales, and Pereira.

In the Cotsakos College of Business, students had many accomplishments. Ruth Midence, a junior majoring in global business studies, was selected to receive the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The scholarship enabled Midence to study at Dankook University in South Korea during the spring semester.

Three other Cotsakos College of Business students—Crystal Stecher, Adam Barbieri, and Michael Rainone—were awarded full scholarships to attend Lingnan University in Hong Kong for the academic year 2014-15 to earn an MSc in the “Human Resource Management and Organisational Behaviours Programme” in their Department of Management.

Business students in the financial planning program earned many accolades. Daniel DiVizio, Giuseppe Roveccio, and Brian Schiess won two events at the Financial Planning Association’s 2013 National Financial Planning Challenge held in Orlando, Florida.

Three financial planning majors were among ten national recipients of $5,000 TD Ameritrade Institutional NextGen Scholarships for the 2013-14

academic year. As part of their award, the students—Kelly McNerney, Kayla-Lynn Kasica, and Andrew Milling—were invited to tour the New York Stock Exchange and ring the closing bell.

Financial planning seniors Michael Cerone, Guiseppe Roveccio, and Alex Vaccarella won the overall first place award at the FASTech Cup Competition held at the 9th Annual Technology Tools for Today Conference in Anaheim, CA.

Our student athletes also had numerous achievements. Pioneer athletes earned 78 individual academic awards from conference, regional, and national organizations, including all-district honorees Ryan Gresik (football), Katelyn Miele (softball), and Kelly Prince (softball).

Freshman Brittany LaBruna was honored as both the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Tennis Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year, earning all-conference singles honors, and posting a 17-1 record at first singles.

The men’s and women’s basketball teams both reached the NJAC Tournament championship games in March.

The softball team reached the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament after earning the top seed and hosting the NJAC Tournament.

The Pioneer ice hockey club team had a very strong season and garnered an impressive national ranking, starting the season ranked #1 in the entire country and traveling to the national tournament.

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Andrew Milling, Kayla-Lynn Kasica, and Kelly McNerney

Brittany LaBruna

The University provides unique learning experiences that are critical to prepare students for career opportunities and build the skills they need in the workplace, in keeping with one of its Strategic Plan goals.

The Office of Campus Activities and Student Leadership sponsored service learning projects throughout the year including Martin Luther King Jr. “day of service” activities, an alternative spring break trip, and a variety of other programs. Students participated in nearly 2,000 hours of service including a park clean up at Liberty State Park, pantry and clothing donations for Father English Center and Community Food Bank of New Jersey, a beautification project at the Garfield YMCA, meal packaging projects for victims of natural disasters, soup kitchen hours at a local LGBT homeless shelter, working with women and children at the OASIS center in Paterson, as well as supporting various builds for Habitat for Humanity.

Significant Opportunities for StudentsThe University offers a wide range of hands-on learning opportunities that prepare students for success after college.

This year, the University’s Department of Communication held the grand opening of its newly

redesigned television studios. The $2.5 million high-definition upgrade to Hobart Hall’s two-studio TV complex provides students with access to equipment and technology aligned with the current television industry standard. Having access to the latest technology provides our students with an advantage when they seek internships or graduate and enter the job market.

This past year we completed several major upgrades to performance and practice spaces for our Music Department, which offers nationally and internationally recognized programs. Two large performance rooms in Shea Center have been completely transformed, providing modern and aesthetically pleasing venues for faculty, student, and guest performances. Shea Auditorium received a significant interior renovation and new practice rooms were created in Gaedes Hall. These upgrades enhance the environment for our students to learn, our faculty to teach, and our audiences to enjoy a wide range of performances on campus.

The University also continued to offer a vibrant and supportive campus life for students. The Office of Campus Activities and Student Life sponsored 22 Pioneer Café Live events this year, including a finals preparation program co-sponsored with the University’s peer health advocates and the residence life peer academic leaders. Evening and weekend programs included live comedy shows, performances by varied musical talents, spoken word artists, karaoke nights, hypnotists, magic shows, and other special themed gatherings such as football viewing parties.

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III. Unique Learning Opportunities

William Paterson students volunteering for the Martin Luther King Jr. day of service

Television studio manager Alfred Clarke in the new high-definition TV studios in Hobart Hall

In October, the College of Education hosted the New Jersey Future Educators Association (NJFEA) Conference for students interested in becoming teachers. The event was attended by more than 400 students representing approximately 40 New Jersey high schools. The Garden State Partnership for Teacher Quality, the New Jersey Education Association, and the Center for Future Educators at The College of New Jersey also partnered with the University for the event.

In addition, New Jersey National History Day brought more than 1,000 students from 54 schools in 48 districts, as well as their teachers and parents, to campus.

In the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, the 30th Annual Abram Kartch/Thomas Jefferson Lecture drew more than 200 students from area high schools. This year’s special anniversary event featured a debate between actors interpreting the roles of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams.

The Ghandian Forum for Peace and Justice, organized by political science professor Stephen Shalom, featured sports writer Dave Zirin in a

William Paterson University’s partnerships with its alumni, local communities, schools, and businesses enhance the sense of community throughout and beyond the University, as stated in the Strategic Plan.

To help strengthen our state’s economy, the University has joined Choose New Jersey, a state organization designed to encourage economic growth throughout New Jersey, including a focus on making the state’s most distressed cities engines for growth and opportunity.

This year, William Paterson and the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park formalized a partnership to generate greater use of the Park’s historical, cultural, and natural resources for educational purposes. The collaboration will include a variety of initiatives, including internships for University students.

William Paterson University is a partner with United for Prevention in Passaic County (UpinPC), a county-wide coalition whose mission is to prevent and reduce alcohol and drug abuse among the youth and adults of Passaic County by offering training, community education, sharing of resources, and encouraging collaboration between communities. The work of the coalition has resulted in the placement of five permanent medicine drop boxes throughout the county that will serve to reduce the access and availability of prescription medications. Additionally, the coalition is collaborating with the University’s Counseling, Health, and Wellness Center and the Human Services Peer Advocate Club at Passaic County Community College to create campus-wide messages and programming about the dangers of underage drinking and the harmful consequences of abusing and misusing prescription pills.

Throughout the year, the University sponsored a wide variety of outreach programs that bring high school students from around the state, as well as their parents and teachers, to campus to participate in conferences, lectures, forums, and other activities, and at the same time experience William Paterson University.

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IV. Community Outreach

Abram Kartch/Jefferson Lecture

Stephen Shalom and New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education Rochelle Hendricks with Farzana Z. Line, a Ghandian Forum writing contest winner

lecture about sports and social justice, among other programs. 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.

The 31st Annual Orlando Saa Foreign Language Poetry Contest drew more than 900 students from 50 high schools and middle schools in the region, reciting poems in nine languages.

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 pre-college 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.

Alumni EngagementWilliam Paterson University is successfully engaging alumni in University life and events. Over the past three years, the University has increased alumni event participation by 29 percent.

This year, about 1,500 alumni participated in nearly 60 alumni-hosted events as the alumni

relations team continued to find new and exciting ways to engage alumni, including increased participation in both traditional and new Homecoming Weekend events such as tailgating, an alumni art show, stargazing with the College of Science and Health, and the biannual Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The alumni team also expanded participation in several other events, including monthly webinars that utilize alumni expertise, the Pioneer Society Luncheon, and a Cambridge Study Abroad alumni event, just to name a few. The 2nd Annual Regional Alumni-Retired Faculty event also took place in Sarasota, Florida.

To support student success, the Alumni Association funded three grants last year: $25,000 for Pioneer retention initiatives, $5,000 for the Model UN Program in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, and $7,000 for specialized computer software to support undergraduate science education in the College of Science and Health. The Alumni Association also granted $25,000 to the College of Education as part of the Alumni Association Distinguished Visiting Professorship. This generous Alumni Association contribution is rotated on an annual basis through each of the University’s five colleges and provides deans with an opportunity to bring leaders in their fields to campus.

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Summer youth programs

Francisco Diaz, associate vice president for campus life, and President Waldron at Homecoming

Professor Octavio de la Suaree at the Foreign Language Poetry Contest

Alumni Class of 1964 Reunion

William Paterson University is establishing itself as a model of excellence and affordability, as stated in the Strategic Plan. For 2014-15, the University limited undergraduate and graduate tuition and fee increases to 1.7 percent, with no increase in housing costs. This marked the fourth straight year that the percentage increase for tuition and fees was held to 2 percent or less.

Academic Zone Master Plan and Facilities UpgradesThe University is taking steps toward achieving our long-range plan to modernize facilities in the main academic core of campus. In June, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Secretary of Higher Education Rochelle Hendricks joined in breaking ground on our new $40 million academic building, which is being funded in part by $30 million from the “Building Our Future” Bond Act. The building will be a 78,000-square-foot teaching and research facility that will serve a minimum of 4,000 students per semester. It will feature 16 general-use classrooms as well as specialized classrooms and clinical spaces for the University’s well-established and expanding programs in nursing, communication disorders, and public health, including an expanded Nel Bolger, RN Nursing Laboratory and the University’s Speech and Hearing Clinic, which provides the community with a full range of diagnostic and therapeutic services for communication disorders. In line with our commitment to sustainability, the building will

be designed for efficiency, and the University will seek LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Completion is scheduled for 2016.

Plans are also on track to begin the renovation of Hunziker Wing and Hunziker Hall after the new academic building is complete, with construction beginning in 2016.

This year, the University completed construction of a new parking garage set to open in fall 2014. The garage adds 1,035 new parking spaces and increases the parking capacity on campus by 22 percent. Located on the hillside behind Lot 2 and adjacent to Science Hall East, the new garage recently garnered an award for its energy-efficient LED lighting technology. The Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders presented the Green Design Award at its annual green design conference in June.

FundraisingThis year the University raised $4.5 million in new donations and commitments in support of the University, our students, and academic excellence, an increase of 45 percent over the prior year. Our scholarship endowment ($5.9 million) has increased more than 57 percent over the past three years and we distributed nearly $600,000 in scholarship support to University students.

Recent notable gifts to the University include:

� Pesce Family Mentoring Institute. William J. Pesce ’73, a member of the William Paterson University Board of Trustees and retired president and CEO of John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Henrietta M. Pesce ’72, MA ’75, long-time

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Groundbreaking for the new academic building (from left): graduate student Elizabeth Hohnecker, Provost Warren Sandmann, Governor Chris Christie, Board of Trustees Chairman Frederick Gruel, and New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education Rochelle Hendricks

New Pioneer Parking Garage

V. Outstanding and Affordable Education

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benefactors of William Paterson University, and their children Michael and Katie have donated a generous gift to establish the Pesce Family Mentoring Institute in the University’s Career Development Center. The Pesce Family Mentoring Institute is designed to help prepare students for their careers or graduate education by connecting successful professionals, including alumni and community partners, with selected William Paterson undergraduate students.

� The Center for Chinese Art (CCART). The Center for Chinese Art is the recipient of a generous $600,000 pledge over three years from the Shanghai William Chinese Art Foundation. President Kathleen Waldron, College of the Arts and Communication Dean Daryl Moore, and Professor Zhiyuan Cong traveled to Shanghai in June to accept the donation and celebrate the creation of this new foundation dedicated to supporting CCART and cultural exchange between the United States and China. This gift will support the mission of CCART to promote understanding and appreciation of Chinese culture and art.

� Scholarship Fund. A $400,000 gift was received from an anonymous donor to establish a scholarship fund for students demonstrating financial need.

� Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation Grant. Increased funding was received from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation amounting to $150,000 to support the College of Education’s Professor-in-Residence Program and the Summer Jazz Workshop.

� Richard Varron Scholarship. A gift of $187,000 in life insurance from the late Richard Varron ’79, ’81, MA ‘90 was received to establish the Richard Varron Scholarship for students demonstrating financial need.

Visibility This year, the University had many accomplishments with regard to building institutional identity and expanding visibility, including hosting notable speakers and events, earning various recognitions, and achieving positive media coverage as well as momentum in social media.

Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education placed the University on its list of Top 100 Colleges and Universities for four-year, full-time undergraduate and graduate enrollment. In addition, Diverse Issues in Higher Education named William Paterson a Top 100 Degree Producer for conferring the most undergraduate degrees on minority students

In October,the University hosted a gubernatorial debate between Governor Chris Christie and Senator Barbara Buono, in partnership with WCBS-TV and WCBS Newsradio 880 in New York; KYW-TV and KYW Newsradio 1060 in Philadelphia; The Record, and the Asbury Park Press and its sister Gannett New Jersey newspapers. More than 550,000 viewers watched the live broadcast and the University’s hosting of the debate received extensive media coverage in New Jersey and throughout the nation.

President Kathleen Waldron was a recipient of the 2014 West Bergen Mental Healthcare Distinguished Service Award, a symbol of excellence that is given each year to exceptional community leaders.

William J. Pesce

Gubenatorial debate between Governor Chris Christie and Senator Barbara Buono

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Over the course of the year, the University hosted a number of distinguished guest speakers and performers, including neuroscientist Daniel Levitan and singer/songwriter Roseanne Cash; Broadway producer and director Harold Prince; jazz superstar John Pizzarelli; Bernie Flynn, president and CEO of NJM Insurance Group; Mary Fernandez, CEO of MentorNet; and W. Alejandro Sanchez, a senior research fellow at the Council on Hemispheric Affairs.

Additionally, University alumnus Kevin Burkhardt ’97, a reporter for SNY’s Mets coverage and a National Football League play-by-play announcer for Fox Sports, gave the commencement address at the University’s 191st commencement ceremony, which was held at the Izod Center in May. During the ceremony, the University presented three honorary degrees. Dr. Mary Mundinger, former dean of the School of Nursing at Columbia University, who developed the first doctor of nursing practice program, received an honorary doctor of science degree. Renowned jazz guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli received an honorary doctor of fine arts degree. Robert Taylor, William Paterson University’s first trustee emeritus, who served on the University’s board for 22 years, received an honorary doctor of humane letters degree.

The University hosted the Department of Justice in April as part of their national university tour to raise awareness of campus violence and sexual assault. As a recipient of the department’s Office on Violence Against Women’s “Grants to Reduce Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, and Stalking on Campus Program,” the University was one of only 10 programs selected for the national tour.

In partnership with our ad agency Fuseideas, the University extended its successful Will. Power. marketing campaign with the launch of a newly designed website that reflects the brand. Ads supporting undergraduate and graduate student

recruitment were prominently featured throughout the region on billboards, buses, radio, newspaper, and web and mobile sites.

Our Marketing and Public Relations Department also earned several awards from the New Jersey Ad Club, including first place for the Fuseideas/William Paterson partnership on the Will. Power. online viewbook in the micro website design category and second place for the Fuseideas/William Paterson partnership on elements of the Will. Power. campaign in the collateral/multimedia campaign category. In addition, the department won first place for the WP/Will. Power. campus shuttle bus design in the out-of-home/transit category and a certificate of excellence for design of the commencement program.

Throughout the year, the University also garnered a wide range of publicity, including feature stories and quotes in New Jersey and national media. Highlights include extensive coverage of commencement, the Caucus: New Jersey television feature on the Russ Berrie Institute which ran repeatedly on Channel 13, NJTV and WHYY, feature stories in The Record on the Woodrow Wilson and Dodge Foundation grants, a feature on WOR (NY) radio about Jason Wicke’s research on children’s sports injuries, a feature in The Record on research by Ron Verdicchio and his students in Prospect Park, significant national coverage of Jennifer DiNoia’s research on the nutritional value of fruits and vegetables, and coverage of the University’s poetry contest.

The University also connected with its target audiences through social media, with large increases in University, alumni, and admissions platforms including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, among others. Our success in social media has increased engagement, built a stronger sense of community, and supported the strengthening of institutional identity.

The redesigned website

John Pizzarelli

About WilliAm PAterson universityWilliam Paterson University is a leading public University with nearly 11,500 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 40

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 67,000 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 Jerseywpunj.edu