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JERSEY CITY, N.J. |  (NJCU) in partnership with campus stakeholders and in affirmation of the valued promise of shared governance has partnered to unveil a refresh of the University Mission Statement. Furthermore, as part of the process, which was finalized during the Fall 2023 semester, NJCU is proud to introduce its first Vision Statement. 

Both statements are offered in both English and Spanish, in recognition of the richly diverse community the university serves and as testament to its status as the oldest public four-year minority and Hispanic-serving institution in ��ɫ����.  

MISSION STATEMENT:
��ɫ���� empowers its students through a highly accessible, equity-driven, and transformative education. An NJCU education focuses on students' personal, professional, and civic development to facilitate their socio-economic mobility. We uplift our diverse community of students, including historically underserved and underrepresented, first-generation, and adult learners. 

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��ɫ���� empodera a sus estudiantes a través de una educación altamente accesible, impulsada por la equidad y transformativa. La educación en NJCU se enfoca en el desarrollo personal, profesional y cívico de los estudiantes para facilitar su movilidad socioeconómica. Elevamos a nuestra diversa comunidad de estudiantes, incluyendo a aquellos históricamente desatendidos y subrepresentados, estudiantes de primera generación y estudiantes adultos.
 

VISION STATEMENT:
We aim to inspire intellectual curiosity, nurture conscious citizenship and community engagement, and uplift our community through teaching, research, and service by dedicated and supportive faculty, staff, and partnerships that create opportunity.

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Aspiramos a inspirar la curiosidad intelectual, fomentar la ciudadanía consciente y el compromiso comunitario, y elevar a nuestra comunidad a través de la enseñanza, la investigación y el servicio por parte de un profesorado, personal y socios solidarios que crean oportunidades.

Luke Visconti, the chair of the NJCU Board of Trustees, stressed: “I am proud of the unprecedented spirit of collaboration and shared governance that led to our refreshed mission and vision statements. The Board is dedicated to serving the people of Jersey City, Hudson County, and ��ɫ����, and we believe the only way to successfully accomplish this is by including all of NJCU’s constituents in the process. NJCU is the on-ramp to the middle class for our students. As chair, I am personally committed to leading the Board in continuing the shared governance necessary to best serve our community. I am grateful to be a member of the hard-working and successful NJCU community, which embodies the very best characteristics of humanity and our country.”

NJCU Interim President Andrés Acebo acknowledged the significance of the mission refresh and new vision statement as part of the university’s continued transition, which also benefited from the administration’s commitment to shared governance.

“I am filled with immense pride and gratitude as I reflect on the collaborative journey we have undertaken to articulate a new mission and vision statement for ��ɫ����. This monumental achievement stands as a testament to the power of shared governance and the strength of our collective commitment to shaping and serving the future of our institution.

Our mission, the heart of our educational endeavors, cements our dedication to creating an inclusive and empowering environment for all our students. Through shared values of academic excellence, social responsibility, and community engagement, we aspire to provide a transformative educational experience that prepares our students for the challenges and opportunities that their remarkable lives will confront.

Our vision, a beacon guiding us forward, paints a brilliant and worthy picture of the future we collectively seek for our community. It is a future where intellectual curiosity and social impact thrive, and where we serve a model for advancing knowledge, cultivating conscious citizenship, and promoting equity.

The collaborative efforts that have gifted us these revitalized mission and vision statements are nothing short of inspiring. Faculty, staff, students, administrators, trustees, and community stakeholders have come together to articulate our shared values and aspirations. The thoughtful discussions, diverse perspectives, and collective wisdom that have shaped our new mission and vision statement truly exemplify the renewed spirit of shared governance at NJCU. 

This process has not only resulted in a meaningful articulation of our institutional identity but has also strengthened the bonds that tie us together as a community. It is a pertinent reminder that, as we navigate the evolving complexities of higher education, our greatest asset is our collective intelligence, compassion, and commitment to our students’ success.”

Rachél Fester, Ph.D., NJCU’s Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness and Accreditation Liaison Officer for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, helped orchestrate the mission and vision statement process on behalf of the university. 

“NJCU is deeply committed to meeting and exceeding the Standards for Accreditation of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education — our institutional accreditation agency,” Dr. Fester noted. “As part of this commitment, on behalf of the Office of the President, I worked hand in hand with the University Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Strategic Planning to engage all faculty, staff, students and alumni in a thoughtful review and refresh of our University mission. I am extraordinarily proud of both our process, which upheld principles of shared governance and rigorous research, and the outcome — a meaningful and measurable mission that celebrates our distinctive and important role in the higher education landscape of our state.”

Fran Moran, Ph.D., the President of the University Senate and Chair of NJCU’s Political Science Department added: “The new NJCU mission and vision statements reflect NJCU's recommitment to the students and people of Hudson County and ��ɫ����. Just as important, their development demonstrated a renewed commitment from University Administration to the principles of shared governance so essential to a healthy academic institution.  President Acebo and the members of the Board of Trustees entrusted the University Senate to help draft these statements and they welcomed and incorporated our input. The final versions of these statements were the culmination of a full-day retreat attended by members of all constituencies. Speaking on behalf of the University Senate, I can unequivocally say that the students, faculty, staff and alumni we represent are all deeply committed to this institution and the ideals expressed in these statements.”

��ɫ���� NJCU: 
��ɫ���� is a comprehensive public regional institution of higher learning located in Jersey City, N.J., dedicated to the development of our students, our city, our communities, and our state. We are a game-changing force for our students and have been recognized as one of the top colleges in the nation improving their upward economic mobility. In fact, NJCU has been ranked No. 1 in ��ɫ���� and Top 10 in the nation in the CollegeNET Social Mobility Index for 2023. Whether enrolled in one of our undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral programs at our three locations, NJCU students have access to an affordable, diverse environment, and an exceptionally supportive faculty. This prepares them to go on to become the next generation of workers and leaders who improve their communities and the State of ��ɫ����.

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Contact: 
Ira Thor, Associate Vice President for University Communications | ithor@njcu.edu | 201-200-3301