Academic Excellence
SUBGOALS
1. Cultivate student success through innovative teaching and research training practices and comprehensive support systems that prepare graduates at all degree levels for meaningful professional contributions.
2. Advance faculty-led research, including work with demonstrable community impact, positioning Kean as a leader in addressing urban, regional and global challenges.
3. Develop signature academic programs aligned with workforce needs that enhance Kean’s educational identity and value proposition.
4. Create an integrated academic ecosystem across all Kean campuses that maintains consistent standards while leveraging each location’s unique strengths and opportunities.
5. Foster a culture of teaching and research excellence through comprehensive faculty development that balances pedagogical innovation with disciplinary expertise and scholarship.
6. Build a dynamic network of alumni, industry and university partners, and community organizations that enriches academic programs, provides real-world learning opportunities, and creates career pathways for students.
7. Expand global engagement through international learning and research partnerships, exchange programs, and curriculum internationalization to prepare students for success in an interconnected world.
Kean University earned the prestigious R2 research university designation under the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, signifying a major milestone in the University’s evolution as a research institution. This classification places Kean among the top eight percent of colleges and universities nationwide for research activity and doctoral degree production.
STRATEGIES
Curriculum Innovation
- Update programs and create new offerings aligned with industry trends, workforce demands, and new technical an intellectual challenges
- Continue curriculum/GE parsimony and flexibility
Global Engagement
- Expand travelearn and other global exchange programs, joint research opportunities, faculty and student exchange, and international branding
- Integrate structures and oversight across campuses with specific strategic objectives for each additional location
Student Success Initiatives
- Develop mentorship programs both on-campus and with industry partners
- Implement early academic interventions and career readiness activities
- Enhance undergraduate, graduate and doctoral advising, mentorship, and career development programs
- Offer expanded research and global opportunities
- Create effective feedback loops for continuous improvement
Faculty Engagement and Development
- Invest in faculty development, support and infrastructure for research, teaching, and cross-disciplinary initiatives
- Provide adequate time (RTR/load adjustments), internal and external funding, research development training, and recognition for achieving academic distinction
- Enhance senior faculty recruitment efforts
Research and Innovation Centers
- Establish transdisciplinary and focused centers of excellence in key research areas such as urban development, healthcare, arts, humanities, and STEM
- Drive innovation, recruitment, and funding opportunities through specialized centers
At Kean University’s annual Research Days, bold ideas met real-world innovation. Students and faculty across disciplines are driving change that matters. As New Jersey’s Urban Research University and an R2-designated institution, Kean is committed to advancing evidence-based solutions that support our communities and the world.
Community Engagement
- Integrate community service into academic programs (e.g., CBPM UBI)
- Host public forums and events that address community needs
- Increase employer and industry partnerships through:
- Internships and co-op programs
- Advisory councils/boards
- Industry-funded research projects
- Industry-oriented certificates and training programs
- Connect alumni with current students for career guidance and internship/job opportunities
- Create targeted fundraising initiatives
- Sponsor and host professional conferences
- Support faculty service in professional organizations and boards