Leadership Update

Dear Kean and NJCU Communities, 

As we reflect on the progress of our integration journey, we want to begin this December message with heartfelt gratitude. Last month, we were honored to welcome hundreds of faculty, staff, students and community members to the second Town Hall, held on Kean’s campus. Your presence, your energy, and most importantly, your questions made the event a powerful moment of connection and shared purpose. 

We were especially encouraged by the thoughtful inquiries posed by students from both universities. Your voices are at the heart of this process. We know the event was long, but it was important to us to ensure that every student who had a question received an answer. Your engagement helped ground the conversation in what matters most: our shared future in academics, employment and the path ahead. 

We also recognize that this is a time of uncertainty for many people. Mergers bring change, and change can be difficult. But this is also a season of gratitude and togetherness. We encourage everyone to take time this holiday season to pause, reflect and be with family and friends. Amid the demands of work and study, we hope you can step back, even briefly, and find space for rest and renewal. 

At Kean, we say that Cougars Climb Higher. That spirit of collaboration, determination and support now extends proudly to our NJCU partners. Together, we are building something stronger: a united, student-centered community guided by excellence, inclusion and care.  

Looking ahead, we know that the coming year promises to be a momentous one. In 2026, this journey will culminate in the launch of Kean Jersey City, marking the formal completion of this historic merger. Your partnership will continue to be essential as we shape a university community that lifts students on both campuses higher. We wish you a joyful holiday season, no matter what traditions you celebrate, and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.  

Sincerely, 
Lamont O. Repollet, Ed.D. 
President, Kean University 

Andrés Acebo, J.D. 
President, New Jersey City University 

Dear Kean and NJCU Communities,

We are very grateful to everyone who took the time to complete the recent Baseline Attitudes & Communication Feedback Survey about our pending merger. Your voices are essential to this process, and we are truly moved by the nearly 3,000 responses received from students, faculty, staff and alumni across both campuses.

Your overwhelming participation shows that our communities are engaged, thoughtful and deeply invested in shaping the future of our institutions. We were especially encouraged by the honesty and care reflected in your feedback. The survey revealed that a clear majority of you are familiar with the merger; hopeful about its potential benefits, including enhanced academic offerings, expanded career opportunities, and greater access; and eager for ongoing communication that is transparent and responsive.

We hear you. Many of you also expressed a desire for more detail about the merger’s impact on academic programs and cost. Others shared a need for deeper clarity on timelines and the rationale behind certain decisions. This is exactly why we launched this survey to learn directly from you. We are now analyzing your responses and using them to inform our approach moving forward, particularly in how we communicate and engage our communities during this transformational time.

As a token of our appreciation, we have randomly selected 30 individuals from both Kean and NJCU to receive special Cougar Prize Packs for participating in the survey. We’ll be reaching out to the recipients later this week.

Our commitment to transparency and inclusion remains unwavering. This is not just an administrative process; it’s a shared journey. Together, we are building a stronger, more dynamic institution that is grounded in equity, opportunity and the promise of public impact.

To continue that conversation, we invite you to attend our next joint Town Hall, scheduled for Wednesday, November 12, on the Kean campus. This gathering will be another opportunity to ask questions, hear updates and learn more about what’s ahead. Please RSVP and submit your questions by Friday, November 7.

We thank you once again for your engagement, your insights and your belief in what’s possible. This merger is about creating a future where our communities can climb higher together.

Sincerely,

Lamont O. Repollet, Ed.D., President, Kean University

Andrés Acebo, J.D., President, New Jersey City University

Dear Kean and NJCU Communities, 

This week, we proudly signed the definitive agreement that advances the historic merger between Kean University and New Jersey City University. It is a major step toward the launch of Kean Jersey City. 

With our signatures, we affirmed a shared commitment to expanding access, advancing equity, and building a more inclusive, student-centered system of public higher education in New Jersey. This merger will empower generations of students to climb higher. It lays the foundation for what will become a model of innovation and collaboration across the state and the nation. 

We are grateful to the boards of trustees, faculty, staff, students, and leadership teams at both institutions for their vision, partnership and hard work in reaching this milestone. Still, we know that this is only the beginning. Much work remains to be done. The path forward will require thoughtful planning, transparent communication and active participation from our university communities. 

To that end, we invite you to join us in person or via livestream for a joint Town Hall on Wednesday, October 8, at the NJCU campus. We will share updates, answer your questions, and continue the dialogue as we shape this next chapter together. Please be sure to RSVP and submit your questions by Friday, October 3. 

We also encourage you to read more below in this issue of Inside the Integration. You'll learn about the Culture of Care and Enrollment Services Integration Teams, get answers to frequently asked questions specifically for alumni, and find links to recent news coverage about our pending merger.  

Thank you for the energy and commitment you bring to this moment. We are excited for the journey ahead and we are honored to take it with you. 

Let us keep climbing together. 

Sincerely, 
Lamont O. Repollet, Ed.D. 
President, Kean University 

Andrés Acebo, J.D. 
President, New Jersey City University 

Dear Kean and NJCU Communities,  

Welcome to the first edition of Inside the Integration, a monthly newsletter designed to provide open, timely and transparent communication throughout the ongoing integration of Kean University (Kean) and New Jersey City University (NJCU). This publication will serve as a central resource for updates, milestones and opportunities to engage with the process as we move forward to create Kean Jersey City.  

Over the summer, over 15 integration teams comprised of dedicated faculty, staff and administrators from Kean and NJCU have been working diligently. Each team is focused on key operational and academic areas to learn from one another, build bridges between our institutions and lay the groundwork for a successful merger. The process is dynamic, and its timeline is dependent on a series of essential approvals by both the U.S. Department of Education and the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. While the exact pace of progress depends on these approvals, our shared goal is to complete the integration by July 1, 2026.  

To support this effort, Inside the Integration will include a visual timeline highlighting key milestones as they emerge. Each edition will also spotlight the work of the integration subcommittees, share upcoming events and feature a frequently asked questions (FAQ) section where you can both submit and view questions and answers. We aim to keep everyone at Kean and NJCU informed and engaged.  

We will continue to emphasize transparency throughout this process by ensuring that both the Kean and NJCU communities receive important information at the same time, starting with this message. In that spirit, I invite you to mark your calendar for an Integration Town Hall on the NJCU campus on Wednesday, October 8, from 2-3:30 p.m. I hope you will join me in person if you are at NJCU or via a virtual link if you are part of the Kean community. Details will be shared soon.  

This integration is more than a structural change; it is a transformational opportunity. Together, we are building a new model for higher education in New Jersey, one that is deeply committed to serving students from urban communities like Hudson County with equitable access to an outstanding education. We are setting a precedent that other institutions may look to as a model for inclusive, student-centered collaboration.  

I want to recognize and thank New Jersey City University President Andrés Acebo for his steady and collaborative leadership throughout this process. His commitment to NJCU’s students, faculty and staff is helping to guide this integration with care and purpose. I also thank all of you, faculty, staff and students. Together, we are creating something truly remarkable in Kean Jersey City.  

Sincerely,  

 
Lamont O. Repollet, Ed.D.  
President, Kean University