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Impending Winter Storm

Due to the impending storm, all classes and activities at Kean’s main campus in Union, Kean Ocean and Kean Skylands will operate remotely on Sunday, January 25, and Monday, January 26. 

The University will observe a Winter Wellness Day on Tuesday, January 27, following the storm. Classes and activities will not run, and employees are not expected to work. 

Due to ongoing power problems at the Kean Ocean Gateway Building, all classes and activities at Kean Ocean will also be conducted remotely on Friday, January 23, and Saturday, January 24. This only applies to Kean Ocean. 

Only essential personnel should report to work as scheduled during the remote period or on Tuesday. Employees with questions about their status should consult their supervisor. 

Keanu’s Kitchen will remain open for residential students on the Union campus from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Tuesday. 

All vehicles parked on the Union campus must be relocated to the Vaughn-Eames overnight parking lot by 6 p.m. on Saturday to allow for storm cleanup. Vehicles parked elsewhere on campus are subject to relocation. 

Kean Enhances Community Engagement Through KUBS Program Visit

Feb 26, 2024
Students from Kean's KUBS program stand on the basketball court at U Penn

In a significant step toward supporting youth in New Jersey's urban communities, representatives from Kean University's Building Stronger Urban Communities (KUBS) program recently visited the University of Pennsylvania's Netter Center for Community Partnerships to learn strategies for creating social impact through sports.

The purpose of the visit on February 19 was to explore synergies between Kean's KUBS Athletics Program and the Penn Young Quakers Community Athletics Program, a model initiative that has been serving underprivileged students in West Philadelphia for 15 years. The Young Quakers program offers athletics, mentoring and enriching activities to students in grades 4-8, emphasizing youth development, trauma-informed sports practices and transformative experiences.

"Dynamic student-athletes from both institutions shared insights and mentored middle school students from West Philadelphia, demonstrating the impact of community service and engagement," said Joseph Youngblood II, Ph.D., senior vice president of Transformational Learning and External Affairs at Kean.

The Kean team included members of the Kean Student Athletic Advisory Council (SAAC), the Athletics Department and the Division of Transformational Learning and External Affairs. 

"College athletes have the potential to create dramatic and lasting impact in the local community," said Tanner Ash, a member of SAAC. “Our interactions with the Young Quakers program serve as a model that solidifies Kean University as an institution that transforms not only its students but also the local community.”

The day included a Q&A session with UPenn students and observation of the Young Quakers basketball program, providing Kean representatives with valuable insights into effective community engagement and mentorship through athletics. 

“I really enjoyed seeing the Young Quaker's faces light up the second they walked through the gym to play basketball with the UPenn basketball teams,” said Karly Messina, a member of SAAC. “It was amazing how excited they were to see the returning volunteers.”

The visit to the Netter Center is an important step in the further development of the Kean KUBS program as it works to enhance community engagement and social impact in urban communities throughout New Jersey. 

"I am excited to see how Kean University makes use of what we saw and learned about to make it our own and apply it to our KUBS program," said SAAC member Kayla Brady.

Launched last year, the Kean KUBS program has held several sporting events, including basketball tournaments and volleyball and lacrosse clinics, to connect young people across the area with higher education through athletics.

The insights and experiences gained from the University of Pennsylvania visit will shape new initiatives and programs at Kean that will benefit the local community and beyond.

"The KUBS program and Kean student-athletes are committed to climbing even higher and making a difference in the lives of students in urban communities," said Kean Athletic Director Kelly Williams.

For more information about the KUBS program, contact Michael Shapiro, KUBS coordinator, at shmichae@kean.edu.

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