Kean University Course Supports Sensory Room Enhancements at The Arc of Union County

Kean University students made a meaningful difference beyond the classroom, helping expand access to supportive services for individuals with disabilities while gaining hands-on experience in philanthropy and community engagement. 

Students in a Spring 2025 “Learning by Giving” course awarded $5,000 to The Arc of Union County to enhance the nonprofit’s sensory room at its Springfield facility. The improvements were celebrated during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on February 19. 

The course, led by Associate Professor Gregory R. Witkowski, Ph.D., of Kean’s College of Business and Public Management, immersed students in the real-world grantmaking process. Throughout the semester, students studied philanthropy and nonprofit funding while working directly with community organizations. Witkowski partnered with United Way to connect students with local nonprofits that were seeking support. 

“This experience empowers students to make decisions and rewards them for their work,” Witkowski said. “With the opening of the sensory room, they can see the impact of their decisions.” 

Kean University Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs David Birdsell, Ph.D., addressed attendees at the ceremony, emphasizing the broader value of hands-on learning and community collaboration. 

“Kean is pleased, humbled and grateful to introduce our students to a decision-making process that shows them how deeply this matters to the people who are the recipients of this care, and how they themselves can be effective at making change in the world,” Birdsell said. 

As part of the course, students reviewed grant proposals, conducted site visits and engaged in thoughtful discussions about how to allocate available funds for the greatest community impact. After careful evaluation, they selected The Arc of Union County to receive the award, recognizing the importance of enhancing the sensory room to better serve clients and families. 

Edwin Asuta ’07, executive director of The Arc of Union County and a Kean alumnus, expressed his gratitude during the ribbon-cutting ceremony. 

“This is truly meaningful for The Arc of Union County, and most importantly to the individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities that we serve and support every day,” Asuta said. 

The funds supported upgrades to enrich the sensory environment, a space that provides therapeutic and calming experiences. The enhancements will allow The Arc of Union County to better meet the needs of those it serves. 

For recent graduates who participated in the class, the project provided an opportunity to apply classroom learning to real-world decision-making and to see how thoughtful investments can strengthen community organizations. 

“It was an honor and a privilege to be a part of a class where we were able to impact an organization,” said Diane Freitas ’25. “I was happy to see how the sensory room has transformed and how it will be able to help so many people.” 

By combining experiential learning with community engagement, the project reflects Kean’s commitment to public impact and preparing students to contribute meaningfully to the communities they serve. The course is being offered again this semester, and current students attended the ribbon-cutting to see firsthand how previous class decisions translated into meaningful community impact. 

“It is nice to know that we were able to leave a legacy somewhere and be a part of a project bigger than ourselves,” said Shane Gagnon ’25. “Giving back to the local community is so important.”