Subcommittee Spotlight
Academic Affairs Subcommittee
Led by David Birdsell, Ph.D., Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Kean University, and Donna Adair, Ph.D., Interim Provost and Senior Vice President at NJCU
The Academic Affairs Subcommittee works to align programs, policies and practices across Kean and NJCU to build a unified academic foundation for the integrated institution. The team is reviewing every degree program to identify the strongest offerings for students. Kean has commissioned Hanover Research to assess the attractiveness of degree programs at both universities. The team will begin diving into that data next month.
The Subcommittee is also looking at how the two institutions nurture faculty from recruitment through tenure and promotion to facilitate the creation of fair and consistent standards across both campuses. This work has already produced comprehensive inventories of syllabi, faculty CVs and academic policies from both universities.
Through this process, subcommittee members have gained an appreciation for the complexity of bringing together two institutions with different Carnegie classifications, while recognizing shared commitments to first-generation students and to serving as anchor institutions. The team is looking forward to designing an academic portfolio that strengthens the combined institution and supports student success well into the future.
Student Affairs Subcommittee
Led by Kerrin Lyles, Vice President for Student Affairs at Kean University, and Pia Stevens-Haynes, Ed.D., Acting Vice President of Student Development and Community Engagement at NJCU
The Student Affairs Subcommittee is aligning programs, services and experiences that shape campus life to ensure students feel connected, supported and able to thrive during the Kean–NJCU integration. The team is examining student-facing resources at both institutions, including clubs, organizations, facilities and support services, to minimize disruptions and foster a seamless campus experience.
The subcommittee conducted a meet-and-greet and campus visits that built trust, introduced colleagues and provided firsthand insight into how the institutions welcome and support students. The Kean team also visited New Student Orientation at NJCU. Building on that foundation, the subcommittee is now developing joint civic engagement projects, leadership retreats and community conversations, along with a shared programming calendar to connect students across both campuses.
The team finds that Kean and NJCU closely mirror one another in their student support and services, which strengthens collaboration and unity. As the integration progresses, this spirit of cooperation will ensure that students remain at the center of this transition.