NJCU @ Fort Monmouth Officially Opens with Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
JERSEY CITY, N.J. | New Jersey City University (NJCU) officially opened its new location at Fort Monmouth, the historic former United States Army base, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that was held on August 25, 2021.
Video of Ceremony | Event Photos
The ceremonial event was attended by New Jersey state and Monmouth County political leaders, and representatives from the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE), the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority (FMERA), and the Monmouth County Chamber of Commerce.
Prior to the official ribbon cutting, remarks were offered by 11 speakers, including Sue Henderson, President of NJCU; New Jersey State Senator Vin Gopal; Assemblywoman Joann Downey; Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling; and Tim Sullivan, CEO of the NJEDA. Downey and Houghtaling presented a resolution to the university on behalf of The Senate and General Assembly.
As the educational partner in the revitalization of Fort Monmouth, NJCU’s new location will expand bachelor's and master's degree offerings along the Jersey Shore, giving the university the only four-year public higher education program in the area.
President Henderson said: “The opening of NJCU at Fort Monmouth is the culmination of our collective vision of expanding public higher education to the Jersey Shore. This is a major milestone in the history of our institution. Through our investment in this multi-year project and our partnership with FMERA, many more students in the state will have the opportunity to complete their undergraduate studies and pursue master's degrees close to home without incurring significant debt. This aligns with our mission of providing a diverse population with an excellent education as we continue to keep that promise for our next generation of students.”
Sullivan added “FMERA has worked tirelessly toward its vision of restoring Fort Monmouth to its place as a creator of jobs and reinventing it as a driver of economic activity centered around innovation. Welcoming NJCU onto Fort Monmouth furthers two of Governor Murphy’s goals – increasing access to institutions of higher education and repositioning stranded assets to drive equitable and inclusive investment in our communities. A win-win by all accounts.”
The new location in Squier Hall — formerly the home of the Signal Corps — is renovated from its origins as a 1935-era administrative building and is now a state-of-the-art facility featuring 15 classrooms, a nursing education center, a cybersecurity computer lab, and offices for faculty and staff in a 72,000-square-foot building located on more than 22 acres. Additionally, the facility includes a flexible event space which will host organizations and community events as a partner to the Monmouth County community.
NJCU @ Fort Monmouth is expected to serve hundreds of students per semester with future expansions possible.
“The Office of the Secretary of Higher Education applauds NJCU for opening a new academic facility at Fort Monmouth, which will expand access and affordable postsecondary options to Monmouth County and the surrounding area,” said Dr. Brian K. Bridges, Secretary of Higher Education. “This takes us closer to reaching our State’s commitment that every New Jerseyan, regardless of life circumstances or zip code, has the opportunity to attain a high-quality postsecondary credential.”
David Socolow, Executive Director of the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, praised the project, saying “This facility is advancing the goal of access and affordability for students. At NJHESAA, students are the center of everything we do and that is what is happening here. Students are having an opportunity, who live near this location, to get a high-quality degree credential, save money, and reduce the amount of student loan debt. That’s what this is all about and this could not have come at a better time, particularly, for the students of this institution.”
Senator Gopal, in his remarks, added: “This is so exciting what this campus is going to offer. We have such a big nursing shortage in the state of New Jersey — one of the worst anywhere in the country — and what NJCU is going to do for that profession, as well as so much related to STEM in this area, is going to have such an impact. And the cost effectiveness of coming to this campus and being a student here is going to be stronger than anywhere in our area. This is an exciting day for the residents and more importantly for the future students of Monmouth County."
NJCU has maintained a presence in Monmouth County for more than 15 years, as it has offered degree-completion programs in partnership with Brookdale Community College on the Wall and Lincroft campuses. This historic expansion at a new location will offer the only affordable, public, four-year option in the area.
Also speaking at the ceremony were Sandra Gilot-West, the Chief of State for OSHE; Socolow; Teresa Rolke, Executive Director of the Monmouth Regional Chamber of Commerce; project developer Robert M. Kaye, founder, chairman, and CEO of The PRC Group of Companies and Tony Bastardi, chairman and CEO of Strategic Development Group.
About NJCU
New Jersey City University is an institution of higher learning with an audacious goal: the development of our students, our city, our communities, our state, and the world beyond. We are a game-changing force for our students and their families. Whether our students are enrolled in one of our 50 undergraduate, 28 graduate or three doctoral programs, NJCU provides an affordable, diverse environment, and an exceptionally supportive faculty—all of which prepares them to be critical thinkers in a global landscape.
We’re also changing the game for our city, our communities, and our state. As the educational anchor institution in Jersey City, we’ve established partnerships to ensure the area’s growth directly benefits our students and community members. We seek to improve the lives of everyone in the Garden State, whether creating a home for the arts, bringing educational programs to K-12 students, offering bachelor’s degrees in partnership with community colleges, or providing professional development opportunities for adults.
At NJCU, we’re not just educating minds, we’re nourishing souls and lifting communities. We’re changing the game.
Contact:
Ira Thor, Senior Director of University Communications and Media Relations | ithor@njcu.edu | 201-200-3301