New Jersey City University’s AFT Local 1839 Announces Second Major Gift to Support Faculty and Staff Research and Academic Initiatives
JERSEY CITY, N.J. | New Jersey City University (NJCU) announced today that AFT Local 1839, the American Federation of Teachers local union representing NJCU faculty, professional staff, and librarians, has authorized a $25,000 restricted gift to the NJCU Foundation to support faculty research, scholarship, and academic initiatives on the Jersey City campus.
The investment will benefit full-time and adjunct faculty, professional staff, and librarians engaged in teaching, scholarship, and student mentorship, with priority given to work that advances equity, social justice, and economic inclusion; incorporates student engagement and collaborative learning; and addresses issues such as criminal justice reform, labor and workforce development, public policy, and community well-being. Eligible uses include research stipends, conference participation and scholarly dissemination, curriculum development, high-impact teaching initiatives, and student-engaged research and applied learning projects.
The announcement follows AFT Local 1839's initial gift, announced May 1, which established a $25,000 scholarship fund benefiting students on the Jersey City campus who demonstrate financial need, academic achievement, and a connection to the values of organized labor and public higher education. Together, the two commitments represent a $50,000 investment by AFT Local 1839 in the future of the Jersey City campus, honoring its past while expanding opportunity in the next chapter of the institution's history.
The latest gift by AFT Local 1839 holds even more significant promise because of what lies ahead for the Jersey City campus. Kean University was designated an R2 research university by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education in February 2025, a recognition reserved for institutions with high research activity. Following the merger of NJCU with Kean University to form Kean Jersey City in Summer 2026, faculty, professional staff, and students on the Jersey City campus will have access to an expanded research infrastructure, greater opportunities for scholarly collaboration, and the resources of an institution with a growing national research profile. With Kean's R2 designation earned just last year, there has never been a better time for an investment like this, and AFT Local 1839 is ensuring that the faculty and staff who have always defined this campus will have the resources to drive real impact in the next chapter of its history.
Dr. William Calathes, Professor of Criminal Justice at NJCU and President of AFT Local 1839, spoke to the significance of the investment as both a tribute to the union's history and a commitment to what lies ahead.
"AFT Local 1839 has always believed that the work of this campus extends beyond the classroom. The faculty and staff who built this institution, who gave years, in some cases entire careers, to their students and their scholarship, deserve to see that work not just continue, but accelerate. This gift is about honoring that legacy, but it is equally about opportunity. With Kean's R2 designation and the merger creating new possibilities for research and scholarly engagement, we want the faculty and staff on this campus to be ready to seize that moment. This investment says: we believe in your work, we believe in your future, and we are committed to making sure this campus remains a place where serious scholarship can thrive."
NJCU President Andrés Acebo said the gift by AFT Local 1839 reflects a union that has always understood its significant role in the academic mission of the institution.
“As we move toward the formation of Kean Jersey City and the opportunities that come with joining an R2-designated research university, our faculty and staff are not just witnesses to that transformation. They will be one of its architects.”
Acebo added: “AFT Local 1839 has been an extraordinary partner in education, in student success, and in the academic mission of this institution. Their legacy is already written in the students whose lives were changed here, the communities that were strengthened, and the mission of access, opportunity, and public higher education carried forward by the faculty and staff they represent. This gift ensures that legacy does not end — it evolves. And it will live on in the research produced, the students mentored, and the communities served by the leaders and scholars this investment empowers."
The announcement adds to the growing momentum of a planned centennial campaign — details of which will be announced at a later date — that will benefit student scholarships and community engagement on the Jersey City campus following the merger of NJCU with Kean University in Summer 2026. The two commitments by AFT Local 1839 announced this month build upon the recently announced Silverman Family Scholarship, established by prominent real estate developer and philanthropist Paul Silverman with an initial $50,000 endowed gift to the NJCU Foundation.
Together, the three commitments bring the total pledged toward the centennial campaign to $100,000. NJCU was chartered in 1927 as Jersey City State Normal School, and 2027 will mark the 100th year of the campus in New Jersey's second-largest city.
Funds will be administered by the NJCU Foundation in accordance with its established policies and procedures and are fully restricted to faculty research and academic support purposes. The Foundation is charged with ensuring equitable access across full-time faculty, adjunct faculty, professional staff, and librarians. The NJCU Foundation, an independent 501(c)(3) organization, will continue to operate as a separate entity following the merger of NJCU with Kean University to form Kean Jersey City, and will continue its mission of raising critical funds and providing scholarships that empower the campus's students to live the NJCU motto of enter to learn and exit to serve.
About NJCU
New Jersey City University is a comprehensive public regional institution committed to providing a high-quality education to a diverse student population. Located in Jersey City, New Jersey, NJCU offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs and is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for learning, professional development, and community engagement. Consistent with our mission, NJCU is recognized as a top university for improving upward economic social mobility, ensuring students enrolled in our undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral programs have access to an affordable, diverse environment, and an exceptionally supportive faculty. This prepares them to go on to become the next generation of workers and leaders who improve their communities and the State of New Jersey. On July 1, 2026, NJCU will complete a merger with Kean University to join the Kean University system and become Kean Jersey City.
Contact:
Ira Thor, Associate Vice President for University Communications and Marketing | ithor@njcu.edu | 201-200-3301