Calling All Kean Cougars!

Kean University will be participating in the upcoming Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival set to take place the weekend of August 3-4 at Flushing Meadows Corona Park in New York.

We are looking for people interested in joining Team Kean to compete in the Regular division races. A stipend of $1,200 will be offered to members of the team who successfully complete the race.

Qualifications:

• Must be a Kean student, staff or faculty member, alumnus or person associated with the Kean community 

• Must be able to swim and demonstrate swimming skills during team tryouts at the D'Angola Gym pool

• Must be able to make practices at Flushing Meadows Corona Park on the weekends of July 20 and July 27 (Roundtrip transportation from Kean will be provided.)

• Must be available to compete on Saturday, August 3

• Must complete waiver forms provided after signups

• Must complete W4 to receive stipend 

 Register here.

Those who successfully complete practices and the race will be invited to join a Kean USA delegation trip to China during Spring 2025 to compete with members from our sister campus, Wenzhou-Kean University, during Wenzhou's Dragon Boat festival.

To sign up for tryouts, please complete this form. The deadline to sign up is Wednesday, July 10. Swim tryouts will be held on Sunday, July 14 and Tuesday July 16, between 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. each day. Be sure to indicate which time slot you would like in the registration form.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Therese Doyle  at tdoyle@kean.edu or Chris Swenson at chswenso@kean.edu.

The Kean University Board of Trustees voted on Monday, June 24, to raise tuition and fees for the 2024-2025 academic year by 6.5%, maintaining the University’s status as one of the most affordable universities in the State of New Jersey.

Kean has a longstanding commitment to offering its students an accessible, world-class education. 

The increase for the next fiscal year brings the cost of tuition and fees for full-time, in-state undergraduate students to $14,298.70. Out-of-state students in the same category will pay $22,445.94 for tuition and fees in the next academic year.

Tuition and fees for graduate students are now calculated on a per-credit basis, with set flat-fee rates also available for students in some programs.

The per-credit rate for tuition and fees for in-state graduate students is $954.84, and for out-of-state graduate students, $1,127.70. Further information on specific program rates is available on Kean’s website.

For Kean Online, the undergraduate tuition rate for full time, in-state and out-of-state students in the next academic year will be $14,298.70.

Kean Online tuition and fees for full-time graduate students, in state and out of state, will be $952.84 per credit.

This year’s increase reflects higher operating costs of the University, a result of inflation in the global economy.

The Kean University community, including students, were offered the opportunity to comment on the proposed tuition and fees at the University’s Tuition Hearing, held virtually on Wednesday, June 5, 2024.

For more information, visit Kean’s tuition and fees webpage.

Kean University is accepting applications for its newest undergraduate nursing degree program, which allows students to earn their bachelor’s degree and qualify for an RN in three years of study. Classes begin this Fall.

The new Pre-Licensure Bachelor of Science Nursing program, offered in-person on Kean’s main campus in Union, puts students on a fast track toward earning a nursing degree and becoming a licensed registered nurse.

“The program is designed to propel aspiring nurses into the profession in just three years,” said Kean Assistant Professor Chrysanthe Patestos, Ph.D. “Students will earn 120 credits in that period of time, which includes taking summer courses. They can be working as nurses in about half the time it takes for students who enter the field by earning their RN first, then pursuing a bachelor’s degree separately.”

Patestos said Kean’s Department of Nursing developed the program to address two issues facing health care – a nursing shortage and lack of diversity in the nursing ranks. 

“Our Prelicensure BSN program answers the nursing profession’s call to add to the number and diversity of the nursing workforce in a very innovative way,” Patestos said. “Our program places a strong emphasis on holistic nursing education, ensuring a focus on student support from admission through graduation. We are committed to breaking down barriers to success, particularly for students from backgrounds traditionally underrepresented in the field of nursing.” 

She also noted that most hospitals require RNs to obtain their bachelor’s degree within a certain period of time after they are hired. “RNs who already have their BSN are more marketable when they enter the workforce,” Patestos said.

Kean is still accepting applications for this Fall.

The Prelicensure BSN program has received provisional accreditation from the New Jersey Board of Nursing, a status issued to all new programs until they become eligible for full accreditation. Eligibility for full accreditation with the state Board of Nursing occurs after the first cohort of students graduates and achieves a pre-established pass rate on the NCLEX-RN exam. 

Summer studies are required in all three years, with clinical immersion in healthcare settings occurring after years two and three. Upon graduation, students will be able to take the licensing exam and enter the workforce.

The program is open to students of any age without a nursing degree or those transferring from another college or another program within Kean.

For more information, visit the Prelicensure BSN program's webpage.  

For information on other nursing programs at Kean, visit the Department of Nursing webpage.

Kean University is working with Union County’s municipalities and the county government to support public employees through a new consortium highlighting the University’s educational offerings and research expertise.

The U-22 Consortium, which includes the Union County government and the county’s 21 municipalities, makes a Kean education available to workers through KEANetwork. The program provides tuition discounts for eligible students, application fee waivers and other services to members.

As part of the consortium, Kean is also sharing its expertise with local government partners through Spotlight Series events, focusing on hiring, retention and other workplace issues. 

"We are forging collaborative partnerships with Union County and our local municipalities. By doing so, we establish Kean University as the preeminent source for developing the region's public service workforce talent and meeting its evolving labor needs," said Kean Senior Vice President for Transformational Learning and External Affairs Joseph Youngblood II, Ph.D. 

Youngblood said the University and the county have worked successfully on numerous partnerships. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kean was a site for the county’s testing, vaccination and food distribution programs. When KEANetwork was formed in 2019, Union County became the first member to take part.

“We’re here to have a serious conversation about how we as an educational institution can work with you to support what’s happening in the public sector,” Youngblood said. “We are an urban research university and an anchor institution for our communities. We’re better together.”

The Spotlight Series launched in late May. The first meeting featured a panel discussion on government hiring and retention.

The event featured panelists Adrian Mapp, mayor of Plainfield; Claudia Martins, director of personnel and labor relations management for Union County; Veysel Yucetepe, Ph.D., professor and department chair of the Kean College of Business and Public Management; Michele Meade, deputy director of the state Division of Local Government Services; and Ed Lee, director of human resources for Peerless Beverages. 

The panelists discussed how to attract and maintain talent with employee perks such as tuition reimbursement through a program like KEANetwork, as well as more intangible benefits.

“People want meaning. They want to know they can make a difference,” Meade said.

Union County Commissioner Alexander Mirabella, who is also a member of the Wenzhou-Kean University Board of Directors, attended the Spotlight Series event. He said the U22 Consortium provides valuable connections for its members. 

“I appreciate that Kean held this forum for Union County’s mayors, business administrators and leaders, who were able to visit the campus and learn about resources available,” he said. “Through KEANetwork, local and municipal government workers in Union County have access to Kean University, and the ability to acquire skills and education that will help them succeed in their careers." 

In addition to the panel discussion, Kean Vice President for Transformational Learning Jay O’Callaghan spoke in detail about the benefits of the KEANetwork and the new Kean University Global Education and Resource Campus degree-completion program. The program, which launched this spring for students with some college credits but no degree, provides students a faster and more affordable path to graduation.

The initial cohort of 30 students, who had an average age of 47, did “really well” in the first semester, O’Callaghan said. The program had its first graduate in May.

“Higher education needs to think about who our students are in a new way. Kean is a leader across the state in recognizing that today’s traditional student was formerly the non-traditional student,” O’Callaghan said. “The average student we see at Kean is not 18.” 

Kean University celebrated African American history and culture with a stirring and joyful Juneteenth Jamboree, held at the Union campus on Wednesday, June 19.

Hosted by the Center for Africana Studies, the University’s inaugural Juneteenth event began with a Freedom Walk and included moving speeches and prayer; a performance of Lift Every Voice, the Black National Anthem; and a standing-room-only crowd sharing the day that marks the end of slavery in the United States.

“This is a day we celebrate history and the fact that Black history is American history,” said Kean President Lamont O. Repollet, Ed.D., who led the morning Freedom Walk and took part in the day of festivities. “Knowing one’s history allows us to have self-respect, build self-confidence and gain a sense of pride. It was an incredible celebration.”

Kean Senior Vice President for Entrepreneurial Education Initiatives and Acting Dean of the College of Education Sancha Gray, Ed.D., also offered remarks. 

“This is American history; it’s our collective history,” Gray said, addressing the crowd of more than 150 people, many dressed in Juneteenth T-shirts or colorful, traditional African garb. “This is a joyous occasion. It’s not a somber occasion; this is liberation.”

The Center for Africana Studies was created this year at Kean as a resource for scholarly research, community engagement and educational programming, particularly in support of New Jersey’s K-12 Amistad curriculum. The Juneteenth Jamboree was its first celebration of the holiday.

David Jefferson Jr., Ed.D., acting director of the Center, gave the welcoming address and offered a brief history of Juneteenth. The holiday marks the official end of slavery on June 19, 1865, when the Emancipation Proclamation was read to enslaved blacks in Galveston, Texas.

“This is a day we call a liberation celebration,” Jefferson said. “It not only reflects but acknowledges the journey.”

The crowd at Kean Hall grew throughout the event, until at least 150 people filled the room. Attendees gave rousing applause to speakers, and delivered numerous standing ovations to Repollet and others.

Among the speakers was New Jersey Assemblyman and Deputy Majority Leader Reginald W. Atkins, who shared a proclamation calling the Jamboree a “monumental event that promises to be both enriching and inspiring to all participants.”

“Kean University, through this inaugural Juneteenth celebration, reaffirms its commitment to fostering an inclusive environment that honors the legacy of African American history and promotes cultural understanding and unity,” the proclamation read. 

The Rev. Dr. David Jefferson Sr., Esq., pastor of Metropolitan Baptist Church in Newark, son of a sharecropper and the father of Kean’s Jefferson, brought down the house with his call for praise of Repollet and other Kean leadership. 

“You have helped put Kean on the map,” he said. “The best thing that can free you to be all you can be is an education. I still believe my learning is my passport.”

Following the formal program, attendees enjoyed food and music. Artists provided face-painting for children, and representatives of the Urban League in Elizabeth shared information about assistance programs they offer. 

Among those in the crowd was Gwendolyn Hodde, of Newark, who brought her granddaughter visiting from Florida, Charmain Hodde, 8.

“I think this event is awesome,” Gwendolyn Hodde said. “I love everything about it – the speeches, the atmosphere.”

Simeria Dewalt of Elizabeth also said she enjoyed the day, beginning with the Freedom Walk. 

“It feels good. It feels free,” Dewalt said. “I’m just all for it today.”

Three new teachers who recently graduated from Kean University were recognized as among the top student teachers in the state this year.

They were among 16 new teachers who received the highest commendation, Awarded with Distinction, from the New Jersey Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (NJACTE) and the state Department of Education (DOE) as clinical interns, or student teachers. In all, 63 new teachers who recently graduated from 22 New Jersey colleges were recognized as Distinguished Clinical Interns at a festive ceremony held at Kean University.

“I know the importance of what takes place in classrooms every day, and I am so proud of each of you,” Kean President Lamont O. Repollet, Ed.D., told the group. “You are stepping into your role at a time when teachers are needed more than ever. I have no doubt you will have a profound impact.”

Kean graduate Cristiana Rodrigues ’24, who completed her student teaching in a third grade classroom at Washington Elementary School in her hometown of Union, said it was “surreal” to receive the top honor. In the fall, she will be a full-time teacher at the school, which she also attended as a child. 

“I get to go back and thank all the teachers who made me want to be a teacher,” said Rodrigues, who is also beginning studies at Kean this fall for a master’s degree in special education - learning and behavioral disabilities.

Each student teacher spent two semesters working alongside cooperating teachers as part of their training. Stationed in classrooms throughout the state and across grades, they taught classes, prepared lessons, conducted labs and served as role models to children. 

The state education department and NJACTE also recognized the cooperating classroom teachers who worked with the student teachers. New Jersey Acting Education Commissioner Kevin Dehmer and Assistant Commissioner Jorden Schiff, Ed.D., both took part in the ceremony.

“This collaboration between cooperating teachers and clinical interns exemplifies how much we can accomplish for New Jersey’s students by working together,” Dehmer said. “These remarkable individuals stand at the intersection of learning and teaching, and their commitment serves as an inspiration to many.”

Monmouth Regional High School social studies teacher Joseph Nappi, the 2023-2024 State Teacher of the Year, also spoke at the ceremony. Nappi, who works closely with the Holocaust Resource Center at Kean, and teaches an elective class on the Holocaust, genocide and humanity that gives his students Kean credit, congratulated both the new teachers and the cooperating teachers. 

“This is an amazing profession,” Nappi said, “one that will impact, by the time you’re done, thousands of minds.” 

The Kean students who received top honors – recent graduates Ryen Hagg ’23 ’24 M.A., Lillianna Ramos ’23 ’24 M.A., and Rodrigues ’24, all said they were honored to receive the awards. They also expressed thanks to their cooperating teachers.

Hagg, of Garwood, interned in a Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School chemistry classroom with teacher Swati Bulusu. A third-generation teacher – Hagg’s mother and grandfather, who both attended the ceremony, are educators – she will teach chemistry at Cranford High School in the fall.

“I was nervous, but it further confirmed this is what I am supposed to do,” she said. “My favorite moments were when I could explain things and saw my students experience that lightbulb moment.” 

Ramos, of Colonia, interned with Rahway High School math teacher Toni Robertelli. She will begin a full-time job teaching algebra and geometry there this fall. 

“I am super excited to continue my journey with an amazing group of math teachers I have gotten to know over the past year,” Ramos said. “I cannot wait to push myself to be better. I aim to be the best teacher I can be for my students.”

Kean University’s new Center for Africana Studies will host its first Juneteenth Jamboree on Wednesday, June 19 to celebrate the day slavery ended in the United States.

The event, which is open to the public, comes as the University announces that Phi Beta Sigma, one of the oldest historically Black fraternities in the country, is joining the KEANetwork employee benefit program.

“As an anchor institution and the first urban research university in New Jersey, Kean is committed to celebrating diversity and supporting diverse communities,” said Kean President Lamont O. Repollet, Ed.D., who is also a member of Phi Beta Sigma. “Juneteenth is an important cultural touchstone in the Black community – and access to academic excellence, through the KEANetwork, is an important pathway to future success. We are honored to be part of both of these initiatives.”

The KEANetwork provides participating businesses and organizations benefits for their employees who attend Kean University, including tuition discounts and additional support. Phi Beta Sigma is an international organization based in Washington, D.C.

“Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. is excited about this partnership with Kean University. One of the fraternity’s core principles is scholarship. As an organization that’s 110+ years old, we will continue to cultivate educational pathways and learning experiences for our members,” said Phi Beta Sigma International Executive Director Phillip Cockrell, Ph.D. “We are elated to have Bro. Dr. Repollet at the helm of Kean University.”

Juneteenth marks the anniversary of the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation, in Texas in 1865. It was declared a public holiday in New Jersey in 2020 and a national holiday in 2021.

The Juneteenth Jamboree will start with a Freedom Walk at 10 a.m. at Harwood Arena on June 19, followed by remarks from Repollet, and other university, government and faith leaders.

The Jamboree, featuring food trucks and vendors, community activities, a DJ and more, will run from noon to 2 p.m.

“Kean’s Juneteenth Jamboree is dedicated to honoring the spirit and history of Juneteenth, and we have planned a day filled with joy, reflection and community,” said David Jefferson Jr., Ed.D., acting director for Kean’s Center for Africana Studies. “The energy and unity that this event fosters are truly inspiring. I'm particularly excited about the opportunity to engage with the community, hear from our esteemed speakers, and enjoy the performances and demonstrations that showcase our rich heritage."

Kean created the Center for Africana Studies earlier this year, at the start of Black History Month. Housed within Kean’s College of Education, the Center is designed to become a leading resource for scholarly research, community engagement and educational programming.

The Juneteenth Jamboree is also sponsored by the Kean University College of Education, Generation 2 Generation and the Division of Entrepreneurial Education Initiatives.

Kean University will celebrate classical guitar in all its splendor at the third annual Guitarfest on Saturday, June 15 at Enlow Recital Hall in Hillside.

The free music festival is open to the public and includes two back-to-back concerts. 

Regional high school guitar ensembles, the New Jersey Guitar Quartet, and a flute and guitar duo will perform at 4 p.m. International recording and performing artist Celil Refik Kaya, DMA, will give a solo recital, followed by performances by the New Jersey Music Educators Association (NJMEA) Honors Guitar Ensemble and the New Jersey Guitar Orchestra (NJGO) at 7 p.m.

“Guitarfest celebrates the growing prominence of guitar in the music world,” said Matthew Halper, DMA, professor and chair of Kean’s Department of Music. “The guitar now rivals the piano in terms of ubiquity and impact.” 

Halper’s composition for guitar orchestra, Autumnal, commissioned by the NJMEA Honors Guitar Ensemble, will be performed by the all-state high school group side-by-side with the NJGO.

Kaya, a Turkish-American classical guitarist, recording artist and composer, has been acclaimed for his “magical touch” and virtuosic, masterful performances. Since his concert debut at the age of 6, he has received accolades and awards, including being the youngest to win First Prize in the 2012 JoAnn Falletta International Guitar Concerto Competition. Kaya has performed in the most prestigious concert halls and festivals around the world, including solo recitals, concerto performances and master classes in the D’Addario Performance Series at Carnegie Hall, Masters of the Guitar Series at Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, The Frick Collection’s Summer Artists series in New York, and the Brevard Music Festival in North Carolina. Kaya is the coordinator of guitar studies at Kean University.

Guitarfest is supported, in part, by a grant from the Augustine Foundation. Seating is general admission and tickets are not required for the free event. It will be held Saturday, June 15, at Enlow Recital Hall, 215 North Avenue, Hillside, NJ 07205. 

For more information, visit Kean Stage.

Kean University committed to expanding its international student exchange initiatives this week as senior Chinese leaders publicly lauded the University for being a model for the cooperative programs on its growing campus in Wenzhou, China.

President Xi Jinping of China issued a public letter to Kean President Lamont O. Repollet, Ed.D., commending the University on its exchange programs at Wenzhou-Kean University (WKU), in which 1,700 students from the United States and China have participated in recent years.

Repollet committed to further building the program over the next five years in support of the Chinese president’s goal of bringing 50,000 American youth to study at Chinese universities.

“We are honored and humbled that President Xi recognizes the outstanding academics, research and exchange programs at WKU,” said Repollet, who was in Wenzhou to celebrate WKU’s eighth commencement ceremony. “International exchange provides students from both countries the opportunity to expand their personal and professional horizons. They are particularly valuable for first-generation students and those from disadvantaged backgrounds who experience a new culture for the first time. We are glad to be at the forefront of shaping the leaders of tomorrow in both countries."

The China Ministry of Education officially approved the establishment of WKU 10 years ago. Kean remains the only public university in the United States to have a campus in China. It has grown to serve 4,500 students from across China, the United States and beyond. Eight hundred students graduated from WKU on Friday, June 7.

“WKU provides students with a truly unique world-class education,” said Frank Wang, chairman of the WKU Board of Directors. “Our graduates attend some of the most prestigious graduate schools in the world and work at major companies. They are shaping our collective future.”

In his letter, which received international media attention, President Xi recognized Kean President Emeritus Dawood Farahi, Ph.D., who collaborated with Xi in developing WKU over a decade ago when Xi was the leader of Zhejiang province, which has a decades long sister-state relationship with New Jersey.

“It’s wonderful to see our vision for WKU come to fruition,” Farahi said. “Its growth as a research institution has truly exceeded my expectations. More importantly, students from both sides of the world continue to benefit from an American-style education in China."

Farahi said he vividly remembers his conversation with President Xi in a car ride in New Jersey in 2006.

“He elaborated on his vision, and we made the adjustments and redefined the mission of what has now become WKU,” Farahi said. “So many people on both sides worked very hard on this project. It would not have happened without the total dedication of my dear friends Zhao Hangzhou and Chen Yixin, the party secretaries of Zhejiang and Wenzhou. WKU is now proof of what resolve, mutual understanding, and above all, cooperation can produce.”

Ada Morell, a member of the Kean Board of Trustees, served as board chair when Kean dedicated the new campus in Wenzhou, which now contains lab spaces, residence halls, faculty housing, athletic facilities and several new academic buildings.

“It’s been a great privilege to be part of this international initiative,” Morell said. “I’ve seen firsthand how students’ eyes are opened in so many ways by learning around the world. It is an invaluable experience for these students.”

Kean Senior Vice President Felice Vazquez said Kean will add additional programs and research opportunities for students in the United States to study at the WKU campus.

“There is a lot of interest from American students who want to study in China,” Vazquez said. “We are working diligently to provide access through a variety of different programs, including full study abroad programs and shorter Travelearn trips.”

WKU Executive Vice Chancellor Cary Anderson, Ed.D., said more than 240 faculty from around the world serve students in 18 undergraduate and nine graduate programs at WKU. 

“Our diverse campus is the perfect extension of Kean University in New Jersey,” Anderson said. “We are well positioned to expand our international opportunities for students from across the world to benefit from this unique campus environment.”

Moody’s Investors Service and S&P Global have affirmed Kean University’s ratings and stable outlook, highlighting its robust financial position amid ongoing growth and strong enrollment.

Moody’s affirmed the University’s A2 issuer rating and A2 rating on long-term revenue bonds while S&P affirmed its ‘A-’ underlying rating and long-term rating on revenue bonds.

"These affirmations of Kean University’s finances are a powerful endorsement of our mission, strategic vision and growth," said President Lamont O. Repollet, Ed.D. "These ratings from our credit agencies reflect our financial stability and commitment to fostering an inclusive and innovative academic environment as we advance toward becoming a Carnegie-classified R2 research university."

The ratings come after two years of record freshman enrollment at Kean, which was designated as the state’s urban research university in 2021. The University now serves more than 17,000 students in Union and Toms River, New Jersey as well as Wenzhou, China.

Kean continues to thrive by aligning its programs with the diverse industries in northern New Jersey, supporting enrollment growth, and maintaining a strong regional presence, according to Moody’s.

S&P pointed to the University’s long history of operating surpluses in issuing its decision. It also cited Kean’s experienced management team that is focused on improving research and elevating the Kean brand. 

Under Repollet’s leadership, the University launched a series of wellness initiatives for students and employees, building a culture of success at an institutional level. 

"The Board of Trustees is fully supportive of Kean's educational and student wellness initiatives that drive enrollment and support retention," said Steve Fastook ’06H, chair of the Board of Trustees. "We believe these initiatives are vital to fostering a thriving academic environment while supporting the bottom line."

Moody’s cited the University’s regional importance, sizable scale and financial position relative to operations and debt. It also highlighted Kean’s diverse array of programming and its designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution as strengths.

"In these challenging times for higher education, Kean University’s fiscally responsible approach to growth sets us apart," said Trustee Matthew McDermott, chair of the Board of Trustees' finance committee. "Our commitment to financial stability ensures that we can continue to grow and innovate, further advancing Kean’s commitment to affordable academic excellence."

The University reduced its outstanding debt by more than $97 million over a 10-year period through fiscal year 2023. The stable outlook reflects expectations of gradual improvement in operating performance and contained use of reserves, with no significant increase in financial leverage.

"A strong financial footing is crucial as Kean University expands its research capacity and enhances its academic offerings," said Andrew Brannen, chief financial officer. "Our prudent financial management ensures we can support our growing research initiatives and continue to provide high-quality education."