New Jersey § 18a:64o-2

§ 18a:64o-2.

The Legislature finds and declares that: a. Kean University is a State university located in Union, Toms River, Manahawkin,

and Jefferson, New Jersey, and Wenzhou, China, currently operating pursuant to the

authority granted to State colleges by N.J.S.18A:64-1 et seq. and P.L.1994, c. 48 ( C.18A:3B-1 et seq. ). b. An urban research university is defined as an institution of higher education having

one or more campus locations based at an urban center that reflects the diversity

of the region's urban centers, serves as a hub for urban economic development by collaborating

with policymakers and business leaders throughout the State, and applies education

and research to inform urban public policy. Urban research universities provide high quality education at the undergraduate

and graduate levels to underrepresented and underserved populations, predominantly

commuter students, who would otherwise encounter numerous obstacles to advance beyond

secondary education. By doing so, urban research universities play a vital and unique role in changing

the face of professions that have historically been homogenous and monolithic, such

as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, architecture,

clinical sciences, and medicine. Urban research universities enrich the diversity of college student demographics,

promote inclusion, and nurture diversity of thought to the problem solving of society's

most challenging issues. c. Building on a distinguished 166-year history, Kean University is a leading institution

of higher education in New Jersey. The university's eight colleges and schools serve 14,000 undergraduate and graduate

students in more than 50 baccalaureate programs and more than 60 programs of graduate

study, including six doctoral programs. d. Kean University is currently comprised of the College of Liberal Arts, the Michael

Graves College, the Dorothy and George Hennings College of Science, Mathematics and

Technology, the College of Education, the College of Business and Public Management,

The New Jersey Center for Science, Technology and Mathematics, the School of Kean

Online Education, and the Nathan Weiss Graduate College. e. Effective December 4, 2017, the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education officially

changed Kean University's programmatic mission to a doctoral degree-granting institution. f. Since its founding in 1855 as the Newark Normal School, Kean University has evolved

from an urban-based teacher education school into a comprehensive, doctoral-granting

urban-research university with a global reach. Since the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, access to higher education has been viewed

as a right by states, to prepare an educated citizenry as a foundation of social and

economic development of their communities. g. Kean University has more than 30 research centers, including the John S. Watson

Institute for Urban Policy and Research that engages the New Jersey Urban Mayors Association

that works with state and federal agencies, lawmakers, and nongovernmental and community-based

organizations to develop and advance progressive and effective public policy to benefit

urban communities. Partnership with the New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus allows Kean University

to create innovative and sustaining policies to unite thought leaders, decision-makers,

and higher education to address the systemic and structural need for equity in urban

communities. h. Kean University is recognized for its diversity and social mobility by the U.S.

News and World Report, with an enrollment of 61 percent students of color. Kean University is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution by the federal Department

of Education, exceeding the requirement of 25 percent of full-time equivalent status,

with Hispanic students comprising 34 percent of the enrollment. The preponderance of Hispanic and African American students reflects the rich diversity

of the proximate urban centers of Newark and Elizabeth, New Jersey to Kean University's

main campus in Union. i. More than half of the students at Kean University are supported by Pell Grants

and are the first in their family to attend college. j. Kean University graduates, from undergraduate to doctoral programs, reflect the

diversity of New Jersey's urban centers. Kean University's Hispanic and African American graduates represent 38 percent of

baccalaureate degree recipients, 43 percent of Master's degree recipients, and 31

percent of doctoral degree recipients, far exceeding the nationwide averages for this

group among baccalaureate degree recipients (25 percent), Master's degree recipients

(24 percent), and doctoral degree recipients (17 percent). Such diversity ranks Kean University among the most diverse urban research universities

in the nation. The five-year graduation rates for Hispanic and African American students (at 77

percent and 63 percent respectively) in the combined Bachelor of Science and Master

of Science at Kean University's New Jersey Center for Science, Technology and Mathematics

are more than triple the national average. Kean University qualified for State funding through the New Jersey Office of the

Secretary of Higher Education's Outcomes-Based Allocation, with 43 percent academic

degree completions by underrepresented minorities and 5,717 Pell Grant recipients

for the 2019 to 2020 academic year. k. Kean University's mission statement, “to serve as active and contributing members

of their communities,” along with goals to continue to evolve as a “doctoral university

with rigorous research activity” and to position Kean University as a “cultural, economic,

and educational epicenter for the entire community” in “Beyond 2020: Kean University

Strategic Plan 2020-2025,” are consistent with criteria for urban research universities

in the nation. l . Kean University recently launched the Kean Scholar Academy Innovative, an innovative

dual enrollment program for high school students. Students from urban districts in Union, Essex, Passaic, and Middlesex counties can

earn college credits in a selected major and benefit from mentors and social-emotional

support. m. Kean University has been recognized through awards of highly competitive research

grants from federal agencies including the National Endowment for the Humanities,

National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and the Department of

Education. These grant awards have supported the enhancement of education and research for

underrepresented and underserved students, including Spanish-speaking students seeking

degrees in computer science. n. Kean University has established the Center for Clinical Laboratory Science and

Pandemic Research that includes a federally certified laboratory for COVID-19 testing

on campus. Kean University's COVID-19 testing and research capabilities result from a unique

partnership between the University, Union County, the State, and private industry. Research seeks solutions to address public health issues and racial health disparities

experienced during the pandemic. COVID-19 vaccinations are available on campus in Union, New Jersey and mobile support

is available for urban centers across the State. o . In light of Kean University's continuous contributions and commitment to the advancement

of important research initiatives, it is appropriate at this time to designate Kean

University as a public urban research university.