Interview: Antonio Tillis, Chancellor Rutgers University – Camden

Antonio Tillis

Chancellor Rutgers University –Camden

How are you preparing students for a world of constant change?

One thing the pandemic taught us is our ability to pivot when it comes to the multiple types of modalities, not only in terms of instruction but also the ability to carry out the other major responsibilities of what it means to run an academic institution. We have to make sure that we have 21st century technology and beyond for operational purposes within the institution and advancements in learning. Because students have multiple ways of learning, we must bridge those who are overwhelmed by the rapid use of technology. Some faculty members weren’t too pleased about the need to use innovative technologies in instruction but now they are aware of their effectivenes, and many have become proponents of advanced technology in the classroom.

What are the main challenges facing the university?

In terms of the pandemic, I think our next challenge will be how to provide that level of support and care to students that we were able to give with federal funding. We’ll need to have some serious discussions about sustainability and assistance for students with certain insecurities. We must continue to keep our faculty, students, staff and visitors safe as they come to the campus and make them feel safe to recongregate if vaccinated. It’s difficult for everyone to understand that repopulation isn’t bad. We will still exercise the same care as we did before vaccinations accelerated.

Which programs are attracting demand?

We’re trying to create more opportunities and increase flexibility for students who are working. It’s crucial to understand the complexity of the 21st century student. Many are either working or are care providers for their families, so we have to make sure that the academic programming we provide for the region takes into consideration the types of students we serve. We serve many veterans and we must ensure we understand the needs for this population as well.

Camden Reach pilot program is aimed at boosting college-level qualifications to 65% by 2025

( ) partnerships, the school was able to create a budget surplus, hire faculty, improve research capacity and build new buildings. The school’s star is now rising in the state, with many seeing it as a top-notch institution in South Jersey.

Programs in South Jersey are also working to address the shortfall in college education in some communities. A pilot experiment called Camden Reach is part of a statewide effort to boost college-level qualifications to 65% by 2025 (in 2017, the figure was at 50%). The idea of this program is to get high-school students familiar with college-level courses, demystifying the next level in a student’s education and encouraging them to pursue it. Working with Bard College, five high schools in Camden will offer classes with college professors to its juniors, covering such areas as social sciences and psychology.

There is also an effort afoot to promote STEM (Science, Technology, Education and Mathematics) education in South Jersey, a vital investment today that will have far-reaching effects for the South Jersey economy in the coming years in terms of creating a highly skilled labor force. Through the South Jersey STEM & Innovation Partnership (SJSIP), using a program developed at Stanford University, an effort is being made to bring STEM education to public schools in the region. Initially, the program will serve up to 85,000 families in Camden, Salem and Cumberland counties but this number could expand as it seeks to grow in Gloucester, Atlantic, Burlington, Ocean and Cape May counties. Working with local institutions such as Camden County College, Mindbytes, and Salem Community College, SJSIP hopes to focus its efforts on three populations: students, skilled workers and employers.

Workforce training While a college education is rightly lauded as an ( )