William Paterson University Annual Report 2016

Board of Trustees Frederick L. Gruel Chairperson Anna Marie Mascolo Vice Chairperson Deborah Zastocki Secretary Chelsye Carrion (Student Trustee) Lourdes Cortez John Galandak Robert Guarasci Brad Neilley ‘80 Linda Niro ’76 William J. Pesce ‘73 Henry J. Pruitt, Jr. Michael Seeve Robert Taylor (Trustee Emeritus) Zachary Thomas (Student Trustee) Kathleen M. Waldron, ex officio Robert Seal, Chief of Staff to the President and Board of Trustees

President’s Message I am proud to share with you that in 2015-16, William Paterson University took significant steps to provide our students with the brand-new, advanced facilities that they need and deserve. We also increased the development of scholarship opportunities in support of our commitment to excellence and affordability.

In addition, we continued to generate experiential learning opportunities both inside and outside the classroom to prepare our students for success in their careers and lives.

In January, we opened our beautiful new 80,000-square-foot academic building, University Hall, which was completed six months ahead of schedule. Funded in part by the Building Our Future Bond Act, University Hall is a showcase for learning in action. With a mix of general use classrooms and dedicated laboratories and clinical spaces for programs in nursing, communication disorders, and public health, the new building was the first step in our move to modernize the academic core of our campus and advances our role as a top provider of health sciences education in the State of New Jersey.

By the beginning of the spring semester, the building was in full force, serving more than 4,000 students and bustling with activity. Faculty are utilizing the state-of-the-art technology in the classrooms and labs, and students are gathering in small group study rooms and lounge areas.

The continued revitalization of our academic zone is rapidly moving forward now with construction well underway on the Hunziker Wing and Hunziker Hall buildings. I am very pleased that the University has received $7.1 million from the State of New Jersey to help offset the cost of these projects through the second round of funding from the Higher Education Capital Fundraising Grant Program, which includes funds from the Building Our Future General Obligation Bond and the Capital Improvement Fund.

This $30 million project will result in a state-of-theart, 92,000-square-foot academic facility in the heart of our campus and is on track for completion in two phases by the fall 2017 and fall 2018 semesters.

In addition to the most advanced facilities, our students also benefit from scholarship support to achieve their dream of a college education. In fact, 83 percent of students at William Paterson rely on some form of financial assistance to fund their University education. In 2015-16, the University provided more than $1 million in donor-funded scholarships through the William Paterson University Foundation and the Alumni Association and another $10 million in direct institutional support.

As we support student success at William Paterson, we are very proud of the wide range of experiential learning opportunities we provide our students, both inside and outside the classroom.

In fact, about 50 percent of our undergraduates participate in career-related external experiences such as internships, clinical rotations, or student teaching before they graduate, which provides them with a tremendous advantage as they enter the job market.

Our undergraduate students also are actively involved in research and other scholarly and creative activities, working with faculty on projects leading to presentations at regional, state, or national conferences or publication in scholarly journals. In April the University sponsored a new program called Explorations, a series of events that provided a chance for students to share their achievements with fellow students and faculty from the University and other participating institutions. This program celebrated the depth and quality of the research, scholarship, and creative expression that goes on every day in our classrooms, laboratories, and other specialized facilities throughout William Paterson.

In addition to these opportunities, some of the most significant transformational experiences we create at William Paterson are those that relate to civic engagement. The University is the first and only public New Jersey college or university that requires new undergraduates to take a course on civic engagement. Last year, more than 2,300 students enrolled in 40 different courses in a variety of disciplines and students contributed more than 7,200 hours to community service projects.

Experiences included an alternate spring break helping to renovate a YMCA camp that supports underprivileged children, donation drives for various organizations, service at a local soup kitchen and homeless shelter, and participation in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.

This Annual Report 2015-16 features many of the outstanding achievements of our faculty, students, and staff with regard to the goals of our Strategic Plan 2012-2022. I am excited about the future of William Paterson University and proud of the many accomplishments that set the stage for even greater success for our University, and our students, in the years ahead.

Kathleen Waldron, President William Paterson University

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I.

Academic Excellence

Bill Charlap and Tony Bennett

This year, William Paterson University continued to provide the highest quality academic experience for students through its outstanding faculty, grants that support innovation in the classroom and beyond, and a wide range of academic initiatives, including experiential learning opportunities.

Faculty News and Achievements The institution continued to attract distinguished faculty who are experts in their fields and bring a world of experience to the classroom. In addition to a number of new professors in key academic disciplines, Kathleen Barnes joined the University as associate dean and professor of management in the Cotsakos College of Business. An experienced professor and administrator, she most recently served as a professor of management and associate dean at the University of New Haven’s College of Business.

She is actively engaged in the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International as a presenter and contributor to the accreditation process.

The University’s faculty of teachers/scholars had a very productive year, with more than 550 publications, including books, book chapters, and articles in journals and other publications; more than 220 artistic artifacts/events, including performances, productions, and exhibitions; and more than 800 lectures, presentations, and workshops at academic conferences and other settings.

The faculty garnered many prestigious distinctions and recognitions, including national awards and fellowships.

Robin Schwartz, associate professor of art, was honored with a 2016 John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship for distinguished accomplishment in photography. She is among only 178 prominent scholars

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selected from throughout the United States and Canada.

Director of Jazz Studies Bill Charlap received a 2016 Grammy Award in collaboration with Tony Bennett for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern. His appointment as director of jazz studies was also featured in the New York Times.

Maboud Ansari, professor of sociology, spent several months in Albania giving lectures and presentations on the sociology of Muslims and Islamic communities as a 2015-16 Fulbright Scholar.

Brenda Marshall, associate professor of nursing, was named a fellow of the National League for Nursing’s Academy of Nursing Education. Marshall also received the 2015 International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses SERPN Jeanette Chamberlain Award.

Nursing professor Leo-Felix M. Jurado was named a 2016 American Academy of Nursing Fellow. Jurado is one of 164 nurse leaders from across the country who were selected based on their outstanding contributions to nursing and health care, including their influence on health care policy.

Jean Levitan, professor of public health, received the 2015 Distinguished Service Award from the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality in recognition of her outstanding service to the organization.

Barbara Andrew, professor of philosophy and interim director of the University Honors College, was selected to participate in the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) Emerging Leaders Program.

Robin Schwartz, illustrated by Megan Zlock for National Geographic Your Shot

national literary competition, An t-Oireachtas (The Gathering) for his young adult novel, The Island of Secrets. This marks O’Broin’s second prize in the same competition.

Jean Levitan

Christopher Salerno, English professor, won the 2016 inaugural Georgia Poetry Prize for his collection Sun & Urn. Salerno received a $1,000 cash reward and his work will be published by the University of Georgia Press in February 2017.

Nancy Norris-Bauer, director of professional development and school/community partnerships in the College of Education, received a 2016 New Jersey State Governor’s Jefferson Award in recognition of her extraordinary public service and volunteerism. She is state coordinator for the New Jersey National History Day program.

Charley Flint, professor of sociology, Nancy Norris-Bauer was honored by the New Jersey Association on Corrections for her long-term service to the organization and the field. Flint served as president of the Board of Trustees of the New Jersey Association on Corrections from 1999-2015.

Faculty also received many notable honors and awards for their creative expression, including books, films, and musical endeavors.

English professor John Parras was the recipient of a 2016 New Jersey State Council on the Arts “Individual Artist Fellowship Award” in the category of prose writing. He is one of three New Jersey writers selected for a fellowship.

Brian O’Broin, associate professor of English, was awarded first prize in an Irish

Communication professor Gina Guerreri’s short film, Dark Light, which attempts to convey what depression feels like, was one of 14 finalists in the 2016 United States Super 8mm Film and Digital Video Festival and was also presented at the 2016 Winter Film Awards Indie Film Festival in New York City.

Sociology professor Vincent Parrillo filmed a new documentary, Paterson and Its People, which explores the city’s changing demographics.

The documentary was screened on campus in September and also aired on NJTV. Payton MacDonald, associate Scene from Paterson and Its People professor of music, biked 2,500 miles on the U.S. Great Divide Mountain Biking Route from Mexico to Canada for a project he titled Sonic Divide, at the same time performing 30 new original compositions by 30 composers, including many written by William Paterson faculty members.

University professors continued to publish their research in peer-reviewed journals, and also received significant national and local media attention.

Psychology professor Elizabeth Haines’s research that discovered little changes in gender stereotypes over three decades was published in the journal, Psychology of Women Quarterly. This resulted in news coverage in more than 200 media outlets across the country, including a lengthy interview on NJTV. Gennifer Furst, associate professor of sociology, an expert on prison-based animal programs, was quoted in an Associated Press story about inmate dog-

Charley Flint

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training programs that ran in more than 700 media outlets across the country.

Biology professor Miryam Wahrman led a panel discussion at a campus forum related to the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) World Hand Hygiene Day in conjunction with the release of her book, The Hand Book: Surviving in a Germ-Filled World, which documents the growing threat from germs and how handwashing provides protection. Publicity for this effort included radio coverage on WCBS Newsradio 880 (NYC) and a feature story in The Record.

Members of the University faculty participated in prominent conferences and exhibitions.

Dean Daryl Moore of the College of the Arts and Communication was a VIP panelist and speaker at the 3rd Shanghai Biennial of the Graphic Design of Asia Conference in China. His presentation addressed perspectives of visual arts higher education and professional practice in the context of sustainability and relevance in the new global society.

Djanna Hill, professor of secondary and middle school education and chair of Africana world studies; Richard Huizar, assistant professor of political science; Christine Kelly, professor of political science; and Danielle Wallace, assistant professor of Africana world studies, presented at an international symposium in Havana, Cuba on “The Global Youth Specter: Richard Huizar, Christine Kelly, Djanna Hill, and Danielle Wallace in Cuba State-Sponsored Abandonment in Comparative Perspective.”

Alejandro Anreus, professor of art and Latin American and Latino studies, was guest curator of Urban Martyrs and Latter-Day Santos, an exhibition at El Museo del Barrio in New York City.

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In recognition of their distinguished service to the University, the following retired faculty were awarded emeritus status by the Board of Trustees: Tina Lesher, communication; Aria Cheo, computer science; Anthony Coletta, education; Edward Burns, Linda Hamalian, and Jim Hauser, English; Stephen Bryant, music; and Richard Blonna and Joanna Hayden, public health.

Grants to Support Academics Support from federal, state, and local government sponsors remained constant at about $7.5 million this year. The grants and contracts the University received supported a wide range of faculty and academic initiatives, including programs that address issues of national and local importance and ranged from teacher education to scientific research.

The College of Education’s attention to improving teacher education and supporting the professional development of working teachers resulted in two important awards. The National Science Foundation provided a $1,049,996 grant for the William Paterson University Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program, Phase II. This project is a partnership with the College of Science and Health, Mercer County Community College, and the Paterson Public Schools to recruit STEM teacher certification candidates and then provide scholarships, mentors, and other support to participants in their last two years at William Paterson and their first years of teaching in high-needs schools. The New Jersey Department of Education also provided a $45,000 contract for the Sheltered English Instruction Training Program which provided a seminar, classroom visits, and follow-up workshops for instructors of English language learners to acquire proper training to meet the needs of their students. Teachers from across northern New Jersey participated in the program.

Also in the College of Education, Thomas Fallace, associate professor of secondary and middle school education, received a $40,000 grant from the Spencer Foundation for his project on democratic education during the early 20th century.

The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration provided a $90,000 grant to support the Nurse Faculty Loan Program. This award is the latest in a series from this program and enables the University to continue providing financial assistance to students in the master of science in nursing (MSN)

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences also received a $291,124 contract from the Paterson Public Schools to offer an on-site ESL Endorsement Program for a cohort of 20 teachers. This project is another among several across the University aimed at providing professional development for working teachers in school districts that have students with limited English-language skills.

Nursing students at William Paterson

and doctor of nursing practice (DNP) programs who are interested in pursuing faculty positions after graduation. Many of the students who have received this support and completed the program are presently employed in teaching positions in institutions across New Jersey, including at William Paterson.

The School of Continuing and Professional Education was awarded several Skills4Jersey grants totaling $1,404,403 to conduct customized training for workers in numerous companies throughout the State. The grants were awarded by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development to fund on-site training programs for construction, distribution, finance, healthcare, and hospitality companies.

The Psychology Department received support for faculty research. Professor Michele Cascardi received $32,974 from the National Institutes of Health through a sub-award from Southern Methodist University for the research project, Take Care: A Video Bystander Program to Prevent Sexual Violence on College Campuses. This research will evaluate an innovative video bystander program, which has the potential to be implemented broadly and cost effectively across college campuses, and will also evaluate an innovative methodology for assessing bystander behavior that makes use of virtual reality technology.

Professor Carrie Massia received a $50,000 award from the Kukes Foundation for research entitled An Innovative Model of Care for Enhancing the Identification and Treatment of Social Anxiety in Pediatric Medical Settings. Masia is studying the effectiveness of a tool to identify children and youth who have social anxiety in order to aid professionals in directing them to appropriate treatment methods.

The University strengthened its affiliation with the Great Falls National Historical Park through a cooperative project that received a $10,400 award from the National Park Service. The Day

Day of Innovation judges (from left): Tom Ross, superintendent of Thomas Edison and Morristown National Historical Parks in New Jersey; Ilyse Goldman, supervisory park ranger, Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park; Mary Howard, business department supervisor/ chairperson, John F. Kennedy High School; Kate Muldoon, regional director, William Paterson University SBDC; Darren Boch, superintendent, Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park; and Shemaine McKelvin, park ranger, Thomas Edison National Historical Park

of Innovation Project encouraged the spirit of inventiveness in middle school students from Paterson and West Orange by sponsoring a special tour of the Thomas A. Edison Historical Park and providing the opportunity to explore invention. In another component of the project, students from Kennedy High School developed products and then were able to pitch their ideas to a panel of judges in a “best product� competition.

Academic Initiatives and Highlights The University created opportunities for students to gain powerful experiences in research, scholarship, and creative expression. As undergraduates, students at the University participated in cuttingedge research and scholarly activity with renowned faculty members who are active in their fields of study. Students frequently presented with faculty at regional, state, and national conferences, or published research in scholarly journals.

To highlight the undergraduate research experience that students gain at William Paterson, in April the University sponsored Explorations, a series 5

program through the annual reporting process. In addition, the Department of Chemistry received continued approval from the American Chemical Society.

Professor Amy Learmonth with students at the Explorations poster session

of events that celebrated the depth and quality of research, scholarship, and creative expression that exists throughout the University. The Explorations programs provided a venue for students to share their accomplishments with peers and faculty from the University, and in some cases from other institutions.

Explorations events included the 10th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium in the Biological and Chemical Sciences, providing a forum for undergraduates from the tri-state area to present their research. This year’s event included more than 200 faculty and students from 30 area colleges. The week also featured University Honors College: Honors Week Student Research Presentations; UPS Computer Information Technology Distinguished Lecture Series; College-sponsored sessions; poster sessions; and the Advancing Research, Scholarship, and Creative Expression at William Paterson University Conference.

The University’s two doctoral programs continued to draw students. In fall 2015, the new doctoral program in clinical psychology (PsyD) welcomed its inaugural class of seven students, while the doctorate in nursing practice (DNP) welcomed another class of five students for a total of 18 DNP students.

This year the Cotsakos College of Business maintained its accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International in recognition of its outstanding business programs. The Department of Music received reaccreditation by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) for the master of music program. The Psychology Department received a 10-year reaccreditation of the master’s program in clinical and counseling psychology and the Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences continued its accreditation of the master’s 6

William Paterson also participated in initiatives to support colleagues and students from around the globe. The University has joined the Institute of International Education (IIE), an international network of higher education institutions dedicated to promoting academic freedom and defending threatened scholars and higher education communities worldwide. By joining the IIE, the University stands in solidarity with colleagues around the world who face threats to academic freedom.

President Kathleen Waldron (center) with (from left) Siamack Shojai, dean, Cotsakos College of Business; Aliyah Xu, associate director, China initiatives; Warren Sandmann, provost; and Zhimin Liu, vice president, Hunan First Normal University

The Cotsakos College of Business hosted two visiting groups from China in summer 2015, including 20 administrators from Hunan Normal University. The purpose of the visit was to acquaint Chinese administrators at a regional university with student development issues and programs to enhance the collegiate experience. The College also hosted 38 Chinese undergraduate and graduate students and faculty members from Zhejiang University of Technology and Zhijiang College who attended workshops in the Global Business and Finance Institute and visited sites in New York City.

The Cotsakos College of Business held its inaugural boot camp, the Crux of Industry Niche (COIN), in August 2015, an event that included industry leaders from the banking, financial services, and insurance sectors; COIN is now held annually in August.

Also in the Cotsakos College of Business, the 9th Annual Russ Berrie Institute National Sales Challenge was Students at the COIN boot camp held in November hosting more than 100 college students representing 36 universities from across the country as well as Edinburgh Napier University in Scotland. This event has provided a unique opportunity for students to make valuable networking connections and in some cases, to receive job offers from a wide range of companies seeking to hire bright new sales talent.

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences hosted its 4th Annual Multidisciplinary Conference, “Us and Them: The Paradox of Fourth Annual Conference Difference and Inequality “Us and Them”: The Paradox in a Global Age.” The of Difference event, which explored and Inequality the complex relationships in a Global Age between social differences and inequality, was attended by more than e and Citizenship Exploiting Difference: Immigrant Experienc 600 students, faculty, and community members.

9:30-10:45 a.m.

of the Jaime Lucero Mexican Alyshia Gálvez, Associate Professor, Director of New York Studies Institute, Lehman College/City University Department of American Studies, Michael Innis-Jiménez, Associate Professor, University of Alabama

The University sponsored a conference on Policing, and the Psychology Keynote Address: The Fire This Time: Race, immigration reform in March, “Not Legal, Not in Contemporary America of Justice Leaving: The Immigration Reform Quagmire from 1986 Fearing to Difference 2016.”

The conference featured a panel that the “Other” : Terror and included both immigration scholars and activists who addressed topics such as immigration reform, state and local approaches to immigrant policy, and immigrant activism.

11:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

Psychology, University of California, Phillip Atiba Goff, Associate Professor of Social Research, Center for Policing Equity Los Angeles; Co-founder and President for 2:00-3:15 p.m.

Science, Brooklyn College Jeanne Theoharis, Distinguished Professor, Political Department of Media, Culture Arun Kundnani, Author, Journalist; Instructor, and Communication at New York University

Immigration Reform Conference

The Ghandian Forum for Peace and Justice program in March explored the ongoing crisis in Syria and the continuing effect of the massive outflow of Syrian refugees. The Ghandian Forum seeks to engage high school, college, and university students, teachers, and community members in innovative and practical ideas, actions, and programs that promote peace and justice.

The Paterson Metropolitan Region Center held a conference in April entitled “Thinking Regionally.”

The Center seeks to promote a greater understanding of the history, importance, and contemporary relevance of the Paterson metropolitan area to North Jersey’s citizens.

Various faculty members also provided students with experiential learning through unique travel opportunities.

Education professor Djanna Hill, along with 10 STEM teacher candidates, engaged in a week-long institute at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. As a result, the University was named a member institution of the NASA Minority Serving Institution Network.

Lily Prince, professor of art, took art students to Florida for a winter session study trip to draw “en plein air” out in the landscape and experience how a landscape artist approaches a new place with unfamiliar flora, pattern, light, and color.

Payton MacDonald, associate professor of music, took five music students on a month-long study abroad trip to India in August 2015, where they explored the Hindustani vocal technique known as dhrupad.

Professor Payton MacDonald (fourth from left) with students (left to right) Priscilla Cordera, Meg Roy, Christopher Mason, Alec Goldfarb, and Brielle Liebman

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II.

Student Success

This year the University enhanced student recruitment efforts to maximize enrollment and boosted student retention and college completion efforts—from launching degree completion software to awarding Student Success Scholarships—in an effort to help to ensure that each William Paterson student has a successful and positive college experience.

President Waldron with students at Commencement

Enrollment and Degree Completion Highlights One significant development this year was the University’s designation as a Hispanic-serving institution according to the definition set by the U.S. Department of Education. As of fall 2015, the University’s undergraduate Hispanic student population was 27 percent. This designation reflects the University’s diversity and provides new opportunities for the University to apply for grants to support recruitment, enrollment, and successful graduation of Hispanic students. With this designation, the University became a full member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, an advocacy group for Hispanic Americans.

system, in 2015, to assist students in managing their progression toward graduation.

A key initiative in helping students succeed was the continuation of the Student Success Scholarship program for the second year. The program was designed to encourage full-time, first-year students to complete a bachelor’s degree within four years by awarding a $1,000 scholarship to those who earned a minimum of 30 credits with a 3.0 cumulative grade point average before September of sophomore year.

The scholarship is renewable for junior and senior years if an additional 30 credits are completed with a 3.0 cumulative GPA prior to September of each respective year. In fall 2015, the institution awarded a total of 681 Student Success Scholarships to qualifying sophomores and juniors totaling $678,174.

This year, the institution also began a campaign to more actively recruit international students at both the graduate and undergraduate level to enhance the reputation of William Paterson as an international university of distinction and to diversify its enrollment markets. In addition, the University enrolled about 240 veterans and active service members last year, while providing support through the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs.

Student Honors William Paterson University students this year attained a wide variety of honors and accolades and benefited from unique opportunities, including the chance to interview Obama administration officials at the White House and to sit down with billionaire investor Warren Buffett, among many others.

As of fall 2015, the University experienced a 14.5 percent increase in its freshman class, which led to a 4 percent increase in new students across all categories.

Graduate enrollment also increased by 2.4 percent for a total University enrollment of 10,862 students.

Communication students Joel Carasquillo, Michelle Martinez, and Eric Dargis, all members of the University’s radio station staff, were invited to the White House to interview top Obama administration officials on college affordability and other topics. The students were accompanied by Rob Quicke, professor of communication and general manager of WP88.7 Brave New Radio.

To help students progress toward degree completion, the University implemented a number of initiatives, including redesigning freshman seminar for fall 2016 and conducting an analysis of the freshman advising process. The University also fully implemented DegreeWorks, the online degree audit

Eleven MBA students from the Cotsakos College of Business were chosen to meet billionaire investor

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Students Joel Carasquillo and Michelle Martinez interview Josh Earnest, assistant to President Barack Obama

Jersey, to receive the 2016 Campus Compact Newman Civic Fellows Award for Civic Engagement for showing his strong commitment to the ideals of Campus Compact.

Aimee Aquino, a senior environmental science major, received the National Student Exchange Achievement Honorable Mention Award for a semesterlong carbon research project at the University of Montana, which she attended as an exchange student.

MBA students with Warren Buffett

Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, at his corporate offices in Nebraska, along with students from eight other universities across the country. This is the second time that William Paterson students have had this opportunity, thanks to alumna and adjunct professor Susan Lisovicz ’78, a former CNN business reporter.

Four students received Outstanding Poster Presentation Awards at the 7th Annual Garden State-Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (GS-LSAMP) STEM Research Conference at Rutgers University: Stephanie Costa, Erin Connor, and Eugene Dennis, biology majors, and Erica Wu, a nursing major.

Psychology major Michelle LeGrand won the student art show competition at the Northeast Regional Honors Conference for her artwork, “Enslaved No More,” which is designed to bring awareness to human trafficking.

Anthony Radice, a financial planning major, received a $5,000 TD Ameritrade NextGen Scholarship. He was one of only 14 recipients from across the country.

Twenty undergraduate and graduate music students travelled to Nashville, TN for the national 2016 Music Biz Convention. At the convention, the students put together 26 podcasts/radio shows and interviewed record executives. They were accompanied by music professors Stephen Marcone and David Philp.

Students Randall Sanders and Alyssa Apryasz were selected as recipients of the 2015 Geology & Society Best Student Paper Award from the Geology & Society Division of the Geology Society of America. They were honored for their paper, Connecting Grade 3-12 Students to Natural Geoscience Processes in their Local Urban National Park, which they co-presented at the society’s annual meeting in Baltimore in November.

A student team of Julian Perez, Camila MillsLamptey, Kristen Napoli, and Vincent Stark, all financial planning majors, won first prize in the National Association of Government Defined Contribution Administrators 2015 Annual Conference Retirement Quiz Bowl.

Students in the William Paterson Jazz Orchestra and Ensembles performed at the Lincoln Center jazz club, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, with iconic jazz figure Randy Brecker.

Junior Brittany LaBruna earned her second career Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Singles AllAmerica certificate after winning the 2015 United

Sirai Ramirez, a junior biology major, was awarded a first place STEM award in biological sciences at the Emerging Researchers National Conference in Washington, DC for her presentation entitled, “Reactive oxygen species during tail regression in tadpoles Zenopus laevis: Cross talk between cellular organelles.”

Kody Guedes, a sophomore majoring in communication and media production, was one of 218 students in the nation, and one of only five in New

Students perform with Randy Brecker at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola

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States Tennis Association (USTA)/ITA Northeast Regional title in September 2015 in Geneva, NY. She also was named the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Player of the Year for the third time, and competed at the USTA/ITA National Small College Championships in October in Sumter, SC. Senior Mitch D’Amato was selected as the NJAC Baseball Co-Pitcher of the Year, and junior Vera Blazevska was named the NJAC Women’s CoSwimmer of the Year.

The William Paterson University bowling team made it to the championship match at the national finals for the first time since 1992 and finished second in the Intercollegiate Team Championships in Wichita, KS in April. The William Paterson team was one of 16 teams that qualified to compete for the national championship.

The bowling team with President Waldron (center), Miki Cammarata, vice president for student development (front row, second from right), and Frederick Gruel, chair, University Board of Trustees (right)

The University’s ice hockey team won the Super East Collegiate Hockey League Championship in February, defeating New York University 2-1. This marks the team’s seventh straight league championship appearance, with the Pioneers winning five championships.

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III.

Unique Learning Opportunities

William Paterson provided transformational experiences for students, both inside and outside the classroom—including expanded civic engagement opportunities both through the University Core Curriculum (UCC) and extracurricular activities.

Civic engagement is one of the University’s core values, and William Paterson is the first and only public New Jersey college or university that requires new undergraduates to take a course on civic engagement. This year, more than 2,300 students enrolled in 40 different courses in a variety of disciplines and students contributed more than 7,200 hours to community service projects. Experiences ranged from alternate spring break programs to numerous donation drives and service activities for various organizations, both in the region and far beyond.

To support civic engagement, this year the University created a formal Civic Engagement Plan and coalesced its civic engagement activities under the joint leadership of Donna Minnich-Spuhler, director of campus activities, service, and leadership, and Jonathan Lincoln, associate provost, curriculum and international education. In addition, Donna Minnich-Spuhler was appointed to serve as the University liaison to New Jersey Campus Compact, the statewide affiliate of the national Campus Compact that promotes public and community service to develop students’ citizenship skills.

A new civic engagement website was launched in the spring (wpunj.edu/civic-engagement), which integrates the University’s civic engagement activities in one place, displays service opportunities for students, and provides a resource for students, faculty, staff, community partners, and alumni to make civic engagement connections. In addition to the website, a new hashtag, #DoGoodWP, was implemented to highlight civic engagement activities on social media platforms including Twitter and Instagram. The University also introduced the Pioneer Life Digital Badge Program to encourage and track student civic engagement activities.

adults at Alaris Rehabilitation Center, packaged food for the Passaic County Women’s Shelter, and worked in the soup kitchen at Eva’s Village.

Students on service learning trip to New Orleans

Among the many notable civic engagement activities offered this year was a unique interdisciplinary course, Hurricane and Rebirth: New Orleans Before and After Katrina. Taught by English professor James Mellis, the course included a spring break service learning trip to New Orleans where the students participated in community service activities and interacted with historians, activists, and documentarians.

Also during spring break, 40 William Paterson students volunteered at Camp Linwood MacDonald in Branchville, a camp used by the Newark YMCA to provide homeless children from Newark with an outdoor camp experience.

University nursing students joined a team of 41 volunteers who participated in a medical mission to Haiti, where they provided basic medical care to those in need. Working with the organization Foundation for Peace, this marks the fifth consecutive year that University students who are members of the Iota Alpha chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, the international nursing honor society, have taken part in this mission.

University students participated in Veteran’s Day with the setting of 2,300 flags on Zanfino Plaza in honor of solders who died during Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn.

Significant Opportunities for Students This year, approximately 50 percent of William Paterson University students participated in careerrelated external learning experiences such as internships, clinical rotations, and student teaching.

To support students in achieving career success after graduation, the University also expanded opportunities for students to network with successful professionals and to participate in career events such as job fairs on campus.

One key example is the Pesce Family Mentoring Institute, which connects successful professionals, including alumni and local community business partners, with select University undergraduate

Students commemorate victims of Orlando shooting

Students in a summer course, Civic and Community Engagement: Theory and Practice, taught by political science professor Christine Kelly, organized a remembrance ceremony on campus for the victims of the mass shooting in Orlando, including planting rainbow flags bearing the names of the victims.

More than 100 students participated in the Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. Students volunteered at Father English Center, visited senior

William J. Pesce '73 with students

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students. This year the Institute matched 91 mentor/ mentee pairs. It also continued to grow its LinkedIn professional group and hosted two formal oncampus meet and greet events. The Institute was made possible by a gift from Board of Trustees member William J. Pesce ’73 and his wife Henrietta ’72, MA ’75 and their children.

The Career Development Center on campus hosted two new networking events for the College of Science and Health and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, in addition to their successful Meet the Accounting Firms and Cotsakos College of Business networking events. Other major Career Development events included fall and spring career and internship fairs and an education job fair. In total, these events were attended by 268 employers and 860 students.

Students at Club Fair

Through the Office of Campus Activities, Service, and Leadership, new activities were introduced to increase students’ knowledge of the many student life opportunities available at the University for both commuter and resident students. Held during Pioneer Pride Welcome Week in the fall, the Passport to WP program raised awareness of campus resources, drawing attendance of 1,000 students, and Get in the Game with Campus Life drew attention to the University’s many athletics, recreation, and club sports. Together, these events drew more than 1,800 students.

IV.

Community Outreach

William Paterson University’s partnerships with its alumni, local communities, schools, and businesses enhanced the sense of community throughout and beyond the University. This year the University received honors and recognitions for its efforts in the community and sponsored events that drew members of the community to campus, including alumni, business professionals, and high school and middle school students.

In December, President Kathleen Waldron was recognized on behalf of the University by St. Joseph’s Wayne Hospital Foundation with the Michael and Yolanda Simonelli Community Award. The award was presented in honor of her commitment to engaging the University with its community and for recognizing and developing programs to meet the needs of a wide range of people, from children to adults.

President Waldron with Assemblyman Scott Rumana

Pat DeDeo, associate vice president for governmental relations and external affairs, was named the new chairman of the board of the TriCounty Chamber of Commerce. At the installation ceremony, the University was recognized for its contribution to area business development and the overall economic development of the community.

Associate Provost Stephen Hahn was honored by the Paterson Alliance for his work as University liaison in providing a variety of services to the Paterson community.

To engage students and their families in University life, William Paterson also held its Family Weekend in October for parents and family members of first-year students. The weekend included many sporting events, performances, activities, and a family brunch with the president. The event, which included a service component, was attended by 200 people, a 72 percent increase over the prior year.

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Associate Provost Stephen Hahn with Bernadette Tiernan, executive director of the School of Continuing and Professional Education (left) and Kate Muldoon, regional director of the University Small Business Development Center

Kate Muldoon, regional director of the William Paterson Small Business Development Center, was honored by the Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders with the Business Appreciation Award.

This year, the Center for Continuing and Professional Education was renamed the School of Continuing and Professional Education in recognition of the evolution and growth of its precollege programs and industry-recognized national certification programs for individuals and corporations at all levels. The School offers a portfolio of more than 300 courses and began providing expanded support for student academic and career success through mentoring, coaching, academic advisement, and externships for all students in its non-degree programs.

Highlights of the School’s pre-college offerings included the annual Aim High Academy, a precollege science enrichment program for highachieving high school seniors, as well as numerous summer pre-college youth programs for middle and high school students including the annual Summer Jazz Workshop, pre-college workshops, and courses on topics ranging from game design, acting, and digital movie-making to anatomy and physiology.

In the fall, the Cotsakos College of Business sponsored a program entitled Opportunities for Women in Financial Planning, a networking forum that featured an elite group of industry leaders and experts in the field of financial planning. The event drew more than 200 alumni, students, and career changers from the community.

Siamack Shojai (second from left), dean of the University’s Cotsakos College of Business, with panelists (from left) Lazetta Rainey Braxton, CFP, Financial Fountains; Kate Healy, TD Ameritrade Institutional; Eleanor Blayney, CFP, consumer advocate, CFP Board of Standards; and Jill Schlesinger, CFP, business analyst, CBS News

New Jersey National History Day was attended by more than 700 students, teachers, and parents.

The event, which has been held on campus since 1988, encourages the study of social studies by guiding middle and high school students to express themselves creatively through presentations of historical topics in various formats, including performances, exhibits, documentaries, papers, and websites.

The 33rd Annual Orlando Saa Foreign Language Poetry Recitation Contest drew more than 800 students from 75 New Jersey school districts. During the contest, middle and high school students recited poetry in a range of languages.

Alumni Engagement William Paterson University successfully engaged alumni in University life and events.

Homecoming

Homecoming 2015 in October drew record numbers of people to campus with 2,000 attendees, a 60 percent increase over the prior year. Events included a pre-football Pioneer Midway party with game booths, prizes, ziplining, a rock wall, and food; tailgating in Lot 5; and the traditional Homecoming football game against Frostburg State. Other events included evening stargazing on Wightman Field, a cabaret performance in Shea Center, a screening of a new documentary on Paterson by sociology professor Vincent Parrillo, and a “mash-up” event in the University Galleries featuring alumni Derek DeAngelis ’04, an actor and comedian, and Renee Garcia ’11, a powerlifter. The weekend wrapped up with the induction of five new members of the Alumni Association Athletic Hall of Fame.

Domenico Di Maio ’97 was elected president of the Alumni Association, succeeding Doug Hamilton ’75.

Di Maio, a vice president and financial advisor for J.P. Morgan Chase, joined the Alumni Executive Council in 2012 and has served as treasurer.

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V.

Outstanding and Affordable Education

William Paterson University continued to work to establish itself as a model of excellence and affordability. For the sixth consecutive year, the University held its percentage increase in tuition and fees to 2 percent or less. The University also refinanced existing debt two years in a row, taking advantage of a low interest rate environment and a more favorable bond market, saving about $750,000 in interest per year.

University Hall Renderings of the Hunziker Wing and Hunziker Hall renovation

Academic Zone Master Plan and Facilities Upgrades The University’s efforts to achieve its long-range plan of modernizing the academic core of campus continued steadily and swiftly this year, with the grand opening of University Hall in January, six months ahead of schedule. The 80,000-squarefoot building, funded in part by the Building Our Future Bond Act, serves 4,000 students per semester. The new building showcases learning in action and features a mix of general use classrooms and dedicated laboratories and clinical spaces for programs in nursing, communication disorders, and public health. University Hall also received a silver citation for outstanding design in the 2016 American School & University Educational Interiors Showcase, a premier competition honoring education interiors excellence.

The Hunziker Wing and Hunziker Hall renovation project began over the winter break and is proceeding in two major phases over two years, ultimately 14

creating an updated 92,000-square-foot facility. The University received $7.1 million from the State of New Jersey as part of the second round of funding from the Higher Education Capital Fundraising Grant Program, which includes funds from the Building Our Future General Obligation Bond and the Capital Improvement Fund to help with the costs associated with the renovation of Hunziker Wing and Hall.

Hunziker Wing is on schedule to be ready for the fall 2017 semester and Hunziker Hall is to be completed by fall 2018.

The University’s dedication to sustainability continued as the institution expanded its commitment to solar energy this year. The installation of rooftop solar panels on University Hall will annually generate 124 kilowatt hours of energy, saving approximately $24,000 in energy costs each year. The campus-wide solar project is projected to generate 3.4 megawatts of energy for a savings of approximately $300,000 each year. As the University has increased its buildings’ square footage on campus by 30 percent since 2001, it has also reduced electricity consumption by 10 percent and natural gas consumption by 50 percent.

The University proceeded with plans to enhance the residence halls, including making major interior and exterior renovations of Overlook South and potential construction of one or two new buildings to replace older ones.

In addition, the 1,000-space Pioneer Parking Garage continued to well serve the campus community. In addition to the hourly users, 800 students purchased permits to use the garage.

Fundraising Scholarship funds provide important financial support for students who could not otherwise afford a William Paterson education. Since 2010, donor scholarship distribution to the University has increased 165 percent from $414,000 to nearly $1.1 million. The scholarship endowment has grown nearly 122 percent during the same period of time, going from $3.2 million to $7.1 million. In the last two years alone, the University has raised more than $3.5 million in scholarship support both in endowed and annual scholarships.

University officials gather with the first students selected as Taub Scholars

In fall 2015, 32 freshmen were selected as the first group of Henry Taub Scholars, benefiting from the $1 million donation by the Henry and Marilyn Taub Foundation—the largest single gift specifically for scholarships in William Paterson University history.

The award provides $250,000 per year for four years for scholarships covering tuition and fees for students with financial need, providing critical support.

Significant gifts this year included $266,000 from the estate of Arthur Acquaviva ’75 to establish a $250,000 endowed scholarship supporting students with financial need and an additional $16,000 to award in the next three years while the endowment is becoming fully invested. The University also received a $200,000 pledge from the Give Something Back Foundation to benefit 10 students with financial need. Jack and Joan Hall, donors of an endowed scholarship at William Paterson, donated $100,000 to the Give Something Back Foundation requesting that this donation be earmarked to William Paterson due to their confidence in the University; the founder of Give Something Back Foundation, Robert O. Carr, generously matched this contribution.

The William Paterson University Foundation held its 26th annual Legacy Award Gala in April, raising $230,000 in net revenue that will be transferred in its entirety to the University to be used for institutional scholarship support in the 2016-2017 academic year. At the Gala, Joseph President Waldron (right) with Riccitelli ’85, general honorees Joseph Riccitelli ’85 and manager and executive Renate Rennie at the Legacy Award Gala vice president of RCA Records and a long-time supporter of the University music management program, was honored with the Distinguished Alumnus Award. The Tinker Foundation and its president, Renate Rennie, were recognized as the Distinguished Foundation.

The University also received a $130,000 grant from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation for continuation of the University’s partnership with Paterson schools, through which University Professors in Residence are placed in the schools to coordinate planning to develop, implement, and disseminate model units/ lessons from grades preschool through 12 that encompass science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM). Dodge Foundation support for the University spans 15 years..

Employee Recognition William Paterson University supported and recognized faculty and staff through the continuation of its successful WP P.R.I.D.E. Staff Excellence Awards program, which is designed to recognize extraordinary efforts, contributions, commitment, and innovation of colleagues throughout the campus. During this successful second year of the program, 65 employees nominated by their peers and supervisors received awards.

The overall WP P.R.I.D.E. Award for President Waldron with Judy Tsang

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2016 went to Judy Tsang from the Student Accounts Department, who implemented a new automated process for student refunds, enhancing the efficiency and quality of service to students. Tsang was chosen for the overall award after a vote by the CARES Council, a committee of impartial employees who vote to select all of the program’s winners.

Reputation Building The University had many accomplishments with regard to enhancing the institution’s reputation this year in the community and gained positive coverage in the media for faculty research, innovative classes, topical conferences, and other events on campus.

Acting Governor Kim Guadagno and State Senator Tom Kean. Jr. were among more than 300 state and local officials and members of the William Paterson University community who were in attendance as the University held the grand opening for University Hall, its new 80,000-square-foot academic building, on January 13, 2016. Extensive media coverage included the Star-Ledger, Record, Herald News, NJBIZ, News 12, WMBC-TV, and more than 230 additional news outlets across the country. William Paterson was the third institution in New Jersey to complete a building project supported by the Building Our Future Bond Act.

Present for the opening of University Hall at William Paterson University on January 13 were a number of University administrators and elected officials. (From left to right) Assemblyman Benjie Wimberly; Assemblyman Scott Rumana; Esaul Helena, president, William Paterson Student Government Association; Assemblywoman Mila Jasey; Jean Fuller-Stanley, associate dean, College of Science and Health; Ken Wolf, dean, College of Science and Health; Fred Gruel, chair, William Paterson University Board of Trustees; President Kathleen Waldron; John Galandak, member, University Board of Trustees; Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno; Senator Tom Kean Jr.; Anna Marie Mascolo, member, University Board of Trustees; Lonnie Miller-Ryan, president, Wayne Township Council (in hat); Lourdes Cortez, member, University Board of Trustees; Aileen Rivera, councilwoman, Wayne Township; Christian Hartman, associate vice president, New Jersey Alliance for Action; and Jamie Dykes, president, Tri-County Chamber of Commerce

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U.S. Senator Cory Booker gave the commencement address at William Paterson University’s 193rd undergraduate commencement ceremony at the Prudential Center U.S. Senator Cory Booker in Newark on May 20. At the University’s graduate commencement ceremony, held separately on campus on May 18, Bernard J. Milano, president and trustee of KPMG Foundation and president and trustee of the KPMG Disaster Relief Fund, received an honorary doctor of humane letters degree.

In recognition of the University’s designation as a Hispanic-serving institution, President Waldron was interviewed for a cover story in the October issue of Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education, the major magazine that reports on Hispanics in higher education.

This year, William Paterson University also received a host of other awards and recognitions. The University was one of 35 entities recognized as a thought leader in the State by the Commerce and Industry Association.

This honor was given to only five institutions of higher education this year and was presented at a large CIANJ meeting in September. President Kathleen Waldron also served as a panelist at the CIANJ’s Summit on Human Resources and Labor, in which she and other state college presidents discussed how colleges and universities can work with the business community on developing a sustainable workforce for years to come.

President Waldron received a number of honors and recognitions this year, including being named among New Jersey’s most powerful women by the state’s most powerful women according to NJBIZ. In July 2016, she was invited to join other women college presidents for a panel discussion as part of the Higher Education Resource Services (HERS) Summer Institute

at Bryn Mawr College. The panel was a culminating event of the two-week institute, an intensive leadership development program designed to help advance women to senior leadership positions in higher education throughout the ranks of faculty and staff.

This year, President Waldron continued to be a frequent speaker at meetings devoted to women’s leadership, including the American Council of Education’s Women’s Network as well as various corporate forums. She recently joined a group of 100 women leaders who signed on to Moving the Needle: Advancing Women Leaders in Higher Education, a call to action campaign by the American Council on Education to work toward ensuring that 50 percent of the chief executives of United States higher education institutions will be women by 2030.

The University earned a Bronze Level Recognition from the Exercise Is Medicine on Campus Program, an initiative calling on colleges and universities to promote physical activity as a vital sign of health. The program is part of a nationwide initiative coordinated by the American College of Sports Medicine in collaboration with the American Medical Association.

The 37th season of the Distinguished Lecturer Series featured Leslie Stahl, the Emmy Awardwinning broadcast journalist and coeditor of 60 Minutes, and Angelique Kidjo, the Grammy Awardwinning singer, songwriter, and activist. Kidjo was honored with a President’s Medal in recognition of her personal achievements and contributions to cultural understanding and raising awareness to improve conditions for women in Africa.

The Center for Chinese Art presented the Shanghai William Chinese Art Foundation Distinguished Visiting Artist Series, “A Gathering: Chinese Contemporary Printmaking Exhibition,” at the Riverside Gallery in Hackensack. The exhibition ran from October 26 through November 14 and included lectures, presentations, and a demonstration.

Pat DeDeo, associate vice president for governmental relations and external affairs, presented to the Red Tape Commission in Trenton. His testimony covered topics including the need for reform of contracting laws and inequities in the tax laws affecting state institutions and students.

Sandra Miller, deputy chief information officer and director of instruction and research technology, received the 2015 Charles McMickle Award for Excellence and Innovation from NJEdge.Net. She provides leadership and vision for the University’s Center for Teaching and Learning with Technology (CTLT), which provides professional development for faculty, media services, classroom technology and support, and broadcast, video production, and support services.

The New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) renamed its top baseball coaching honor as the “Jeff Albies Baseball Coach of the Year Award.” The recognition is in honor of the University’s retired baseball coach who led his team to two national championships and finished his career ranked eighth all time in Division III victories.

About William Paterson University William Paterson University is a leading public University with 11,000 students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate degree programs offered by five academic colleges: Arts and Communication, Cotsakos College of Business, Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Science and Health.

Its 370-acre wooded campus is located in suburban Wayne, New Jersey, just 20 miles from New York City, adjacent to 1,200 acres of wetlands and woodlands, and only three miles from the historic Paterson Great Falls.

The University offers a wide range of learning opportunities in its classrooms, laboratories, and studios, and throughout the campus, as well as at various off-campus locations. William Paterson’s faculty members provide a valuable blend of accomplished scholarship and practical, applied experience. Among the University’s faculty are 41 Fulbright scholars and recipients of numerous other awards, grants, and fellowships.

Students benefit from individualized attention from faculty mentors, small class sizes, and numerous research, internship, and clinical experiences.

The institution’s nearly 73,000 alumni can be found throughout New Jersey, the nation, and the world, using their William Paterson degrees and experiences as a springboard to professional accomplishment and personal growth. They are leaders in the arts, business, health care, sports, entertainment, the media, and education. They are public servants, artists, musicians, teachers, scientists, television personalities, authors, politicians, crime fighters, and entrepreneurs. Their achievements reflect the University’s mission and commitment to preparing graduates for success in their careers, communities, and lives.

Wayne, New Jersey wpunj.edu