New Jersey City University (NJCU) is a public university in Jersey City, New Jersey, United States. It is a member of the New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities. New Jersey City University is a fully recognized and accredited university.
The institution opened in 1929 as the New Jersey State Normal School at Jersey City. It was renamed as New Jersey State Teachers College at Jersey City in 1935 and Jersey City State College in 1958, becoming a liberal arts college in 1968. In 1998, the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education approved a change of institutional status and accepted its present name.
The university is currently led by Dr. Sue Henderson, who became the first female president of the University in 2012.
Campus
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The university's main campus is located at 2039 Kennedy Boulevard Jersey City, New Jersey 07305-1597. The University's administrative center is Hepburn Hall. Designed by Guilbert and Betelle and completed in 1930, the Gothic structure serves as the symbol of the university and features in school publications as well as the university's athletic nickname.
The New Jersey City University Frank J. Guarini Library is available to students as well as staff for learning materials such as books, DVDs, CDs, computer lab, quiet study rooms and access to electronic databases. Since the Fall 2014 semester, despite some objections by librarians, there has been a Dunkin Donuts franchise operating out of the first floor of the library.
A six-story Arts and Sciences building named Karnoutsos Hall was designed by architect Michael Graves. It is known by students as the Crayola building, because of the colors which make up the building's exterior, and as the K building. It is located in the center of the campus. The 77,000-square-foot (7,200Â m2) building, houses 14 classrooms, 10 computer labs, faculty offices for nine departments, and the Office of the Dean of Arts and Sciences. Other academic buildings include Rossey Hall, (music, dance, and theatre; sociology and anthropology; environmental and earth science; nursing; and educational counseling; as well as numerous classrooms), the recently renovated Science Building (natural sciences), the Professional Studies Building (education departments; criminal justice); Fries Hall (media arts); and Grossnickle Hall.
The Visual Arts Building on Culver Avenue features a Maya Lin sculpture in the entrance garden area. There are also renovated buildings on West Side Avenue that are part of the school, including the West Side Theatre, which is used for theatrical productions and community events. Another building houses the Business Development Incubator program.
The university's Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex is located less than a mile southwest of the main campus at Newark Bay. In 2017, the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer entered into a facility usage partnership with the University to upgrade the natural grass soccer training field at the complex to professionally approved standards. Under the partnership, national and international teams will be allowed to train at the facility ahead of their matches at Red Bull Arena. Phase one of the project began in early June 2017 and involved regrading, aeration and reseeding of the training facility. The project, which is still ongoing, will also involve overall maintenance of the training facility.
Between these facilities and the main campus, construction has begun on the new "West Campus" between West Side Avenue and Bayfront on Route 440 that will more than double the campus's total area. The West Campus will include academic buildings, residences, retail spaces, parking, and a University Promenade.
The university's business school broke ground on a leased campus space in Harborside Center in downtown in April 2015.
Transportation
NJCU has a large population of commuter students, currently 97% of undergraduates. There is a bus service on Kennedy Boulevard along routes 10 and 99 south to Bayonne or north to Journal Square and the Port Authority Bus Terminal. Along West Side Avenue, New Jersey Transit #80 and other local buses provide frequent service to Journal Square. At Journal Square Transportation Center transfer is available to points in Hudson County, Manhattan, Newark, and suburban New Jersey via bus service provided by New Jersey Transit or train service on the PATH rail system. Local buses such as the Society Hill, and the 440 Shopper Square can be taken from the west side ave side of the campus to head to Journal Square. The most common method used by commuters is to take the PATH rail system to West Side Avenue.
Hudson Bergen Light Rail is accessible at West Side Avenue to Downtown Jersey City, Hoboken, and North Hudson and alternative PATH connections. The school also offers student discounts on monthly passes for the light rail.
The university provides a shuttle service which runs on three routes to fit the transportation needs of students and faculty. The first route transports car commuting students and faculty from West Campus Parking Lot #3, located on Westside Avenue, to the Professional Studies Building on the main campus. The second route operates similar to the first route but makes additional stops and pickups at the Athletics & Fitness Center and Visual Arts building. The final route of the shuttle service provides a shuttle drop off at Journal Square (JSQ) that can only be boarded from the Professional Studies Building location.
Construction is underway in lot 3 on West Side Avenue to improve the parking which will be accessible from route 440 and directly off of West Side Ave. The construction will be able to accommodate the influx of new students arriving at the university campus each year.
Campus living
The university operates four residence halls: Co-op Hall, a corridor-style facility with common area bathrooms and study lounges for freshmen and first year dorm students; Vodra Hall, a traditional dormitory with shared bathrooms between rooms for upper-class students and special needs individuals; and 2040 University Apartments, a residence for seniors and others of age 21 and up. The fourth is a new residence hall on the west campus.
Several clubs are available for students to join, including Biology Club, Chess Club, and Salsa Club.
Another accommodation for students is the Knight Rider, for dorm students only. It is accessible between 5:00 pm and 1:00 am. Between these hours students may call if they need to be taken to Pathmark and surrounding stores on Route 440, Rite Aid and surrounding stores in Danforth Plaza, Hudson Mall, and the Light Rail station. Hudson Mall is home to the Hudson Cinema (which offers $5 movies on Tuesday nights) and Applebee's restaurant.
NJCU is in the midst of a major expansion, which will include a new 21-acre west campus, situated between West Side Avenue and New Jersey Route 440. The first building, a student residence, opened in 2016. The new campus will include a performing arts center, student housing, a college of education, and a business school.
The business school operates in the Harborside Financial Center in downtown Jersey City.
History
- 1927: The New Jersey State Normal School at Jersey City was chartered. The institution was built to accommodate 1,000 students and an eight-room demonstration school in its one building, Hepburn Hall, on 10 acres (40,000Â m2) on what was then Hudson Boulevard.
- 1935: The name was changed to New Jersey State Teachers College at Jersey City. The institution was authorized to offer a four-year teacher education program and award the bachelor of science degree in education.
- 1936: A degree program in health education and nursing was initiated in cooperation with the Jersey City Medical Center for the training of school nurses.
- 1958: New Jersey State Teachers College at Jersey City became Jersey City State College and was authorized to award the bachelor of arts degree.
- 1959: The institution began to offer the master of arts in elementary education.
- 1968: Jersey City State College became a multipurpose institution, authorized to develop a liberal arts program and to enlarge teacher preparation programs.
- 1985: The institution was awarded a $5.7 million Governor’s Challenge Grant for an expanded Cooperative Education Program, which would serve all academic majors. From that time, Jersey City State College was known as New Jersey’s premier cooperative education college.
- 1998: The New Jersey Commission on Higher Education approved a petition submitted by the JCSC Board of Trustees requesting that the institution be granted university status and renamed New Jersey City University. The university was restructured into three colleges of Arts and Sciences, Education, and Professional Studies.
- 2003: NJCU joined with the City of Jersey City, the Jersey City Board of Education, and New Jersey Transit to collaborate on the Jersey City Bayfront Plan. New Jersey City University West Campus Redevelopment Plan is a part of this project and NJCU is a major player in this University-Community Partnership.
- 2007: Marc Brown, son of Charlie Brown, was hired as basketball coach.
- 2012: After 19 years, NJCU President Carlos Hernandez retired. Under his tenure, three new buildings were erected and, in 1998, the school became a university.
- 2013: On September 20, 2013 NJCU inaugurated Dr. Sue Henderson to be the 12th president of New Jersey City University becoming the first woman in this post.
Academics
NJCU is organized into three colleges offering 41 undergraduate study and 27 graduate degree programs. The largest and most popular programs of study at NJCU are Early Childhood Education, and Music. In addition, the NJCU Fire Science program is the only university-based bachelor's degree fire science program in the State of New Jersey. NJCU has started a program called "Professional Security" that helps students get into organizations such as the FBI, NSA, and CIA. The majority of students that graduate from NJCU have become teachers from grades k-12.
The NJCU Media Arts Department is the home base and sponsor of the annual Black Maria Film and Video Festival, an international juried competition and traveling exhibition which recognizes and supports independent film, video and emerging media.
As of 2015, undergraduate tuition and fees are $5,426.50 a semester for full-time students and $359.35 a credit for part-time students. For full-time students who reside on campus, the total dormitory fees and meal plans is $10,728.70. For graduate and online graduate students, tuition and fees are $640.50 a credit. Different costs are applied to graduate students in Accelerated Nursing, and those pursuing doctorates in Civil Security or Security Studies.
NJCU offers scholarships and awards to students who meet the financial obligations of pursuing higher education.
Athletics
NJCU is a member of Division III of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
The John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (JMAC) is the home of the Gothic Knight basketball and volleyball teams and the focal point for the NJCU athletic department and recreation and intramural activities. The 72,000-square-foot (6,700Â m2) JMAC opened in the fall of 1998, giving the university one of the finest indoor recreational facilities in the area. The building features a 2,000-seat basketball and volleyball arena, an exercise and fitness center, a 25-yard swimming and diving pool with adjacent sauna, three racquetball courts, a tenth-of-a-mile elevated jogging track, a multi-purpose room for aerobics and classes, and locker room space for teams, students, faculty and staff.
New Jersey City University sponsors thirteen intercollegiate athletic programs in baseball, men's basketball, women's basketball, women's bowling, men's and women's cross country, men's golf, men's and women's soccer, softball, women's tennis and men's and women's volleyball.
The women's bowling team has qualified for all seven NCAA National Collegiate Championship events since the first one was held in 2004. The Gothic Knights have advanced to the national semifinals four times, always coming in even-numbered years: 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010, finishing third nationally in 2004 and 2008. NJCU hosted the 2010 NCAA Championship.
The men's basketball team is the oldest program, having reached the Final Four in 1986 and 1992. The team has appeared in 20 NCAA Tournaments, most recently in 2017 and 2018.
The baseball team now, under head coach Jerry Smith, along with assistant coaches Nick Cesare, Raj Subramanian and Andrew Otterberg have built the program into a contender.
Starting in July 2013, cheerleading tryouts were held for students. NJCU had a cheering team for the students to be a part of for the school year of 2013â€"2014. Women's tennis will begin as a club program in fall 2014 before being elevated to varsity status, as the men's golf team previously did in 2009.
The university hosts a website for their athletics department located at www.njcugothicknights.com, begun by Ira Thor.
Trio Learning Community
The TRiO Learning Community (TLC), which is funded by the United States Department of Education and New Jersey City University, helps students with low-income and disabilities. The TRiO Learning Community (TLC) provides students with an advisor, financial aid assistance, tutoring, and support.
Greek life
Greek organizations offered at New Jersey City University include:
- Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity
- Iota Phi Theta Fraternity
- Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity
- Lambda Sigma Upsilon Fraternity
- Lambda Tau Omega Sorority
- Lambda Theta Alpha Sorority
- Lambda Theta Phi Fraternity
- Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority
- Omega Phi Chi Sorority
- Phi Chi Epsilon Sorority
- Phi Mu Alpha Fraternity
- Psi Sigma Phi Fraternity
- Sigma Alpha Iota Fraternity (female)
- Sigma Lambda Beta Fraternity
- Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity
- Zeta Phi Beta Sorority
- Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity
- Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority
- Lambda Pi Upsilon Sorority
- Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity
Alma mater
Student newspaper
The Gothic Times is New Jersey City University's official student newspaper. It was reintroduced in 2001 and prints monthly issues, excluding June, July and August. It features stories about campus happenings as well as articles on lifestyle, sports, arts and entertainment. It also features an editorial and opinion/advice section.
In the early 2000s, the newspaper gained statewide recognition, winning a number of awards from the New Jersey Collegiate Press Association, culminating with a second-place finish in the category of General Excellence. Past and current issues are available at its official website.
Faculty and alumni
- NJCU faculty
- NJCU alumni
Recognition
Poder Hispanic Magazine named NJCU one of the nation's top 25 public colleges and universities serving Hispanics in its February/March 2012 issue.
New Jersey City University is a member of the American Association of Colleges and Universities and the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
See also
- Bayfront, Jersey City
- Hudson County Community College
References
External links
- Map: 40°42′34″N 74°05′19″W
- New Jersey City University
- New Jersey City University athletics
- Black Maria film festival
- Professor of Political Science at NJCU
- Karen DeSoto, co-director of NJCU's Institute for Dispute Resolution