By Laura D.C. Kolnoski
OCEANPORT – New Jersey City University’s (NJCU) Board of Trustees has unanimously voted to accept a merger proposal from Kean University that would see the almost century-old institution renamed Kean Jersey City.
Negotiations are underway in “a process that will unfold over months and years to come and will include our faculty, staff, students and communities,” wrote Kean President Lamont O. Repollet in the university’s 60-page proposal. Repollet is a former New Jersey Commissioner of Education.
In choosing Kean’s plan, the NJCU board resolved the university “shares NJCU’s commitment to access, student success, and community impact, and has demonstrated a willingness and capacity to collaborate in pursuit of a strategic partnership that aligns with NJCU’s mission and long-term vision.”
The proposal cited Kean’s commitment to urban students and underserved populations, along with “creating pathways for social mobility and economic success.” Shared services, streamlined administration, alignment of academic programs, curriculum expansion and enhancement, and stronger student support services were stressed, along with Kean’s “strong financial foundation.”
The schools’ athletic programs would also be combined under Kean’s Cougar banner.
Kean’s current enrollment is over 18,000 students worldwide while NJCU serves more than 5,000 students. Kean offers some 50 undergraduate and 70 graduate programs to a student population that is 39% Hispanic, 27% white, 21% black, 7% Asian, and 6% multi-ethnic or other. Campuses are located in Union, Hillside, at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft, Ocean County College, and Wenzhou-Kean University in China.
Formerly known as Jersey City State College, NJCU opened a 22-acre satellite campus at Fort Monmouth’s Squier Hall in 2021 after a three-year renovation of the circa 1935 building, former home of the U.S. Army Signal Corps. Less than a year later, NJCU announced a system-wide multimillion-dollar budget deficit that triggered a “financial emergency,” sparking a state investigation and the appointment of a monitor. Next came reductions in staffing and programs, pay cuts to upper management, employee furloughs, and organizational consolidation. Tuition and fees were raised and vacant positions eliminated.
School officials voiced support for the Oceanport campus and endeavored to keep it open as the state granted NJCU a $10,000 lifeline. Enrollment decreased and classes were not offered there this academic year. Two sources contacted for this article declined to comment on Squier Hall’s future regarding the merger. A photo of the building appears in Kean’s proposal, as well as in a video on the Kean Jersey City website, with no caption or commentary. NJCU was still leasing the building from owner KKF University Enterprises, LLC at press time.
“By aligning our strengths with those of Kean University, we are setting the stage for a collaborative journey that will expand our academic horizons and deepen our community impact,” Interim NJCU President Andrés Acebo wrote in a letter to the school community. “Over the past two years… we have reinvested in our facilities, stabilized our operations, broadened our enrollment pipeline, enhanced community engagement, and launched strategic partnerships that have enriched our academic programs and reinforced our connections with local businesses, civic organizations, and neighboring institutions.”
The Oceanport campus offered 16 undergraduate programs. Highlights were high-tech criminal justice and cyber security programs, and a state-of-the-art nursing training center with simulated patient rooms and modern equipment. About 300 students were enrolled at the Fort Monmouth location when it opened. Enrollment dropped from 306 to 195 by September 2023.
In a joint statement, Gov. Phil Murphy and Secretary of Higher Education Brian Bridges wrote they were “encouraged by the forward-moving progress,” adding, “The State Monitor, NJCU administration, and Board of Trustees have been collaborating diligently toward a future that sustains a strong public four-year option in Jersey City and Hudson County. Maintaining access to high-quality post-secondary education… forms the basis of our shared commitment to the institution’s future.”
The Oceanport campus was not mentioned in the statement or in any of the related documents viewed by The Two River Times. Partnership with a “fiscally sound” four-year public institution was urged by state officials following the state’s investigation into NJCU’s finances.
In the coming weeks, Repollet wrote, a letter of intent will be negotiated with NJCU. Terms and conditions of the consolidation are to be memorialized by March 31, with the merger projected to be formalized in 2026. Kean pledged transparency and to remain engaged with faculty, staff and other stakeholders throughout the process.
The unification would identify redundancies, overlaps and opportunities for alignment among administration and staff. The proposal further states, “Efforts will focus on retaining talented staff.” The Kean University Board of Trustees would govern the integrated institutions and determine seat allocation and representation on the governing body. Appointments would be made through the existing process of nomination through the governor’s office and confirmation by the state Senate.
“By combining resources, we will offer more comprehensive academic advising, counseling and mentorship programs tailored to our students’ needs,” the NJCU board wrote. “This merger will enable us to serve as unique anchor institutions within our communities, driving economic development, fostering innovation and addressing local challenges.”
The article originally appeared in the April 3 – April 9, 2025 print edition of The Two River Times.
