2024-2029
The new five-year Academic Master Plan (AMP) aligns with Union College of Union County, New Jersey (UCNJ) Mission to empower students to achieve their goals by providing access to high-quality, affordable higher education. As a comprehensive community college, UCNJ offers career programs, transfer pathways, developmental education, and lifelong learning opportunities, all with a focus on excellence. This mission is sustained through the College’s steadfast commitment to the transformative power of a diverse campus community and a learning and work environment that is both equitable and inclusive. The AMP outlines strategic and operational priorities for the Division of Academic Affairs through 2029, building on UCNJ’s strengths while embracing new opportunities to support student success, community engagement, and innovation.
This Plan will include the following academic years:
- 2024-2025
- 2025-2026
- 2026-2027
- 2027-2028
- 2028-2029
UCNJ is navigating significant shifts in higher education driven by technological advancements, globalization, and declining enrollments. The 2024-2029 Academic Master Plan has been developed to address these challenges and position the College for long-term success. This plan serves as a strategic roadmap and aligns with UCNJ’s mission and institutional priorities.
The Academic Master Plan focuses on four key institutional priorities:
Enrollment: In a highly competitive environment, UCNJ recognizes that increasing enrollment is crucial for the college’s financial stability. UCNJ is leveraging data-driven insights to develop targeted recruitment strategies. The use of advanced analytics helps the institution better understand student needs and preferences, allowing UCNJ to adapt and respond proactively to shifts in enrollment patterns.
Student Success and Excellence: UCNJ is committed to improving key student success metrics, such as course completion, retention, and graduation rates. By utilizing data analytics, UCNJ gains valuable insights into student performance, engagement levels, and the challenges students face. This allows UCNJ to implement targeted interventions, such as academic support services and personalized guidance, to help students overcome barriers to success.
Innovation and Institutional Effectiveness: Innovation is essential for UCNJ to stay competitive and meet the evolving needs of students. UCNJ is committed to supporting innovation, and these innovations combined with the use of big data will help UCNJ improve institutional effectiveness by identifying areas for improvement and refining operational strategies.
Equity and Social Justice: UCNJ is dedicated to fostering an equitable and inclusive environment for all students. UCNJ acknowledges that certain groups, including underrepresented and marginalized populations, face systemic barriers to accessing education and employment opportunities. UCNJ is committed to ensuring that all institutional processes, programs, and systems are designed to promote equity and fairness. UCNJ’s approach to diversity goes beyond surface-level characteristics and recognizes the unique experiences and perspectives that each individual brings.
Through this comprehensive Academic Master Plan, UCNJ is equipped to adapt to the challenges and uncertainties of the modern higher education landscape. The plan not only provides actionable steps for improving enrollment, student success, and institutional effectiveness but also reaffirms the College’s commitment to equity, social justice, and innovation as it prepares students for an ever-changing future.