Accomplishments As Provost and Senior Vice President(and Professor in the School of Business) at New Jersey City University (2014-2023)
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The University, designated as a Hispanic and Minority Serving Institution, is a comprehensive urban public university. During the time I served in this role there were approximately 9000 students, an operating budget of 180 million, 30 million in federal and state grants, and a special needs high school for developmentally disabled students, 43 undergraduate degree programs, 28 graduate degrees and three doctoral programs. The Provost and Senior Vice President served as second to the President and had an oversight role or coordinating responsibility for all University affairs as assigned by President.
I left the position of Provost and Senior Vice President in 2019, took sabbatical leave and returned to the faculty as a tenured Professor in the School of Business.
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Led student recruitment and retention efforts; freshman enrollment up 59% between 2014 and 2018. Reorganized enrollment management support systems and initiated articulation and transfer agreements with two-year and four-year partners. Initiated 45 international partnerships, four joint degree programs in Asia and Europe, international enrollment up 100% since 2014, and successfully completed ACE Internationalization Laboratory.
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Led student success initiatives to enhance graduation and retention rates. This initiative includes advising services, degree mapping, program review, implementation of standardized course evaluations, decision-making linked to technology; retention and graduation rates increased by 5% between 2014 and 2018.
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Initiated, developed and evaluated research proposals and partnerships for external funding, established and led advisory committees to identify and seek funding for innovative research proposals; led the integration and revitalization of the Grants and Sponsored Programs Office, including hiring new Director. Between 2014 to 2019 overall grant submission activity increased 68%; overall funding from competitive, discretionary and foundation-based grants increased 400%.
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Facilitated promotional and developmental opportunities for faculty and staff, which, between 2014 and 2019, resulted in a 40% increase in faculty promotions, a 100% increase in staff promotions, a 50% funding increase for international exchange opportunities.
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Led efforts to institutionalize and professionalize governance processes including the development of criteria for academic decision-making, alignment of academic initiatives with the University strategic plan, oversight of all accreditation activities, decentralization of academic and budgetary responsibility.
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Led efforts to establish programs with partner institutions, foundations, corporations, hospital systems and community organizations to recruit and retain minority faculty, develop internship opportunities for graduates.
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Served as senior academic representative and liaison to public and private agencies and corporations responsible for 350 million in new facilities development at NJCU including a West Campus plan with pedestrian friendly mixed-use facilities including a supermarket and shops. The plan also includes development of buildings to accommodate academic programs and faculty. Facilitated development and staffing of new Business School at the NJCU Harborside and Wall Township campuses.
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Led international and globalization strategies which include; development of the International Office, initiating partnerships for faculty exchange and joint degrees (undergraduate and graduate) with institutions in Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia. Facilitated the development of networks with Hispanic Serving Colleges and Universities to enhance mobility for students in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. NJCU awarded by the Fulbright Program “U.S. Student Top Producer” in 2015-2016, 2017-2018.
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Led efforts to work collaboratively with the Senate to streamline degree and program approval processes, revise and re-write the Faculty Handbook; led team to develop an academic master plan.
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Led efforts to establish interdisciplinary undergraduate research opportunities for STEM disciplines; initiated programs to advance communication and quantitative skills across the curriculum.
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Established 16 new programs and degrees since 2014, including a new doctoral program. During this period full time faculty grew by 7%.
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Upon return to the faculty following a sabbatical leave, taught graduate and undergraduate classes in a variety of management areas receiving some of the highest teaching evaluations in the school during my tenure at NJCU.