New Jersey Designates Montclair State a Public Research University
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed legislation officially designating Montclair State a public research university. The bill — unanimously supported by both the New Jersey Senate and Assembly — is the latest recognition of the University’s recent growth and transformation. The University was designated a research doctoral institution by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education in 2016 and as a doctoral degree-granting institution by the New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education.
“The University greatly appreciates the strong bipartisan support for this legislation,” said President Susan A. Cole. “Having our home state recognize what has already been acknowledged in the national higher education community is both welcome and appropriate, and will further strengthen the University’s ability to contribute to the education of the state’s workforce, create new knowledge in fields important to the state, the nation and the larger world, and help fuel New Jersey’s future economic growth.”
The new designation will also expand Montclair State students’ eligibility for Tuition Aid Grants, enhance the University’s ability to conduct business more effectively under regulations better suited to its needs, and enable it to compete more successfully for new research funding.