From the President
This fall, as we mark the University’s 110th anniversary and celebrate its tremendous growth in both size and reputation, we have officially launched Soar, The Campaign for Montclair State University, a $75 million fundraising effort.
When the New Jersey State Normal School at Montclair opened in 1908, with the mission to educate and train an initial class of 187 students in the science of education, it would have been hard to envision the day when Montclair State would grow into a national research university, serving more than 21,000 students and offering more than 300 doctoral, master’s and baccalaureate degree programs. But here we are!
To maintain the University’s momentum and commitment to providing life-changing and affordable educational opportunities, the private funds raised by the Soar campaign will allow us to increase the number of students supported by scholarships, to fund groundbreaking research and innovative academic programs, and to improve the campus experiences for all of our students and faculty.
The Soar campaign both celebrates how far we have come and reflects our ambitions for the future. An affordable, high-quality education matters greatly in a democratic society, and philanthropic support is central to our goal to reach all those students who deserve access to the excellence Montclair State University offers. Our core mission is to serve students who reflect the full diversity of our society, without respect to their economic circumstances, which means that in addition to providing a rich academic experience for students, we must ensure they can afford it. Multitudes of gifts from alumni, foundations, corporations and friends of the University have made possible initiatives that enrich the educational program and contribute to keeping the University affordable for students.
We are committed to sustaining Montclair State as a first-rate, student-centered research university, and we are grateful to all those who believe in and support our work. This issue highlights some of the benefits that gifts to the Soar campaign have already provided to our students. I invite you to visit montclair.edu/soar for more updates and to watch a short but inspiring video that captures our compelling story.
Thank you for all that you have done to bring us this far and for providing opportunities for generations to come. Together, we will soar to new heights.
Sincerely,
Susan A. Cole