School of Communication and Media to Become a College in 2025

Currently part of Montclair’s College of the Arts, the School will become a stand-alone college in July 2025

Montclair State University Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Junius Gonzales today announced that the University’s School of Communication and Media, currently part of the institution’s College of the Arts, will become a stand-alone college effective July 1, 2025.

School of Communication and Media Director Keith Strudler will serve as dean in leading the transition from School to College. Over the next year, all areas of the School will be redefined, including academic and administrative structures, technological systems updates, student services, new curricular opportunities and a discussion of the college name.

Why is this change happening?

Within a highly competitive and rapidly changing higher education environment, the School of Communication and Media has become one of the largest and most comprehensive in its field.

By transitioning from a School to a College, the School of Communication and Media will have access to increased national visibility, more leadership development opportunities for faculty and staff and more interdisciplinary opportunities on campus as part of New Jersey’s second-largest higher education institution.

“The School of Communication and Media has grown rapidly over the last decade, expanding its enrollment and its offerings, receiving accolades and student awards, and this move will allow the University to better support it on its upward trajectory,” says Gonzales.

“This is an exciting moment that will spark even greater distinctive opportunities for our students,” says Strudler. “I am grateful for the continued efforts of our talented faculty and staff, and I am truly looking forward to growing the national profile and impact of this College while forging the future of our collective fields.”

This strategic realignment will also fortify the College of the Arts’ national position, ensuring its continued prominence and influence in the arts. Building upon the successes of its highly ranked academic programs like Musical Theatre and Dance, as well as much-heralded initiatives like the Cali Pathways Project and the Cali Immersive Residency program, the College will continue to play a key role in the University’s increased focus on creativity.

What is staying in the College of the Arts?

Under the new structure, the following non-academic units will remain a part of the College of the Arts:

• University Galleries
• Arts and Cultural Programming
• Performance Operations
• Broadcast and Media Operations
• The College of the Arts’ Office of Career Services will remain a shared resource with Communication and Media and academic advising through the respective academic units will also remain unchanged.

“There is tremendous strength that will come from both new, deeper and expanded interactions of two colleges, especially in the synergies from, for example, programs like film and TV and acting, and growing global partnerships,” says Gonzales. “This new structure will allow both entities to reach their enormous potential.”

I’m a ______, tell me more…

Prospective Student / Parent:
Learn more about the School of Communication and Media or the College of the Arts, visit our campus or take the first step in applying to become a Red Hawk!

Journalist: Contact the Media Relations team for more information or to schedule an interview with Provost Gonzales or Director Strudler.

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About the School of Communication and Media: The School of Communication and Media offers a range of dynamic programs in communication and media to a talented and diverse student population of over 1,800. Offering degrees in film and television, social media and public relations, advertising, journalism and digital media, sports communication, communication and media studies, animation and visual effects, and an MA devoted to strategic communication, the School prepares the next generation of communication and media practitioners and leaders. The School houses award-winning student programs that include WMSC Radio, The Montclarion newspaper,  Hawk Communications Agency, the Red Hawk Sports Network, Hawk+ OTT streaming platform, and News Lab, as well as the Center for Cooperative Media, which serves the public by working to grow and strengthen local journalism. Student projects and programs have recently received national recognition from PRSSA’s Bateman Competition, an Edward R Murrow Award, several Marconi Award nominations, and a College Television Award from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.