Rutgers–New Brunswick charts course with new Academic Master Plan

Strategic effort follows a nine-month process involving cross-campus collaboration

Rutgers University–New Brunswick this week released its Academic Master Plan, a strategic push toward further academic excellence and heightened focus on student success for Rutgers’ largest campus.

The Academic Master Plan will serve as the roadmap for Rutgers–New Brunswick’s future, clarifying strategies to accomplish the university’s academic mission in its pursuit to be a national leader among institutions of higher education that exemplify excellence in inclusive research, pedagogy and service toward the common good.

The Master Plan aims to:

  • Prioritize success of students;
  • Provide a rigorous academic experience;
  • Solve the most complex challenges of our day with a renewed commitment to interdisciplinary research; and
  • Lead in public service and social justice.
Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway.

Rutgers University President Jonathan Holloway described the Rutgers–New Brunswick Academic Master Plan as a significant achievement that will aid in solidifying Rutgers’ place among the best public universities in the country.

“This Academic Master Plan for Rutgers–New Brunswick sets forth a clear set of goals and objectives that prioritize academic excellence, fulfills our three-part, land-grant mission and prepares citizens who are civic-minded, intellectually curious, creative and resourceful,” Holloway said. “I commend (Chancellor-Provost Francine) Conway and the Academic Master Plan steering committee for developing this plan with intensive involvement from the Rutgers–New Brunswick community.”

Described as a living document, the plan aims to support initiatives in support of the university’s ambition as a national leader among institutions of higher education that exemplify excellence in inclusive research, pedagogy and service toward the common good.

The plan’s primary objective is to cultivate excellence and is focused on four pillars:

  • Scholarly Leadership: Elevate the scholarly leadership of intellectual communities that support the diverse populations within Rutgers, New Jersey, the nation and the world.
  • Innovative Research: Strengthen Rutgers–New Brunswick’s capacity to solve grand challenges in our community, state, country and the world to reflect our commitment to the public good.
  • Student Success: Transform the student experience.
  • Community Engagement: Build on Rutgers–New Brunswick’s strong foundation of community engagement.

Creation of the Academic Master Plan was a nine-month, inclusive effort led by a steering committee of more than 70 faculty and staff members. The feedback process involved more than 1,000 town-hall attendees, survey responses from 1,500-plus faculty and staff members and more than 2,400 students, and numerous meetings with various stakeholders, including undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, staff and administrators.