The Inside Track
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| Susan
A. Cole President Montclair State University |
I take great pleasure in introducing the first issue of
Montclair State Alumni Magazine (formerly published as Alumni
Life). This redesign of the magazine better reflects the dynamic growth
and development of our university, and I hope it will provide alumni with
an attractive publication in which they can take pride. This issue also
includes a special insert, Campus Connection,
which highlights the University's growth, construction projects and new
programs, as well as other important developments.
As you will see in our cover story, Montclair
State publicly launched a $50 million capital campaign in October. The
Campaign for the Second Century, which will culminate with the University's
centennial in 2008, seeks to raise money to support ongoing major capital
projects, including the recently completed Alexander
Kasser Theater; our new academic
building and The
Children's Center, both under construction; a recreation center, currently
in the design phase; and major renovation of existing academic buildings.
The Campaign also seeks to raise money for faculty chairs, professorships,
and lectureships; undergraduate scholarships, graduate teaching assistantships,
and student development; academic programs; and library and information
technology.
New and renovated facilities will enable the University to support its
growth in size and scope as we look forward to welcoming at least 18,000
students by 2008 and offering strong programs in fields of importance
to the region. One new program, which you can read more about in this
issue, is the Passaic River
Institute. With the creation of the Institute, Montclair State is
partnering with the federal and state governments to study environmental
problems in one of New Jersey's most important watersheds. The Institute's
research and education efforts in the community will be closely coordinated
with MSU's programs in environmental science, including its new doctoral
program in environmental management.
Another new program, the M.A.
in child advocacy, is the first academic degree of its kind in the
state and possibly the nation. Our program provides knowledge of child
development, language acquisition, children's cognition and memory, law
and forensics, sociology, and social work in a curriculum specifically
developed to meet the needs of professionals working in child welfare
and within the broader context of child advocacy.
These are exciting times at Montclair State. While meeting the evolving
needs of current and future students, the University stands by its commitment
to provide the state with high-quality, public higher education by staying
true to its core values. We have a great deal to share with you about
what's happening and what you, our alumni, are doing. We hope you
find this new publication both enjoyable and informative. We always look
forward to hearing from you, and I encourage you to write us about this
magazine, any of the stories we present in it, or any other issue about
the University that may be of interest to you.
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| Wayne
DeFeo '80 '82 M.A. President Alumni Association |
Happy 2005! We are three years away from the University's
centennial. As we prepare for our second century, a number of changes
have taken place on campus and within the Alumni Association. The University
has launched an ambitious capital campaign to help meet a growing student
demand, and the Association is refocusing its energies on goals that support
The Campaign for the Second Century. From the new format of our
magazine to the growth of the campus, Montclair State is changing at a
rapid pace.
Change is a good thing; but it comes with a price. That is where alumni
fill a vital role. As we move into our second century, the Association
is working to ensure that history plays an integral role in the University's
future.
Whether you're a graduate of Montclair State University, College,
Normal School or Panzer, the Alumni Association is the repository of Montclair
State history. The executive board has members spanning 52 years of campus
history and our living alumni represent more than 80 years of campus history.
Alumni have been instrumental in the restoration of the amphitheater.
Due to your generosity, we have raised $500,000 and the restoration is
now an integral part of the new Alexander Kasser Theater.
Gone are the days when our alma mater can rely on state funding to help
keep tuition affordable. Support of The Campaign for the Second Century
will help to control the impacts of construction on the cost of tuition.
Your Alumni Association has embarked on a parallel path of growth. Our
goal is to create a $2,000,000-plus endowment with your Life Memberships
that will allow us to grant at least $100,000 per year in scholarships
to full- and part-time students.
The Alumni Association will work diligently with the University to build
the critical relationships that maintain our past and guarantee our future.
Alumni need to reach out to each other and share that special bond that
connects each of us to MSU. When we make key connections, we can help
reach the Campaign and scholarship goals by merging the past with the
future.
As we proceed confidently into our second century, you can be a part of
assuring our traditions and building the future. Be a part of The Campaign
for the Second Century, take out either a Pride or Life membership,
come back to campus and reconnect, and most importantly, have fun
