Montclair Unbound
The Vision
President Koppell announced an ambitious new effort to reinvent higher education to take full advantage of the changes in technology and the ways people learn and interact.
The Montclair Unbound initiative will offer degrees in ways that combine modalities – in-person, asynchronous online, real-time distance interaction – to meet students where they want to learn. As much as a new operating model, Montclair Unbound is a mindset focused on removing barriers to accessing Montclair and increasing our openness to different ways of teaching and learning and partnering with organizations to enhance the traditional classroom.
The Steps
The first steps toward this vision will be to re-imagine the design, delivery and support for our fully online degree offerings through Montclair Online.
Later stages will focus on new models of learning, including short-form degrees, stackable credentials, and micro-credentials.
Both efforts will be supported by the development of partnerships with corporate and governmental organizations focused on regional workforce development and economic growth.
The ultimate aim is a broad university-wide transformation and creation of a fully “blended campus,” allowing technology to seamlessly support our learners – “unbound” from the traditional constraints of higher education.
Our Mission
Montclair Unbound reimagines higher education for today’s learners by removing barriers, expanding access, and creating flexible, high-quality pathways to success.
Grounded in Montclair State University’s public mission and commitment to the common good, Unbound combines the strengths of in-person learning, asynchronous online study, and real-time distance interaction to meet students where they are — in their lives, their communities, and their careers.
We design learning experiences that:
- Elevate access by opening doors to students from every background, ensuring affordability, and valuing the rich talents and ambitions of New Jersey’s diverse communities.
- Empower student success through proactive, holistic support that helps learners balance school, work, and family responsibilities while preparing them to thrive as compassionate, collaborative citizen-leaders.
- Partner with employers and communities to align education with real-world opportunity, cultivating innovation, creativity, and the skills needed for prosperity, democracy, and well-being.
- Foster a culture of innovation and inclusion that engages faculty as co-creators of new models for teaching, research, and public service, while honoring academic rigor and the integrity of scholarship.
At its heart, Montclair Unbound is a movement to redefine what inclusive higher education can – and should – look like: bold in vision, rooted in opportunity, powered by technology, and committed to helping every learner succeed.