Strategic Plan 2023-2028

A Century and Beyond of Excellence, Commitment, and Elevation.

Chancellor's Message

The year 2026 will mark a century of Rutgers University excellence in Camden. These ten decades of service to our community are characterized by an unyielding dedication to higher education access for citizens of New Jersey and beyond. Affordability and access have been the “north star” guiding strategic initiatives and priorities that have made Rutgers University–Camden a sought-after institution for many New Jerseyans and prospective students nationally and globally. Because of our ardent dedication to making education affordable, students who successfully complete our undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs do so with comparatively little or no debt. As a result of priorities like “Bridging the Gap” and targeted donor scholarship support, Rutgers–Camden continues to assure that those wanting access to higher education can attain it, fulfilling dreams of bettering their lives and those of their families. Thus, access and affordability will continue to guide priorities during the next five years of this strategic plan, “Rutgers University in Camden, a Century and Beyond of Excellence, Commitment, and Elevation.” The plan centers on five strategic priorities. These priorities are the pillars around which key efforts are concentrated:

1. Innovation in Academic Excellence
2. Transformative Student Success
3. Holistic Student Experience
4. Beloved Camden Community
5. Internationalism

These overarching priorities are value propositions that will elevate Rutgers–Camden well beyond the next five years.

Rutgers–Camden has graduated over 80,000 living alumni who are thought leaders in education, public policy, law, health care, business, public service, and other notable sectors. Thus,

commitment to student success has been, and continues to be, the common denominator and driver of all we do. Since 1926, our campus has welcomed students from varying stages of life: fresh out of high school, first-generation, veteran, late-life learners, and part-timers. Their success continues to be our legacy. Over the next five years, we will endeavor to increase the overall six-year graduation rate, Pell-eligible student graduation rate, and student retention rate. Additionally, we will focus on reaching students with “some college no degree” in our effort to elevate student success.

In looking toward our future, we will increase our student recruitment efforts locally, state-wide, domestically, and abroad. Additionally, the focus over the next five years will be to increase the number of enrolled students from Camden city. Enrollment data reflect a paucity of student applications from the Camden City School District. Through a partnership with city schools, we hope to increase the number of students from Camden City and County Schools over the next five years. In addition to a focus on local markets, we will concentrate on national markets and emerging international markets for student recruitment, academic collaborations, and student experiential learning opportunities.

While not a discrete strategic pillar for this plan, an uncompromising commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is intrinsic throughout. As a federally designated Minority-Serving Institution and an Asian American, Native American and Pacific Islander-Serving Institution based on the demographics of our student population, we will continue to make Rutgers–Camden a safe and welcoming environment for all. This spirit will reflect through curricular offerings, experiential learning opportunities, academic research, and community engagement. Each of the five pillars will demonstrate a sustained commitment to the rich diversity of our campus and extended community.

As we focus on the next five years, we are reminded of the advancement of Rutgers–Camden. We are a Carnegie R-2 classified institution. We are among the nation’s top 50 public universities and top 100 national universities according to U.S. News & World Report rankings. More importantly, we are among the top academic institutions for social mobility and for veterans. We are committed to community partnerships and alumni/donor engagement. Our exemplary faculty, dedicated staff, and amazing students continue to advance intellectual innovation through research in multiple disciplinary areas, resulting in annual increases in research expenditures and cutting-edge scholarly advances. Innovation and academic excellence over the next five years is what this plan is all about. However, we know the action items that undergird the priorities for the various pillars are not set in stone. With this knowledge, we will evaluate the progress of, and make necessary modifications to, each identified strategic priority along the way.

In summary, intentionality is the leitmotif that characterizes the strategic priorities that are outlined within this five-year plan. To that end, collectively, we will produce the next generation of citizens, who will use their talents to address the challenges facing humanity. Collectively, we will make a difference in Camden and the Delaware Valley as an anchor institution. Collectively, we will continue to advance our campus among the nation’s top national and public universities. Collectively, we will collaborate locally, state-wide, nationally, and internationally to advance the common good.

I would like to thank the co-chairs of the planning committee, Drs. Marsha Lowery and Jane Siegel, for their leadership. Additionally, thanks to members of the steering committee inclusive of the hundreds of colleagues and constituencies (students, staff, faculty, alumni, board members, and donors) who sacrificed personal and professional time for this undertaking. This plan reflects your perpetual dedication to Rutgers–Camden and its future success. I look forward to the next five years of elevation in this place we all call home, Rutgers University in Camden.