TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Nia H. Gill and Senator Sandra Bolden Cunningham to establish Montclair State University as a public research university is now law.
The new law (S3281) establishes Montclair University as a public research university along with Rutgers, The State University, the New Jersey Institute of Technology, and Rowan University.
“Montclair State University has done remarkable work over more than a decade to expand its educational programs and research initiatives. In light of its success, the university has earned the status as a public research university and this law formally conveys this designation,” said Senator Gill (D-Essex and Passaic).
“There has been substantial growth at the university in doctoral-level education and research activity, and it currently fulfills the criteria for a public research university,” said Senator Cunningham (D-Hudson). “Providing the official designation under this law is appropriate and will help to attract researchers, as well as research funding dollars, to the college.”
In the past 15 years Montclair State University has worked strategically and aggressively to grow its enrollment, faculty, and facilities. Effective March, 2016, the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education officially changed the programmatic mission of the institution to a doctoral degree-granting institution.
Another significant development occurred, effective February, 2016, when the national Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, which is the widely recognized classification of United States institutions of higher education, recognized Montclair State University as a Research Doctoral University, based on the substantial growth at the university in doctoral-level education and research activity.
The bill was signed into law by the governor Friday.