Listen to this articleThe basics:
- Kean announces NJ’s first Bachelor of Science in AI
- Plans include a public health and research hub in Union
- Expansion continues with global partnerships, NJCU
- Elevate 2030 strategic plan centers on AI, equity and innovation
In front of a standing-room only crowd at Wilkins Theatre, Kean University President Lamont Repollet laid out the next chapter at the Union-based institution.
“Today, we stand at the start of a new era,” said Repollet during his annual Opening Day address Aug. 28. “The question is no longer – can we achieve big goals? We’ve done that. The real question now is, what will we do with the momentum we’ve built?”
Repollet noted the growth of Kean during his first five years as president, including being designated as an R2 research university, record enrollment (19,000 students this fall), along with rising levels of faculty research, grants and publications.
“When I became your president in 2020, I committed to making Kean an R2 global research university,” he said. “It was more than a title. It was a call to action and a shared mission to elevate our research, our teaching, our community partnerships, and our international presence.”
He also outlined plans for the coming years, which includes building a new hub for public health and advanced research at 1085 Morris Ave. in Union and continuing global expansion through Kean’s partnerships in Brazil, the United Arab Emirates and China.
And of course, the next chapter for Kean includes growing its New Jersey footprint as it embarks on a merger agreement with New Jersey City University, creating Kean Jersey City.
First Bachelor of Science in AI
Repollet placed a particular emphasis on embracing artificial intelligence and innovation as central elements of this new era – while reaffirming that human relationships and values remain central to Kean’s mission.
He said the university is positioned to harness the power of AI to “boldly go where no university has gone before.” In fact, this fall, Kean is launching the Garden State’s first Bachelor of Science in AI, which will be one of the few such programs nationwide. Additional new offerings include a Ph.D. in computer science and a new Artificial Intelligence Center of Excellence.
We are evolving both what we teach and how we teach it to prepare our students for a world where technology, creativity, and human ingenuity work hand in hand.
– Lamont Repollet, Kean University president
To support its AI efforts, Kean faculty will integrate AI tutors, mentors and research tools into learning. The school will also develop its own custom platform, Keanu AI (named for its cougar mascot).
“We are evolving both what we teach and how we teach it to prepare our students for a world where technology, creativity, and human ingenuity work hand in hand,” Repollet said.
Repollet’s vision for Kean is laid out in Elevate 2030, a new five-year strategic plan built on the university’s core values of academic excellence, equity, inclusivity, wellness, social mobility and public impact.
“AI runs through the heart of Elevate 2030 as both a transformational research tool and a powerful driver of teaching and learning,” said Repollet. “With our momentum, our mission, and innovation as our fuel, there is no limit to how high we can climb.”
