HCSLA Strategic Plan

HCSLA has developed a profound group of talented scientists, scholars, and artists who significantly contribute to their respective fields through high-quality research, scholarship, and student mentoring. HCSLA underpins the research mission and Carnegie Research 1 status of the institution, as discovery, knowledge creation, applied research, and innovation are infused in our culture and yield dividends for our students, faculty, and society. We are committed to focusing our efforts on the most pressing challenges of our times, including sustainability, environment, health, space weather research, and the big data revolution, and fostering collaborations with industry and other institutions. Studies have shown that students who are engaged in research and creative work pursue graduate education at higher rates than those who are not. The foundational and translational research and training conducted by our faculty and students lead to economic development with a broad impact across society. We aim to develop research initiatives, research support, and organizational structures in strategic fields that will respond to grand challenges faced by society, enhance our current faculty’s productivity, attract outstanding faculty and students, increase external research funding, and engage more students at all levels in research and scholarship.

We will continue to diversify our student body, faculty, and staff by attracting members from underrepresented groups. This extends beyond increasing the demographic diversity of students, faculty, and staff. It also encompasses how we teach, the research we conduct, and the programs we offer. Universities play a transformational role in the lives of countless students and their families. NJIT is recognized as one of the very best universities for providing students with socioeconomic transformational opportunities. As a public institution, we have an obligation to provide opportunities to all students, especially those who are disadvantaged, as this is, perhaps, where we have the greatest impact. It has been widely reported that diverse groups of people bring to bear synergistic backgrounds and skills, resulting in more creative approaches to problem-solving, research, instruction, and curricula. Meanwhile, the demographics of society and students continue to change. It is incumbent upon us not only to reflect these changes but to lead the institution and guide students to realize their own potential. HCSLA is among the most diverse colleges at the institution based on our breadth of disciplines and demographics of our students, faculty, and staff. We are committed to bolstering our leadership as an example for the campus and community and driving innovation in teaching, learning, and research while increasing the diversity of our student body, faculty, and staff.

NJIT and HCSLA, to a large degree, remains a hidden gem, a place that offers tremendous opportunity for education, professional development, and knowledge creation. Increased name recognition for us will greatly assist in student recruiting to offer more access and opportunities for students to benefit from the NJIT experience. Increased visibility of our research, programs, and people will enhance the impact of our efforts, increase dissemination of our research, and increase the competitiveness of our students and faculty to receive prestigious scholarships, fellowships, awards, and research grants. We aim to escalate the visibility and recognition of the College, its programs, students, and faculty through marketing and branding, increasing nominations to prestigious awards and fellowships, and pursuing recognition by professional societies and national academies.

HCSLA has a tradition of partnership with the community, state, and professions to share our talents and resources, and provide assistance in areas of need. For example, with our colleagues in the Center for Pre-college Programs (CPCP), we founded the Newark Math Success Initiative, a collaboration among HCSLA, CPCP, the City of Newark Mayor’s Office, and the Newark Board of Education designed to enable more students from Newark public schools to attend NJIT and realize their goals and dreams through progressive calculus-based math skills development of rising high school seniors, and professional development of math teachers in the Newark public schools. Faculty and students from the biological, chemical, biochemical, and environmental sciences have been engaged with the Newark-based organization Students2Science, which aims to inspire, motivate, and educate area elementary, middle, and high school students to pursue STEM careers by providing an authentic, state-of-the-art laboratory experience complete with modern instrumentation and meaningful interactions with professional scientists. Following our leadership to create Future Ready Schools New Jersey, HCSLA created the STEM for Success initiative, an integrated program to broaden participation in STEM, especially for those in traditionally underrepresented groups, by fostering collaborative change. Through our Theatre Arts & Technology program, we are intimately engaged in the community through the Newark Arts Festival, Newark Improv Festival, Newark Playwrights Festival, Young Playwrights Festival, and outreach to local area high schools. All these and other similar initiatives bring our experience and talents to the community and help inform our own efforts – on campus and off – while serving critical needs and gaining visibility. We aim to expand the College’s mission to better serve local communities within Newark as well as the State of New Jersey and the various companies and professional societies with which we engage.