July 29, 2024

Dear William Paterson Faculty and Staff,

I hope you are all enjoying your summer and finding time to relax, spend time with family, and do the things that bring you joy. One of the highlights of the season on campus is our Annual Summer Jazz Week, including the Summer Jazz Room series and the Jazz Workshop, which just wrapped its 31^st season. Congratulations to Director of Jazz Studies Bill Charlap, Coordinator of Jazz Studies Dave Demsey, Professor Tim Newman, and everyone associated with the successful week of instruction and performance. This signature program includes immersive education for all levels of instrumentalists and vocalists – from ages 14 to 94 – and introduces prospective students to our world-renowned Jazz Studies Program, where they learn from and perform with top artists, including Benny Benack with the Big Beat Band, who gave a wonderful performance last week.

Turning to enrollment, as of Thursday, overall enrollment for Fall 2024 stands at 8,199 students, which represents a 6.7% increase over this point last year. Main campus enrollment, however, stands at 5,309 students for Fall 2024, which is a 0.6% decrease over last year at this time. Continuing student overall enrollment of 5,576 is 4.7% ahead of last year, with main campus continuing students currently at 3,600, which is 5.4% behind last year. Efforts across campus need to be directed at helping re-enroll this important population. New student applications are up 16.1%, and accepted students are up 16.4%. There are currently 1,137 first-year student deposits, which is 20.6% ahead of last year's number. Overall, new student enrollment for Fall 2024 is up 12.5%.

This week’s WP: We are Proud – Recently, I had the honor of participating in a signing ceremony with Mariana Diaz, Cónsul Titular (above) of the Mexican Consulate’s new office in New Brunswick, N.J. to formalize awarding of a new grant to William Paterson from the Mexican government, via the Consulate of Mexico, which will be used to provide scholarships to students from Mexico and students of Mexican origin. The Mexican government’s IME Becas grant program, designed with the support of Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Institute for Mexicans Abroad, funds higher education or adult education for Mexican students abroad. Through the program, the University matches the Consulate’s award, doubling the amount of scholarship money available. The award will provide financial assistance in 2024 to students enrolled in undergraduate or graduate study programs. 

A you know, William Paterson has been a designated Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) since 2014 and is a proud member of the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, underscoring our advocacy for Hispanic students and immigrants. Congratulations to Vice President George Kacenga and his Enrollment Management team, which will administer the grant, on helping to secure it!

Have a great couple of weeks until I write again on August 12.