TCNJ

1 R. Barbara Gitenstein President This spring, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education reaffirmed TCNJ's accreditation. The action was the culmination of an exhaustive process, which included a lengthy period of self-study followed by a visit from a team of external reviewers. Countless members of our community from across the campus were involved each step of the way. Though I was pleased that the college was found to be in compliance with each of the 14 standards upon which the review was based, I was especially gratified by the reaction of the reviewers to their visit, which included a number of commendations. The Middle States review team discovered what our extended family has always known: TCNJ is an exceptional place. This excellence is reflected in the many accomplishments of the past year, which are described in this report. One of the reasons for our continued success is that the college has never been content to rest on its laurels. We are dedicated to meeting the evolving needs of our students. We innovate. We inspire. We engage. As we look to the future, we recognize that there are many challenges facing higher education, but we remain undaunted in our quest for excellence. It was in this spirit that on April 25 we launched the first comprehensive campaign in the college's 160-year history. We aim to raise $40 million and have already made considerable progress toward this goal. The money will fund scholarships, spark intellectual growth for students and faculty, enhance the student experience, and create spaces that will drive innovation and collaboration. In short, The Campaign for TCNJ will help ensure that the college remains an exemplar in public higher education for generations to come. Our vision for our future stands in stark contrast to the picture painted of America's colleges and universities by a chorus of critics. The academy, they say, is out of touch with the needs of the 21st-century economy. Students are not seeing a return on their considerable investment. While pundits debate the best path forward, TCNJ is already well down our road to continued excellence. We are attracting diverse and academically talented students and connecting them with their own potential for success, and others are noticing our success. We have the fifth highest four-year graduation rate among all public colleges and universities in the country. The federal government recognized TCNJ as one of 15 public schools nationally with high graduation rates leading to high incomes. Beyond career success, we are active in our communities, locally and globally, where we employ learning for the greater good. And through our ongoing strategic planning process, we are thoughtfully responding to new demands on TCNJ and higher education. I believe America's colleges and universities will emerge from this period of soul searching with a renewed sense of purpose and a clear path forward. And TCNJ will be helping to lead the way. ANNUAL REPORT 2014–2015 " The Campaign for TCNJ will help ensure that the college remains an exemplar in public higher education for generations to come." DEAR FRIENDS,

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