TCNJ President R. Barbara Gitenstein has accepted the five recommendations put forth by the The College of New Jersey Advisory Commission on Social Justice: Race and Educational Attainment.
The five recommendations are summarized below:
1. Increase the number of students from Trenton and Ewing public schools who are deemed college-ready to apply to and graduate from The College of New Jersey;
2. Increase the awareness of, and engagement with, the cities of Trenton and Ewing among TCNJ undergraduates for a deeper sense of community, history, and institutional identity;
3. Promote a community, curriculum, and culture that are more inclusive among faculty, administrators, and staff;
4. Identify an office or individual to oversee the implementation of all accepted recommendations;
5. Rename Paul Loser Hall (action taken on May 24, 2017).
These recommendations were part of full report delivered to Gitenstein’s office in late June after the commission met with campus and community stakeholders to consider ways TCNJ could seek to remediate instances of inequality and prejudice. That report, which also contains suggested projects for implementation, can be found on the commission’s website.
“I thank all members of the commission for their dedication and diligence in preparing this report,” said Gitenstein. “I thank all members of the campus community and Trenton/Ewing communities for their thoughtful insight, honesty, and passionate engagement on these issues. TCNJ values inclusivity and diversity, but these words cannot stand alone and must be accompanied by profound action to have meaning.”
Gitenstein also has formed an implementation task force comprised of stakeholders campuswide to ensure that these recommendations are realized. Its work will be overseen by a steering committee, which will include Gitenstein; Christina Riso, deputy chief of staff; and the two co-chairs of the commission, John Donohue, vice president for college advancement and Christopher Fisher, associate professor of history. The steering committee will identify projects, monitor implementation, and report to the various constituencies on its progress.