President Peter Mercer, in his 15th State of the College address, assured the campus community that Ramapo is still “sound.”
Mercer was upbeat about the new academic year, adding that this year’s freshman class is “the most diverse in college history.”
Although things are looking up, Mercer said the state of the economy is still showing profound affects on the College.
Of the $750 million awarded to public research universities, public universities, county colleges, and private colleges, public universities received $247.5 million.
Ramapo College will be vying for a piece of that 247.5 million along with many other schools.
The economy has also had an effect on students choosing to attend college.
“Fewer students are leaving high school and going to college,” Mercer explained, adding that just days before the Class of 2016 was set to move on campus, the amount of freshman housing deposits fell by almost 50 students.
“We go from lodging students in hotels to extra vacancies in our dorms,” Mercer said.
As far as infrastructure is concerned, Mercer said that the College’s strategic plan “Pushing Boundaries” is “moving along very well, but a little slower than I had hoped.”
On a more positive note, the College has also developed a revised mission statement, which was written but is still undergoing editing and approval. Mercer explained that the new version differs from the current mission statement in that it is more specific as far as the College’s goals are concerned.
Additionally, Mercer addressed some of Ramapo’s recent achievements, including the development of the Ramapo App, which provides students and staff with a quick and easy way to access the faculty directory, academic calendar, course catalog, and shuttle service, among other features.
Mercer also praised the successes of the MBA program that launched this summer. The program contains students from various undergraduate programs, 50 percent of which were Ramapo alumni.
It was also announced in the State of College Address that this year’s graduation will be held at the Izod Center on May 17, 2013.
In all, Mercer said that despite still being referred to as a hidden gem, Ramapo College is “not trying to be hidden anymore.”
