Kean University President Dr. Lamont O. Repollet testified during the Senate Higher Education Committee meeting June 15 in support of S3811, also known as the Kean University Act, which would establish Kean as a public urban research university.
“So why is this legislation important for the state of New Jersey? The bill before you today would designate Kean University as the first public urban research university in the state of New Jersey and add Kean to the esteemed list of public research universities such as Rutgers, Montclair State, NJIT and Rowan,” Dr. Repollet said. “It would also position Kean as an anchor institution and a statewide leader in serving our underserved urban communities.”
He added, “When I left the Department of Education to become the president of Kean University nearly a year ago, it was my goal to lead the university on this transformational path while also ensuring higher education remains affordable and accessible to all.
As he was winding down his nearly seven-minute testimony, Dr. Repollet said, “Kean is always focused on connecting with and serving the community at large rather than remaining in an ivory tower. This designation will allow Kean to continue to serve communities across New Jersey. Whether or not you represent an urban district, the urban renaissance is helping New Jersey, and Kean is poised to lead the way. This is a win-win for the people of the state.”
The committee amended and released S3811 to coincide with A5769; the bills are now identical and ready for passage in their respective chambers.