CUMU Conference 2019

In April 2016, New Jersey designated Stockton University as an Anchor Institution. Just over a year later, the university broke ground on a new $176 million residential branch campus on Atlantic City's famous boardwalk. This was an important step for a city looking to reconstitute itself after an economic downturn saw five casinos close and 11,000 jobs lost since 2014. It was also transformational for a university approaching its 50th anniversary that had grown from a liberal arts college of 1,000 students on 1,800 acres in south Jersey's Pinelands Reserve, to a regional comprehensive university of nearly 10,000 students and a growing urban presence. This session outlines the successes and emerging opportunities of Stockton University Atlantic City as we complete our first academic year. Special attention is given to key initiatives within the community, contributions to local redevelopment, coordination with local partners, and efforts to build civic mindedness into the campus curriculum. Collectively, this work demonstrates how Stockton is using the threads of its past to reaffirm its commitment to Atlantic City and region for the future. Participants will have the opportunity to share their own experiences, strategies, and opportunities for leading change in their communities.