In his annual convocation address to some 400 faculty and staff from both campuses, President Mordechai Rozanski reported on the solid progress Rider has achieved in the past year with regard to academic program initiatives, enrollment, facilities and technology improvements, student life enhancements and financial and fundraising results– all in the context of Rider’s Strategic Plan.

He cited many tangible indicators of that progress. They include, among others, a significantly larger freshman class with a stronger academic profile, increased out-of-state enrollment, greater demand for on-campus housing, improved student retention, increased student satisfaction as compared to peer institutions in national student surveys, a rise in Rider’s ranking in U.S. News and World Report’s 2007 Best Colleges and repeat inclusion in Princeton Review’s Best 361 Colleges.

He praised faculty, staff and students for their hard work and dedication to the renewal process. “Without a doubt, the commitment of our community to our renewal goals and new vision has been key to our progress,” the president said. “All of these factors have created a bit of a buzz, particularly good word of mouth about Rider among students, our alumni, and the public.”

President Rozanski stressed the need to further solidify and advance the progress achieved. “If we are to realize our ambition of rising to the next level of excellence, achieve our student quality and other ambitious goals, and sustain the positive reputational buzz we are earning, then we must continue our work and our heightened aspirations in the years ahead,” he said. He recognized the efforts of a variety of task forces in the academic, student life, facilities, and enrollment management areas and cited important advances within each of the colleges.

President Rozanski also highlighted the strategic planning under way with regard to Westminster Choir College. The focus of that planning is to maintain a high quality and sustainable Westminster program within the context of Rider University. An ad hoc committee of the Board has been working on this effort, as has a special study group comprised of faculty and administrators on both campuses. Currently under consideration is the establishment of a new two-campus, high quality, fully integrated college structure that combines Westminster’s world-class programs with those of the College of Liberal Arts, Education and Sciences in music, theater, dance and the visual arts. President Rozanski outlined several of the staffing, facilities and other needs that are being analyzed further as part of this planning effort. The plan is to be presented to the Board of Trustees in early November for its review and consideration.

President Rozanski ended by providing an update on Rider’s Middle States accreditation preparation. Rider is conducting a selected topics model of self-study through which the institution is studying in depth four of Middle States’ 14 accreditation standards that most closely relate to the strategic planning and academic assessment that have been integral to the University over the past several years. Rider will demonstrate compliance with the remaining 10 standards by means of a document roadmap, or audit that utilizes existing documentation.

Leading this effort is a steering committee comprised of students, faculty and staff from both campuses, many of whom also served as planning task force members, providing continuity with Rider’s strategic planning. The draft self-study report and document roadmap will be available for review by the University community via Rider’s Web site at the end of October with campus forums to be held on November 2 on the Princeton campus and November 9 at Lawrenceville to provide an opportunity to comment on the draft report. A preliminary visit by the accreditation team chair will take place on November 6 – 7 and the actual team site visit will take place March 4 – 7, 2007. Dr. Steve Sweeny, president of the College of New Rochelle, is chairing the visiting team. Further information regarding Middle States accreditation can be found on Rider’s Web site.

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