Strengthening the Rider Student Experience

Dear Members of the Rider Community,

At Rider University, our commitment to student success both inside and outside the classroom remains at the heart of everything we do. As we continue to build on this foundation, we are launching a series of initiatives designed to deepen engagement, foster belonging and ensure every student has the tools, opportunities and support they need to thrive. Together, these efforts reflect our shared goal: to make Rider an even more vibrant, supportive and successful community for all.

In the months ahead, we will take a closer look at how we can reimagine and enhance the student journey at Rider. To guide this work, an outside consultant will visit campus from November 17–21 to meet individually with student-facing staff and host focus groups with student leaders, organizations and other engaged members of our community. These conversations will help us identify opportunities to strengthen the overall student experience while improving undergraduate retention and graduation rates.

At the same time, several exciting initiatives are already underway or soon to launch:

• Reimagined Student Navigation Office (S.N.O.): The search is underway for a new director, and the office will soon reopen as a central hub to help students navigate academic, financial and personal support resources.
   
• One Stop: Opened in July, this space in the Bart Luedeke Center (BLC) has already enhanced how we serve students by consolidating key offices such as Financial Aid, Residence Life, the Registrar and the Cashier in one convenient location, streamlining access and improving the student experience.
   
• Health and Wellness Suite: Plans are progressing to relocate the Health Center and Counseling Services to the Vona Center and to create a comprehensive Wellness Center offering integrated support for students’ physical, emotional and mental well-being.
   
• Career Closet: A new initiative that will provide students with access to professional attire for internships, interviews and career events, helping them present their best selves as they pursue future opportunities.
   
• Expanded First-Year Experience Programs: Additional pre-orientation sessions will help incoming students transition successfully to college life and connect with the Rider community before classes begin.
   
• Chaplaincy Program and Interfaith Advisory Council: These new efforts will support students’ diverse faith journeys and foster an inclusive environment for spiritual growth, reflection and dialogue.
   
• Revamped Retention Committee: Building on the work of the newly appointed Retention Task Force, this group will identify strategies to strengthen student persistence and engagement, with particular attention to supporting spring enrollment.
   
• Community Engagement Opportunities: Expanded service and volunteer programs will provide more avenues for students to connect with the broader community, live out Rider’s values and make a positive impact beyond campus.
   
• Presidential Hope Fund: Recently launched, this fund offers emergency financial support to students facing unexpected challenges, underscoring our deep commitment to caring for every member of the Rider community.
   
• Enrollment Expansion: Travel regions for admissions staff will be reassessed to strengthen Rider’s market footprint and ensure we continue to attract talented, motivated students from a broad range of regions.

Together, these initiatives represent a comprehensive, forward-looking effort to enhance every dimension of the Rider experience, from the moment students arrive on campus to the day they graduate and beyond. This work will require the insight, energy and collaboration of our entire community, and I am confident that, together, we will build an even stronger foundation for student success.

Thank you for your continued dedication to our students and to the Rider mission. I look forward to sharing our progress as these important efforts continue.

Sincerely,

John R. Loyack, CPA, MBA
President