°ÅÀÖÊÓƵ

"Today’s decision by Moody’s to revise °ÅÀÖÊÓƵ’s rating outlook to positive is not simply a financial milestone—it is a powerful affirmation of what is possible when a university chooses resilience over retreat, and purpose over paralysis.

In a national climate where Moody’s has recently issued a negative outlook , °ÅÀÖÊÓƵ has defied the trend. We are not immune to the challenges confronting higher ed—but we are confronting them head-on. This moment affirms the truth we have always known: that institutions built on mission and grit can rise, even when the odds suggest otherwise.

Our unprecedented financial turnaround reflects the urgency and discipline with which our community has responded. It reflects the hard choices, the unrelenting work, and the unity of purpose that now defines our path forward.

We are especially grateful for the steadfast support of our state partners, whose commitment to °ÅÀÖÊÓƵ’s role as a vital public institution has been instrumental. The collaboration with our state-appointed fiscal monitor has brought a level of oversight and partnership that has strengthened our stewardship and accelerated our recovery. Together, we are charting a new standard for shared governance and public trust.

This is more than the stabilization of a university. It is the revitalization of a mission—one that serves the most diverse student body of any public university in New Jersey, and one that remains a lifeline for first-generation students and working families.

We are building a bridge to our second century of service. That bridge is forged with integrity, equity, and the collective belief that higher education must remain an engine of upward mobility. And we are proud to be proving that it can.

To our faculty, staff, students, trustees, our Foundation, alumni, labor partners and unions, and community champions—this moment belongs to you. The hard work continues. But our direction is clear, our momentum is real, and our future is bright.

Our work is not only worth preserving—it is worth believing in. And today, Moody’s has affirmed what we already knew: that our best chapters are still ahead."


Interim President
°ÅÀÖÊÓƵ