In fulfilling Kean University's mission to become a catalyst for growth and development responsive to the region, the Foundation is often involved in seeking funding for programs that provide benefits for the community at large. These projects and programs help to further social services, provide resources for community residents, involve community members in Kean events and planning and work with local towns and counties to improve neighborhoods. Community participation is essential to the University and these projects are mutually beneficial.
The Accreditation Facilitation Project
Assists New Jersey child care centers through the process of obtaining accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), which demonstrates that the center is of sound quality and adheres to especially high standards with regard to such elements as professional staffing qualifications, safety practices and facility cleanliness.
Community Outreach Partnership Center (COPC)
Develops a virtual business incubator for residents in the Elizabeth Port (E-Port) section of Elizabeth, N.J.; a Fast-track Permit Program to identify, inventory and garner appropriate approvals needed to pre-package vacant parcels of land for future redevelopment and use; and a Family Day Care Network and Mentorship Program to help ease the shortage of day care services in the E-Port area.
New Jersey Professional Development Center for Early Care and Education
Recruits and retains early childhood education professionals with the establishment of the New Jersey Professional Development Center for Early Care and Education (NJPDCECE) at Kean University.
Premiere Stages Program and Play Festival
Encourages and develops the work of American dramatists living in the greater metropolitan area (New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Connecticut) and produce it for the University and surrounding community.
Project Adelante
Targets Latino students between the ages of 12-18 to assist them in dealing with the various language and cultural difficulties they encounter during middle and high school through a series of tutorial workshops and classes, most of them taught by Kean undergraduates.
UAW-GM Skill Center
Provides on-site basic educational opportunities in reading, mathematics, problem solving and language skills and offer training sessions sponsored by the Office of Continuing and Professional Education.
In meeting Kean's goal to attract the finest students to our campus, innovative academic programs are a necessity. These programs assists Kean in providing cutting edge educational opportunities that prepare students for the challenges in our ever-changing world. The progress in technology, science, mathematics and many other areas of study has been rapid and vast in the past decade. Traditional sources of funding are often unavailable for the development of innovative academic programs, so Kean must reach out to individuals, corporations and other sources for program support. The results are rewarding -- to the students, the University and to the future.
Students Partnering with Faculty Summer Research Program (SpF)
A competitive awards program that is designed to support and advance research, scholarship and faculty-student collaboration at Kean, SpF encourages faculty-student members to submit proposals in conjunction with one or more of their full-time undergraduate or graduate students enrolled as of the spring semester. Each team receives a monetary award to purchase materials. The students and faculty mentors each also receive a stipend.
Reviewed by a panel of peers and colleagues, SpF awardees are judged based on several criteria, which include the significance and scope of the proposed project and the likelihood that the project will lead to a presentation, publication or exhibit. Furthermore, they are judged on the prospect of academic and/or career advancement of the participants, and the extent or type of interaction exhibited between the student(s) and faculty member throughout the funding period. This initiative is supported by funds from Schering-Plough. Click here for more information.
New Jersey Center for Science, Technology and Mathematics (NJCSTM)
The mission of NJCSTM is to increase the number and level of expertise of university educated individuals in science, mathematics and technology. NJCSTM concentrates on the preparation and training of high school science and mathematics teachers and professional researchers for business and industry.