Montclair State University

History

Plans for the State Normal school were initiated in 1903, and required a year for the State of New Jersey to grant permission to build the school. It was then established as New Jersey State Normal School at Montclair, a normal school, in 1908 approximately 5 years after the initial planning of the school. At the time, Governor John Franklin Fort attended the dedication of the school in 1908, and the school was to have its first principal Charles Sumner Chapin that same year. The first building constructed was College Hall, and it still stands today. At the time, however, the school only offered two year programs which were meant to train and develop school teachers. At the time, the campus was around 25 acres (100,000 m²), had 8 faculty members and 187 students. The first graduating class, which numbered at 45 students, contained William O. Trapp, who would then go on to win the Pulitzer Prize for journalism in 1929. The first dormitories were then built five years later, in 1915, and is known as Russ Hall.

In 1924, Dr. Harry Sprague was the first president of Montclair, and shortly afterwards the school began being more inclusive of extracurricular activities such as sports, which are still an important sect in the culture of the school. In 1927, however, after studies had emerged concerning the number of high school teachers in the state of New Jersey (only 10% of all high school teachers received their degrees from New Jersey), the institution became Montclair State Teachers College and developed a four-year (Bachelor of Arts) program in pedagogy, becoming the first US institute to do so. In 1937 it became the first teachers college accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

In 1943, during World War II, several students, with permission from the president, Harry Sprague, joined the US Navy as volunteers to train for the war. It was also a time when students and faculty sold war bonds to support US American troops.

In 1958 the school merged with the Panzer College of Physical Education and Hygiene to become Montclair State College. The school became a comprehensive multi-purpose institution in 1966. The Board of Higher Education designated the school a teaching university on April 27, 1994, and in the same year the school became Montclair State University. It has offered Master of Arts programs since 1932, Master of Business Administration since 1981, Master of Education since 1985, Master of Science since 1992, Master of Fine Arts since 1998, Doctor of Education since 1999. From 2008 onwards, the University started offering PhD degrees, first in Teacher Education and Teacher Development, then Environmental Management, Counselor Education, Family Studies, and most recently, Communications Sciences and Disorders (2014). In 2014, Montclair State University graduated more than 30 doctoral students.

In 2004, New Jersey Transit opened Montclair State University Station at Little Falls, which links the university to New York City. The building of the MSU Station cost $26 million to complete, including a 1,500-space parking deck. In 2015, the university established the School of Communication and Media and added two new buildings to its campus; the Feliciano School of Business and the Center for Environmental and Life Sciences (CELS). Partridge Hall, the former site of the School of Business (SBUS), is currently being renovated and is set to reopen in Spring 2016 as the site of the new Montclair State University School of Nursing, which will offer RN to BSN as well as graduate-level nursing programs. In 2016, Montclair State University was upgraded from a Masters to a Doctoral Research University by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

Rankings

Rankings of Montclair State University are unanimously and consistently high. In 2016, U.S. News & World Report ranked Montclair State University #176 for "National Universities and #93 for Public Universities."[9] The University is nationally recognized for its programs in education and business administration. Specifically, U.S. News & World Report 2015 Best Graduate Schools listed Montclair State’s graduate program in elementary education as number 93[10] and the Feliciano School of Business was again included in The Princeton Review’s Guide to The Best Business Schools. In reaffirming Montclair State’s accreditation in Fall 2012, the Middle States Commission on High Education commended on the University’s comprehensive learning assessment system, its proactive engagement with the challenges of technology and its ambitious strategic plan’s quantifiable goal

Demographics

Undergraduate enrollment for Fall 2015 recorded 6,287 male students and 10,049 female students.

Colleges and Schools

Montclair State University comprises four colleges and three schools, each led by a Dean. The colleges and schools organize and conduct academic programs within their units (Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral and Certificate Programs), and work cooperatively to offer interdisciplinary programs. MSU will add the School of Nursing in 2017.

College of the Arts

A wide range of majors is available in the College of the Arts including Music, Music Therapy, Fine Arts, Communication and Media Arts, Journalism, Fashion Studies, Animation, Illustration, Filmmaking, Theater, Production and Design, Dance, Television, and Digital Media. Montclair State is nationally ranked in many of these fields.

The John J. Cali School of Music is part of the College of the Arts. The Cali School of Music provides a wide range of study and performance opportunities to approximately 400 undergraduate and 60 graduate students. These include undergraduate and graduate concentrations and minors, as well as professional certification programs in Music Education and Music Therapy, and the Artist's Diploma and Performer's Certificate degrees in classical and jazz performance. In addition, the noted string quartet, the Shanghai Quartet, has been in residence at MSU since 2002.

Included in the College of the Arts is the School of Communication and Media, which was founded on July 1, 2012. The school unites the former departments of Communication Studies, Broadcasting, Journalism, Public Relations, Sports Media and Filmmaking to create a program of studies that better prepares its graduates for careers in communication and media. Focused coursework, hands-on internships, and mentoring by a top-tier faculty are designed to equip students with the skills to make them more appealing to organizations and industries. In August 2012, Merrill Brown became the school’s first director. The mission of the school is to be an active thought leader in its field by focusing on contemporary aspects in media and training students to be future leaders in the industry. A brand new, state-of-the-art facility for the School of Communication is currently under construction, expected to open in the Spring of 2017. The new facility will houses studios and academic facilities and will connect existing Life Hall and Morehead Hall.

College of Education and Human Services

The College of Education and Human Services is renowned statewide and nationally for its teacher preparation programs. The College of Education and Human Services houses the Center of Pedagogy, with oversees the Teacher Education program. Majors across the university earning teacher credentials are administered jointly by the Center of Pedagogy and the department that houses the student's major. Students gain deep understanding of the subjects they will teach, and understanding of student learning, curriculum development, classroom management, and especially effective teaching skills. Other majors housed within the College of Education and Human Services include counseling and educational leadership, public health, nutrition and food studies, exercise science, athletic training, and family and child studies.

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Montclair State offers 20 undergraduate majors and more than 40 minors in fields including Anthropology, Psychology, Sociology, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Linguistics, Spanish, Italian, Classics and General Humanities, English, History, Justice Studies, Philosophy, Religion, and Political Science. The College of Humanities and Social Sciences is one of the larger units within MSU, with numerous distinguished faculty.

College of Science and Mathematics

The College of Science and Mathematics (CSAM) offers a wide variety of programs delivered by a world-class faculty who engage in research funded by the National Science Foundation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and National Institute of Health, among many other agencies. Located in Richardson Hall are the Department of Mathematical Sciences, the Department of Computer Science, and the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Science Hall houses the Department of Biology, with the Health Careers and Upward Bound Programs located in Mallory Hall. Degrees available in these departments include mathematics with concentrations in discrete and applied mathematics, statistics, finance, and physics, computer science, information technology, science informatics, chemistry, biochemistry, pharmaceutical biochemistry, biology, molecular biology, and marine biology and coastal sciences. Each degree has teaching certification options. The Department of Mathematical Sciences also offers a Ph.D. in Mathematics Education.

The Center for Environmental and Life Sciences (CELS) houses the Department of Earth and Environmental Studies, which offers degrees in Geography, Earth and Environmental Science, Sustainability Science, a Professional Science Masters (PSM) in Applied Sustainability, and certificate programs in Water Resource Management, Geographic Information Science and Environmental Forensics. CELS is also the home of the Passaic River Institute, the PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies, and the interdisciplinary PhD Program in Environmental Management.

The College of Science and Mathematics also prepares students to pursue either a Doctor of Medicine (MD), PhD, or Doctor of Physical Therapy through joint degree programs with Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School. Students earn a bachelor's degree form MSU, and proceed to the MD, PhD, or Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.

Feliciano School of Business

The Feliciano School of Business has several majors available for study. The school offers undergraduate as well as MBA programs. Students may opt to choose the Bachelor of Arts approach or the Bachelor of Science. The School offers a BA degree program culminating in a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. The Bachelor of Science degree offerings include Marketing, Retail Merchandising & Management, Sports, Events and Tourism Marketing, Accounting, Finance, International Business, Management, Real Estate and other concentrations. The MBA program has been recently redesigned and offers concentrations in Accounting, Marketing, Finance, International Business, and Management. In 2016 the MBA program became available in a fully online format. The School of Business also offers post-MBA certificate programs. In 2015 a brand new building for the Feliciano School of Business opened, dedicated to Mimi and Edwin Feliciano.

School of Nursing

In 2016, Montclair State University launched a brand new School of Nursing. It initially consists of a RN-to-BSN program, with full BSN, Masters, and Doctoral programs to be rolled out gradually. Partridge Hall, an aging campus building, is being completely renovated to house the new program.

The Graduate School

All of the colleges at Montclair offer masters and/or doctoral degrees in numerous fields.

The College of Education and Human Services boasts nationally ranked programs in teacher education. In its 2017 ranking year, the U.S. News & World Report ranked the University's graduate education programs 93rd nationally. In addition to the College’s overall education program ranking, the University’s graduate programs in secondary teacher education and elementary teacher education were each ranked No. 14 in the national results. Other programs include Early Childhood Education, Educational Psychology, Teaching (Elementary, Middle, and High School), and Counseling. There are also four doctoral degrees within the teaching field, and those are in Audiology, Counselor Education, Mathematics Education, and Teacher Education and Development. Montclair State University is the only New Jersey institution to be ranked in the top 20 in these fields. The College also hosts a Master of Public Health (MPH) program which is fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health.

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences offers graduate programs in English, History, and Spanish and Italian. Increasing numbers of degree candidates complete master's degrees in preparation for doctoral study.

The College of Arts offers graduate degree programs in Art and Music., and collaborates with the College of Education and Human Services to offer Master of Arts in Teaching degrees in these fields.

The College of Science and Mathematics (CSAM) offers master's degrees in Biology, Molecular Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Computer Science, Earth and Environmental Science, Sustainability Science, Mathematics, and Statistics. CSAM houses two PhD programs, the interdisciplinary PhD program in Environmental Management, founded in 2003, and the PhD in Mathematics Education.

The Feliciano School of Business offers a Masters of Business Administration and graduate programs in Accounting, Management, and International Business.

Athletics

Montclair State University's athletic teams have played under many names in the school's history. From the late 1920s to '30s, the school played as the "Big Red" and featured a large scarlet "M" on its uniforms. Next, Montclair State Teacher’s College competed as the Indians, using a logo with a Native American chief's profile with the initials "MSTC" emblazoned on the caricature's headdress. The initials were changed to "MSC" when the school became Montclair State College in 1958. In response to the growing concerns voiced by Native Americans, the school changed its nickname to the Red Hawks, named after the Red-tailed Hawks that are indigenous to the area.

Division III sports

Montclair State University athletics are in the NCAA Division III in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC). The university currently offers the following sports:

Club sports

Sports fields and facilities

Growth

The original Montclair State University campus consisted of College Hall, Russ Hall, Chapin Hall and Morehead Hall, all built between 1908 and 1928. Housing for students returning from World War II was added near the end of the war. Between 1950 and 1980, Montclair State gradually acquired land from a former traprock quarry and expanded its facilities with an additional 23 buildings. Montclair State University began its next phase of growth in the late 1990s to accommodate New Jersey's growing student population. Dickson Hall was dedicated in 1995. The building is named for David W.D. Dickson, the first African American president of Montclair State University. The Floyd Hall Arena, an ice skating rink, was built in 1998. Science Hall, the home of the Department of Biology, opened in 1999. The Red Hawk Diner was built in 2001, making it the first diner on a university campus in the United States.

Other Additions (2002–2011)

Capital master plan (2013–2017)

MSU's current master plan contains $650 million in capital construction and improvements. The major projects under this new program are:

On-Going Projects

Parking

Increased enrollment along with new construction and limited expansion options have caused a parking crunch at Montclair State University. The school has responded to the parking demands by constructing three garages: The Red Hawk Deck, the NJ Transit Deck (located at the Montclair State University NJ Transit train station), and CarParc Diem.

Residence Facilities

The current residence facilities at Montclair State University are:

The Heights

The newest residential complex on campus, the Heights consists of two H-shaped buildings named John Victor Machuga Heights and Anthony M. Dinallo Heights, which house about 2,000 students combined. The Heights opened in August 2011 near the Student Recreation Center and greatly expanded the campus' residential capacity. Taking advantage of the New Jersey 2009 Economic Stimulus Act, it was privately built and operated, with students paying rent directly to the developer, but consistent with the cost of The Village. Dinallo Heights consists of Basilone, Whitman, Einstein, and Parker Halls; while Machuga Heights consists of Mills, Gordon, Gibson and Barton Halls. Both Heights complexes have suite-style rooms with two residents sharing a bathroom in a suite with one large bedroom or two smaller single bedrooms. The buildings also have large lounge areas to be shared with the four Halls within them. Machuga Heights also contains a large dining hall called Sam's Place.

Blanton Hall

This five-story coed complex opened in the early 1980s and houses 640 residents in double and triple rooms connected by a bathroom. Between four and five residents share each "suite" bathroom. Blanton Hall also contains a central food court containing a Chili's, Dunkin' Donuts, Which Wich?, and a convenience store.

Bohn Hall

The tallest building at MSU, Bohn Hall opened in 1972 and houses approximately 700 co-ed first year residents in double, triple, and quadruple rooms. Floors are divided into one, two, or three wings with each wing having its own community bathroom facility. Bohn Hall also contains classrooms, offices, and student/academic support resources including a Mediation Resource Center, Academic Resource Center, and a Center for Writing Excellence.

Hawk Crossings

These co-ed garden apartment units house 350 upperclassmen. The apartments are broken up into three buildings, called Accipiter, Falco, and Buteo. Each apartment has two bedrooms, houses four residents, and has a kitchen and bathroom. Previously known as Clove Road Apartments, this complex was renamed Hawk Crossings in Fall 2010.

Freeman Hall

Housing approximately 235 co-ed residents, Grace M. Freeman Hall opened in 1963 and is home to mainly students of music or athletic training. Residents live in a "suite" style double or triple rooms, in which two rooms share a bathroom. The building also contains a dining hall for students, Balance Kitchen at Freeman Hall.

Russ Hall

Edward Russ Hall is a coed upperclassmen community and houses the international community, housing 91 residents in a "suite" style community. Russ Hall, the second building to open on campus in 1915, was converted from an administrative building into a residential facility in the late 1990s.

The Village at Little Falls

The Village at Little Falls consists of four separate residential apartment buildings: William Carlos Williams Hall, Count Basie Hall, Millicent Fenwick Hall, and Alice Paul Hall. The complex also contains a fifth building, the Abbott & Costello Center which contains a gym facility, complex offices, and a police sub-station. The four buildings house a total of 848 students. Each apartment consists of a kitchen, living room, dining area, two full bathrooms, and either two double bedrooms or four single bedrooms. The complex also has basketball courts and an outdoor pool open seasonally. The Village houses junior, senior, and graduate students.

Sinatra Hall

Francis A. Sinatra Hall is a 6-floor suite-style residence hall located on Clove Rd between Hawk Crossings Apartments and The Village at Little Falls. It opened in the Fall of 2010. The hall is set up suite style with a single, a double, and a triple all sharing a bathroom, powder room, and a common area.

Stone Hall

Stone Hall was originally built in 1955 as a residence hall, but was eventually converted into an office building. For the Fall 2016 semester, the building received a total renovation and was repurposed to its original use as a residence facility. The renovated Stone Hall houses approximately 150 first year students in double rooms with community bathroom facilities.

Crime

From 2010 to 2014, no murders had been reported at Montclair State University. In 1976, a fatal school shooting occurred outside of Bohn Hall following a dispute over a missing basketball.

The frequent crimes are burglary, liquor law violations, and drug abuse violations. The tables below show crime statistics for the locations on-campus (including student housing), student housing, public areas adjacent to the university, and non-campus locations that are owned by the university. From 2004 to 2013, Montclair State University reported 56 rape cases; it had the fourth highest number of rape reports of New Jersey's 43 public and private institutions.

Alumni and people associated with MSU