HIGHER EDUCATION
HIGHER EDUCATION
NJCU Relies on New President to Untangle Financial Woes
By Diane C . Walsh Editor , COMMERCE
Little did New Jersey City University know when it fell into financial crisis that its champion was right on campus .
Andres Acebo , a son of Cuban immigrants , intent on serving his Hudson County neighbors , filled the leadership vacuum when NJCU needed it most . He stepped up to help the foundering institution even before he was named president .
When a huge deficit was uncovered last summer , the talented young lawyer was executive vice president and general counsel to NJCU . “ I tried to bring people together on campus to ground ourselves around the sense of community and mission ,” he said .
NJCU has a unique role in the state ’ s system of public universities because many of its students are their families ’ first generation to attend college . And even more startling is that their median family income is only $ 42,000 . “ No one can make our unparalleled commitment to a mission of economic mobility for some of the most underserved and under-represented populations in the state ,” he said .
The new president needs only to look around him to see the school ’ s impact . His wife is an alumnae and many of his own teachers , as well as nurses and community social workers , are graduates . NJCU opened in 1929 as New Jersey State Normal School at Jersey City . Its original focus was educating and preparing teachers . Over time it was renamed New Jersey State Teachers College and later Jersey City State
Andres Acebo with Antonio Flores , president of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities .
College , and 25 years ago this month , as its curriculum broadened , it became a university .
When Acebo was named interim president in January he became the second Hispanic in the history of the state to lead a public higher educational institution , following Dr . Carlos Hernandez , who served as the 11th president of NJCU from 1993 to 2012 .
Acebo completed his undergraduate studies at Brown University and obtained his law degree from Rutgers University . In his private practice he had a broad array of clients , ranging from labor unions , municipalities , and public schools to closely-held businesses . He was recognized as a Rising Star by New Jersey Super Lawyers , a Top Latino Lawyer by Latino Leaders Magazine , a Top Lawyer under 40 by the Hispanic National Bar Association , and as a Diverse Attorney of the Year by the New Jersey Law Journal .
Even though his law practice was thriving , Acebo said he began rethinking his career path during the pandemic . His youngest child became gravely ill and was hospitalized for weeks . His extended family lost loved ones also . “ I began thinking what am I doing with my career ? Yes , I ’ m finding professional success but it ’ s not engendering personal fulfillment ,” he recalled .
“ I wasn ’ t looking to be president , but when the opportunity emerged , I tried to answer that call to serve .”
Joseph Scott , chair of the NJCU board of trustees said Acebo was identified as the primary candidate to lead the university after an extensive search for an interim leader . “ His history of accomplishments in our time of crisis are impressive . He has been appointed with unanimous support of the executive committee of the Board . He has the support and full confidence of both the Board and our organized labor units on campus , and an excellent rapport with our legislative stakeholders ,” Scott said .
To address the $ 20 million deficit , Acebo knew the first order of business was to sit down with the school ’ s unions . More than 90 percent of the workforce is unionized . He strived to establish trust . “ I wanted them to recognize that I wasn ’ t going to ask anything of them at the bargaining table that I wasn ’ t prepared to ensure that management was not doing first ,” he said .
The unions ’ concessions helped Acebo cut the deficit in half within three months . While he is certain “ not everyone was happy ,” the interim president proudly noted 83 percent of the union workers ratified the agreement .
Resolving NJCU ’ s financial issues will be a multi-year , multi-phased operation , he said . Acebo is working with the governor ' s office ,
Andres Acebo , President of NJCU
state legislators and the secretary of higher education to resolve the school ' s financial woes . His efforts led to a $ 13.8 million allocation in the state budget enacted July . 1 .
And while fiscal concerns remain a priority , Acebo is also intent on enhancing NJCU ’ s value proposition . “ We have to recognize the population we serve are seeking credentials and degrees as a means towards economic mobility ,” he said , adding , “ These are young adults and non-traditional students who are literally coming to this campus because that piece of paper that they get at commencement will change the financial security and circumstances for themselves and their families .”
The new president ’ s action plan calls for making certain that students ’ credits from county colleges are easily transferred to NJCU , shortening the time to complete a degree . “ And that ’ s important for so many of our students ,” he said , as he underscored his hope to keep out-of-pocket costs at less than $ 1,000 a semester .
NJCU will also focus on enhancing its core programs , like nursing and teaching . Acebo proudly points to a teaching internship program that pays students while they are shadowing teachers or tutoring and covers the costs of their licensing exams .
His goal is to propel his students to be “ lifelong learners ” who see NJCU as a place where they can also be retrained and upskilled to meet the constantly changing job demands .
Acebo is confident NJCU will overcome its financial challenges . “ The focus has to be singularly placed upon the students we serve .”
16 COMMERCE www . commercemagnj . com